Abdominoplasty “Tummy Tuck”
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"I dieted. I jogged and did a million sit-ups and nothing I did could help me get my figure back."
Every woman want a smooth, firm abdomen. But few have one. Pregnancies, weight gain and weight loss all take a toll on a woman's shape. Repeatedly stretched, most women's bellies are loose, oversized and out of shape.
Abdominoplasty, or a “tummy tuck”, is designed to correct a protruding abdomen resulting from weak abdominal muscles, skin laxity, stretch marks and fatty collections. The goal is a narrower, flatter abdomen. The abdominal wall muscles are tightened and excess fatty tissue and skin are removed to improve the body contour.
You may benefit from abdominoplasty if:
- pregnancy has resulted in significant alterations in the skin, fat and contour of your abdomen
- significant weight loss has left sagging skin on your abdomen
- your abdominal skin is stretch marked, lax and flaccid
Dr. Weiglein considers age, obesity and smoking habits when evaluating a candidate for this procedure.
We will take a complete medical history and conduct a careful examination to evaluate your general, overall health. Ideally, the abdominoplasty patient has no health problems, and wishes only to remove an excess deposit of fat or loose abdominal skin. Patients on a weight-loss plan should be close to their target weight before having the operation. Women planning future pregnancies should delay abdominoplasty, as pregnancy may promote further abdominal stretching.
Men are generally not considered candidates for abdominoplasty because their fat deposits are usually inside the body wall, and therefore surgery is out of reach. Men also don't experience the pregnancy related alterations to the skin and body fat distribution.
The Procedure
Abdominoplasty is performed using general anesthesia. You may be given medication beforehand so you will feel relaxed. The surgery may take two and a half hours long depending on the level of correction needed. You will go home the same day with adequate medication for comfort.
The procedure is most commonly performed by making a U-shaped incision below one hipbone, across the pubic area and under the other hipbone. A second incision is made around the navel. The skin is then separated from the abdominal wall and lifted up to the hipbone, exposing loose tissue covering the abdominal muscle.
Loose, stretched out muscles are tightened with sutures, and excess skin and fat are removed. The skin is lowered over the abdomen and the navel is reconstructed. The incisions are then sutured together. Drains are often inserted to eliminate fluid buildup, and firm elastic bandages are applied to the area.
Often abdominoplasty is combined with liposuction to remove fat deposits from the hips for a better final result.
Your body condition will determine whether you will benefit most from a "mini" correction of only skin laxity below the belly button; or a standard tummy tuck to correct skin and fat excess of the entire abdominal wall as well as correcting the underlying muscle separation.
Recovery: What to Expect
You may experience some discomfort immediately following surgery that can be controlled with pain pills. Some swelling is normal. You will be given special instructions for showering and changing your dressings until the surface stitches are removed in 5-7 days. You may also be required to wear a support garment.
The speed of recovery depends on your physical condition prior to surgery; those with stronger abdominal muscles usually recover faster. Allow at least 2-4 weeks to recuperate before returning to work.
Some scarring is also normal. It often takes 9-12 months before the scars begin to fade.
Though the recovery period is longer than that of other cosmetic procedures, the rewards are great for a patient previously distressed by a protruding abdomen. Those who follow a proper exercise routine and healthy diet will benefit from abdominoplasty the most.
Patient satisfaction is extremely high! This is the "I wish I'd done it sooner" experience.