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Plastic Surgery
> Body
Abdominoplasty
(Tummy Tuck) Before
and After Photos
Tummy Tuck and
Partial Tummy Tuck Procedures
Excess skin from extreme weight loss or gain or multiple
pregnancies may have left your abdomen stretched and
sagging. You might be unable to remove the "pouch" on your
lower abdomen. Or, even if you follow a healthy diet and a
strict exercise regimen, you still might not be able to get
the taut, flat midsection you desire. If any of the above is
the case, tummy tuck might be the ideal option for you.
During a tummy tuck procedure, excess skin is removed from a
protruding abdomen and the abdominal muscles and remaining
skin are tightened. In cases where fat deposits exist only
in the region below the navel, a partial tummy tuck, a
simpler, less-involved alternative to a full tummy tuck
might be a better option. During the partial tummy tuck, an
incision is made across the abdomen, excess fat and skin are
trimmed away, and the flap is stitched back into place. No
matter which procedure you choose, tummy tuck is an
excellent way to flatten your tummy and add a boost of
confidence. If you are interested in tummy tuck please
contact us to find out more.
Which Procedure is
best for you?
There is a range of Tummy Tuck Procedures
designed to treat the spectrum of patient needs. In
consultation with a plastic surgeon, the choice of procedure
will be made based on the your anatomic features and desired
outcome. While all tummy tucks have in common that they
tighten the abdominal skin, there are two key differences
between the various procedures. The incision lengths vary
depending on the amount of skin to be excised, and the
abdominal muscles may be tightened if they have excess
laxity.
The length of the
incision is determined by the amount of loose skin that is
to be removed. The incision lengths vary from as short as
six inches (Partial Tummy
Tuck) to as long as the entire circumference of the
waist (Body Lift). The most common incision
length runs from hip to hip concealed beneath the bikini
line.
In addition to removing loose
skin, localized fat deposits can also be removed during your
tummy tuck. It is recommended, however, that you be as close
as possible to your goal weight before having the procedure.
Liposuction may be performed
in combination with tummy tuck to remove additional fat
around the abdomen or to treat other areas such as the hips
and flanks.
Full or Traditional Tummy Tuck
With the traditional tummy
tuck, the abdominal skin is pulled so far downward that it
is necessary to reposition the belly button to keep it
centrally located. This results in a circular scar around
the belly button and a dramatic improvement in abdominal
contour. The traditional tummy tuck is the best solution for
most people.
For patients who require less
skin excision, it may be possible to "float" the belly
button. This means that the belly button will remain
attached to the skin and will be pulled downward with the
skin. The belly button, however, is not moved so far as to
require a circular incision for repositioning. It is also
possible to tighten the muscles of the upper and lower
abdomen with this procedure. Floating the belly button may
result in significantly improved abdominal contour, but the
results are not as dramatic as with the traditional tummy
tuck.
Partial
Tummy Tuck
A partial tummy tuck is a
smaller procedure designed to improve the contour of the
abdomen only below the belly button. It is best for patients
who have subtle skin and fat excesses of the lower abdomen
or unattractive scars from previous surgery (such as a
C-section). It is possible to tighten the muscles, but only
below the belly button and in smaller amounts than with the
traditional tummy tuck. Only a small percentage of patients
are good candidates for a partial tummy tuck.
Who is a candidate for a tummy
tuck?
Patients who have excess skin
and fat of the abdomen are candidates for a tummy tuck.
Those who have laxity primarily below the umbilicus (belly
button) are candidates for a partial-tummy tuck. Loose skin
and fat above the belly button require a full tummy tuck to
achieve optimal results.
After pregnancy or substantial
weight gain, the abdominal muscles are frequently stretched
beyond their ability to recoil. In these cases abdominal
exercises will not be effective at flattening the abdomen.
Once the internal pressure distending the muscles is
removed, as with weight loss, it is possible to tighten the
muscles during the tummy tuck procedure. The combination of
tightening muscles and excising excess skin and fat from the
abdomen may result in dramatic improvements in abdominal
contour.
Is it advisable to do multiple
procedures at one time?
It is common to perform
multiple procedures in one operation. Liposuction of
surrounding areas will frequently achieve complementary
changes in the patient's figure.
Breast
augmentation and facial surgery are also
frequently performed at the same time. In a thorough
consultation, the plastic surgeon will advise the patient
whether single or staged operations would be appropriate.
Will the tummy tuck remove
stretch marks?
Stretch marks below the belly
button may be removed when the skin in that area is excised.
Above the belly button it is frequently impossible to remove
stretch marks. When the skin of the abdomen is tightened,
however, the texture of the stretch marks usually improves
and becomes less noticeable.
Where are the scar locations
from a tummy tuck?
The tummy tuck results in a
horizontal scar along the bikini line. The incision is
designed so that it may be easily concealed with a bathing
suit. Depending on a patient's preferences for bathing suit
styles, the lateral incisions may be made higher or lower.
The surgeon will discuss this with the patient when drawing
the pre-operative markings. For the full tummy tuck
procedure, there is also a circular scar around the belly
button.
Is there a difference in the
size of the scars between the partial and the full tummy
tuck?
The amount of skin excised with
the tummy tuck determines the length of the scar. For full
tummy tucks, a large amount of skin is removed and the
resulting scar is usually from hip to hip. The scar
resulting from a partial tummy tuck may be one half that
length. The size and location of the scar is planned with
the patient based on their individual anatomy and desires.
Is it better to do a tummy tuck
before or after pregnancy?
A tummy tuck is usually
performed after child bearing has been completed. This is
especially true if the patient plans on becoming pregnant in
the near future. If pregnancy is planned only for the
distant future, however, some women may be considered
candidates for tummy tucks.
A patient who has lost large
amounts of weight, for example, may have substantial
overhanging skin of the lower abdomen. If she plans on
pregnancy in only the distant future, the advantages of
doing a tummy tuck now may outweigh the disadvantages. The
surgeon may recommend doing a modified tummy tuck that
addresses the lower abdomen only. This would also be the
case for women with undesirable scarring on the lower
abdomen from previous surgeries (i.e.,
cesarean section). A
partial tummy tuck may sometimes be advisable even if future
pregnancies are planned.
A patient may still have
children after a tummy tuck, but the abdominal stretching
during pregnancy may offset much of the benefit of the
procedure. Further abdominal contouring procedures may be
recommended after completing child bearing.
There are a large number of
variables that affect a patient's candidacy for a tummy
tuck. The decision to undergo the surgery should only be
made after a thorough consultation with your plastic
surgeon.
Is it better to lose weight
before or after a tummy tuck?
The closer a patient is to
their ideal weight, the tighter the abdomen can be made
during a tummy tuck. Many patients will be inspired by their
surgical improvements and lose additional weight through
diet and exercise after surgery. If a patient needs to lose
substantial amounts of weight, however, it is better to do
it before surgery.
When is liposuction possible
instead of a tummy tuck?
Liposuction (especially
power-assisted liposuction) is an effective way of removing
fat, but not skin. Patients are candidates for liposuction
when their skin has adequate elasticity to tighten after
removal of fat. Patients who are younger and who have
localized deposits of fat are the best candidates.
Patients who have excess skin
and fat on the abdomen are best treated with a tummy tuck.
The longer incisions are required, but the improvements in
tightening the skin and muscle may be dramatic.
During a tummy tuck, abdominal
fat is removed in addition to skin excision and muscle
tightening. Many patients will also benefit from liposuction
of the surrounding areas to achieve their ideal figure.
Liposuction of these areas is commonly performed at the same
time as a tummy tuck.
How long does the tummy tuck
operation take?
The tummy tuck operation is
approximately two hours.
How long is the recovery from a
tummy tuck?
Patients should plan to miss
one to two weeks of work after a tummy tuck. An elastic
compression garment is worn under clothing for several weeks
following surgery. Vigorous exercise should be avoided for
six weeks following surgery.
Is the recovery time different
for full and partial tummy tuck?
A partial tummy tuck is a
significantly smaller operation than a full tummy tuck, and
the recovery is faster. Most patients will miss only one
week of work. Vigorous exercise should be avoided for six
weeks following surgery.
How common is the tummy tuck
for men?
The tummy tuck is a common
procedure for men. Patients who have lost a significant
amount of weight frequently have excess skin that may be
excised with a tummy tuck. This skin usually would not
tighten with exercise or dieting alone. A tummy tuck can
help these patients to achieve their ideal figure following
a successful program of diet and exercise.
What is the main difference
between a partial and full tummy tuck?
There are several important
differences between a partial and a full tummy tuck. The
majority of patients will benefit from the full tummy tuck.
The full procedure tightens the skin of the upper and lower
abdomen. The partial tightens only the skin below the belly
button. The full procedure tightens all of the muscles of
the upper and lower abdomen. The partial tightens only the
muscles of the lower abdomen. The full procedure removes
enough skin that it requires repositioning of the belly
button with a circular scar resulting. The partial removes a
smaller amount of skin and does not require repositioning of
the belly button. The improvements made with a full tummy
tuck are more dramatic than those made with the partial.
What kind of anesthesia is
used?
For tummy tuck procedures we
use general anesthesia administered
by a anesthesiologist certified by the American Board of
Anesthesiology with training and certification in advanced
cardiac life support (ACLS). Please request the name of the
anesthesiologist assigned to your case to verify their board
certification. This maximizes patient safety and comfort. We
also use a long-acting local anesthesia solution at the end
of the operation. This helps to minimize
patient discomfort in the hours following the tummy tuck and
leads to a smooth recovery.
For more information on any of these
services or to make an appointment,
please click here to
contact us or call
us at:
512-533-9900
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