Abdominoplasty

Abdominoplasty or "tummy tuck" is a plastic surgery procedure designed to remove excess skin and fat from the midsection while tightening the abdominal muscles. The result of tummy tuck surgery is a tighter, smoother and flatter stomach. In some cases, patients may be able to undergo partial abdominoplasty, also known as a mini tummy tuck, instead of the complete procedure. This is especially true for patients who want to flatten primarily the lower abdominal area.

Abdominoplasty Candidates

The ideal tummy tuck candidate is a person of relatively normal weight who has excess skin and weak muscles in the abdominal region. If a patient is significantly overweight, the cosmetic surgeon may recommend or require that the patient lose weight before a tummy tuck is performed. Abdominoplasty can be performed on both men and women. Because age and skin tone can be factors in the effectiveness of surgery, they should be taken into consideration before abdominoplasty is performed. During an initial consultation, the cosmetic surgeon evaluates patients on an individual basis to determine whether or not they are good candidates for tummy tucks.

Tummy Tuck Surgery

To begin the tummy tuck, an incision is made across the lower abdomen. Next, a second incision is made to separate the skin and navel from the underlying muscle and tissue. The skin is then pulled back toward the ribcage. Excess fat and skin are trimmed away, and the abdominal muscles are tightened with sutures. When the abdominoplasty procedure is complete, the plastic surgeon repositions the belly button and sutures the incision. Dressings are then applied to support the area.

In a simpler version of the tummy tuck, the navel is left in place. In the partial abdominoplasty procedure, the skin of the lower abdomen is pulled down, away from the ribs, and only the fat and skin in that area are removed and tightened.

It is very important that you choose a qualified and highly experienced plastic surgeon to perform your tummy tuck surgery.