Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)
A tummy tuck, also called abdominoplasty, is designed to give you a smoother, flatter abdomen.
An abdominoplasty incision usually is made just within or above the pubic area and around the navel. Skin in the shaded area is separated from your abdominal wall.
To tighten your abdominal wall, Dr. Rosenthal will bring loose underlying tissue and muscle together with sutures.
Abdominal skin is drawn downward, and the excess is removed. A small opening is made for your navel so that its position remains unchanged.
After surgery, you will have a firmer, flatter abdomen. The resulting scars are permanent but will fade to some extent over time..
The procedure removes excess abdominal skin and may also reduce fat and tighten the muscles of your abdominal wall. It frequently is performed to correct the muscle weakness and loose skin that can occur following multiple pregnancies or significant weight loss.
Abdominoplasty may be done on an outpatient basis or during a brief hospital stay. Generally, a horizontal incision is make just within or above your pubic area. The contour of this incision may vary. The resulting scar is permanent, but Dr. Rosenthal will try to place it within the lines of the type of bathing suit or undergarments that you typically wear.
If you have loose skin above your navel (belly button), Dr. Rosenthal may make a second incision around your navel so that the skin can be pulled down and the excess removed. The position of your navel will not change. If there are stretch marks on your lower abdomen, these may be removed. Any remaining stretch marks may be somewhat flattened, but don’t expect dramatic improvement.
Abdominoplasty sometimes may be combined with lipoplasty to achieve the best results. If your skin laxity and muscle weakness are limited to the area below the navel, you may be a good candidate for a modified abdominoplasty that leaves a shorter scar and required no incision around the navel. Another technique for minimizing scars uses and endoscope; this procedure may be an option if you only have a minimal amount of excess skin and muscle laxity.
The day after surgery, you will be encouraged to get out of bed and walk for short periods to promote blood circulation. You may be instructed to wear a support garment for several weeks. You will need to avoid strenuous activity for a while but should be able to return to work within several weeks.
