Tummy Tuck
The tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is a cosmetic procedure designed to tighten and reshape the loose tissues that typically result from pregnancy or weight loss. This may involve just the excess lower abdominal skin (mini abdominoplasty) or it may involve skin above the belly button as well (full abdominoplasty). In either case, the abdominal muscles can also be tightened if they are stretched apart and loose.
Before & After: Mini tummy tuck and revision of the hysterectomy scar
Who is best suited for a tummy tuck operation?
Patients who are close to their normal weight, but have loose skin and/or stretched-out abdominal muscles will typically benefit the most from these procedures. Those who are significantly overweight are not good candidates.
How do you know if you need a tummy tuck?
Before & After: Mini tummy tuck and liposuction of abdomen If there is no skin excess, only a bulging “pot belly” or “pooch,” liposuction alone will remove the bulging fat and the skin will shrink back. This gives your abdomen a more attractive and flatter contour. For more information on liposuction, click here.
If skin is either hanging or can be grasped when you are standing straight, the excess can be removed and the remaining abdominal skin tightened. If extra skin is only below the belly button, a mini tummy tuck will suffice. If extra skin is above the belly button as well, then a full tummy tuck will be necessary to properly redrape and tighten your abdominal skin.
How is a tummy tuck done?
Before & After: Full tummy tuck and muscle wall tightening A tummy tuck involves an incision across the lower abdomen, just above the pubic area, and slightly curved upward on the sides. A mini tummy tuck can remove up to 3 inches of skin from the lower abdomen. The incision is shorter than for a full tummy tuck.
When a full tummy tuck is being done, the belly button is “unbuttoned,” the upper abdominal skin is pulled down, and then the belly button is brought back out through a new “buttonhole.”
In combination with either procedure, the muscle wall may be tightened if it is stretched-out and loose.
What happens after surgery?
For mini abdominoplasty, the recovery is rapid. A compression garment is worn for four weeks. You can return to activities like a desk job by three days and unrestricted athletics by two weeks.
For full abdominoplasty, a compression garment is usually worn for up to six weeks, but there is minimal discomfort and a relatively quick recovery. You can return to activities like a desk job by three to five days and unrestricted athletics by three to four weeks.
Muscle wall tightening adds to postoperative discomfort, much as a hernia repair would. If muscle wall repair has been done, strenuous physical activities must be restricted until that completely heals, between four and six weeks. However, most patients can resume activities typical of an office job by one to two weeks.
Can liposuction be done at the same time?
Abdominoplasty is often done in conjunction with liposuction of the abdomen and/or other areas. It does not add significantly to the recovery time from abdominal liposuction alone.
