Abdominoplasty or “Tummy Tuck”

Even individuals of normal body weight and proportion can develop an abdomen that protrudes or sags. The problem is especially common after extreme weight loss and pregnancy (especially after a Caesarean section). Carrying a baby to term stretches the abdominal skin and muscles, in some cases permanently, and many mothers find that no amount of exercise or willpower can restore their abdomen to the condition they enjoyed prior to pregnancy. Similarly, people who lose a lot of weight are often left with an unsightly “apron” of loose, sagging skin that not even the most disciplined exercise and diet can get rid of.

Abdominoplasty could be the answer and help you attain a firmer, flatter abdomen. Abdominoplasty the technical name for a “tummy tuck,” a surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the abdominal area and tightens the muscles of the abdominal wall. An added benefit of excising such excess skin is that in many cases stretch marks and C-section scars can be reduced significantly or even eliminated completely.

A partial abdominoplasty, or so-called “mini tummy tuck,” concentrates on the area below the navel, while a complete abdominoplasty, or full tummy tuck,is more extensive. A complete abdominoplasty is usually necessary when the amount of excess skin that needs to be removed is significant, as is often the case after a pregnancy. However, if the problem is merely a bit of excess skin and fat on the lower abdomen,a less invasive mini tummy tuck is frequently all that is required to achieve the desired result. In some cases, other alternatives such as liposuction or liposuction combined with a mini tummy tuck may be the best option.

Personal Consultation

If you’re considering having abdominoplasty, we would like to invite you to come in for a personal consultation. We’d like to take the time to explain the procedure and the potential risks involved and to discuss the various options with you in person so we can achieve the best possible result for you. During our face-to-face meeting, we decide if any preliminary examinations are necessary and answer any questions you may have, and if you would like to go ahead with surgery, we will decide together what type of procedure and how extensive it should be.

On the day of the actual surgery, we will go over the procedure with you again and answer any questions you may have beforehand. Abdominoplastyis performed on an in-patient basis under general anesthesia, and in most cases so-called Redon drains (small tubes) are inserted to allow secretions to drain from the wound. The majority of patients who undergo a tummy tuck are able to return home after only one or two overnight stays.