Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) Procedures:
Until Extreme Makeover, and Dr. 90210, abdominoplasties were relatively unknown. Now, I think, their popularity has sky-rocketed because of greater awareness, and more patient education. After pregnancy or massive weight loss, loose skin is forever! That extra wad of stuff you can grab when you sit, that hangs like a fanny pack over your bikini line, will NEVER go away without surgery. When did it get there? It is so frustrating to work out, and not see results because of this extra layer of skin and fatty tissue.
A tummy tuck is done in the hospital under general anesthesia and takes between two to three hours. The incision is made along the bikini line and runs along that fold of skin. Wherever there is a fold, there is the incision. I used to make the incision a nice straight line, but now I make it a nice wavey line because that way, as it heals, it looks more like a stretch mark. All the stitches are on the inside. Some liposuctioning is almost always combined with the surgery – above the umbilicous, on the sides, and the mons pubis, to make everything in proportion, and give a sleeker look. Muscles are tightened, and all the skin between your belly button and bikini line is removed. The skin above the belly button is lifted up like a sheet, and pulled down, and tucked into your bikini line, and a button hole is cut out for your belly button. So basically this is all a big, long wiggly smiley face incision in the bikini line, and a button hole around your belly button.
The surgery usually takes about two or three hours. It can safely be combined with other procedures – a breast augmentation to complete the mommy makeover! – or a breast reduction or lift, or even additional liposuctioning. I require that people spend the night in the hospital. Trust me on this one. Most people are walking even that night of surgery, but it is one week before you can really get around comfortably, and about two weeks before you can return to a desk job, and longer, if you have a more strenuous job.
I am not really a fan of mini tummy tucks, because they do not address any excess skin about the belly button and, in most of my patients, they have extra skin BOTH above and below the belly button. But stop in for an evaluation, and we will see.