Columbia SC - Abdominoplasty - Tummy Tuck - Plastic Surgery - Gregory Sexton, MD - South Carolina
Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), is an outpatient surgical procedure performed to tighten the abdominal wall and remove excess, loose skin.
When patients come in wanting liposuction of the abdomen, often the skin has been stretched too much, and liposuction would leave them with loose, hanging skin. For these people, the best results are obtained from an abdominoplasty. Another patient that benefits from abdominoplasty is the young mother who is not really overweight, but has a significant bulge in the area just under her belly button. She does not have much fat or extra skin, but just a stretched muscle wall. This patient does well with a “mini-tuck”.
A mini-tuck involves a smaller scar and consists of tightening the muscle wall to eliminate the bulge without removing much skin. The procedure does not address the area above the belly button, and there are no incisions around the belly button itself. The scar is much smaller then a standard tummy tuck.
A standard tummy tuck involves a scar from hip bone to hip bone, and another scar around the belly button. The skin and fat from the pubic bone to the belly button is removed. The muscle wall is tightened, and the skin is then stretched down and sewn together. The belly button is then popped out in the new location.
Patients will be sore for 1-2 weeks, and will be out of work for about two weeks
Sometimes simply dieting and exercising are not enough to take care of waistline problems. In such cases, a patient may wish to consider a tummy tuck (or abdominoplasty). A tummy tuck is the surgical removal of excess skin or fatty deposits from the abdomen, along with the repositioning of abdomen muscles into a tighter formation. This bodily enhancement procedure is designed for those who wish to have a flatter and tighter stomach. It is also helpful in remedying the vertical separation of abdomen muscles known as diastasis, which can occur following pregnancy.
Reasons for Considering an Abdominoplasty:
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Inability of dieting and exercise to improve the abdomen area.
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Excessive accumulation of skin following weight loss.
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Loss of skin elasticity or diastases (loose abdomen muscles) due to pregnancy.
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The removal of unsightly skin and fat deposits as well as the proper alignment of the abdomen muscles to produce a more flattering look.
General Procedure
Abdominoplasty surgery lasts anywhere from one to five hours, depending on the desired look and the patient’s unique physiology. To begin the procedure, an incision is made just above the pubic bone area. This incision goes horizontally across the lower abdomen and sometimes around to the back. The skin is then stretched away from the muscle tissue, and excess skin is removed. The abdomen muscle tissue is tightened to provide a firmly contoured stomach and well-defined waistline. Finally, the incision is closed; and the skin is stitched back into place. Sometimes the procedure requires an additional incision around the navel in order to provide the best results.
Recovery Process
Generally, post-operative instructions call for plenty of rest and limited movement in order to speed up the healing process and recovery time. As the body recuperates, the patient can expect some swelling, pain, and discomfort. Medication can be prescribed to relieve any pain caused by the procedure. The stitches will be removed shortly after the surgery depending on the procedure(s) involved. Normal activities can generally be resumed within two weeks. It may take up to a year for the body to completely adapt to the new abdominal configuration. With proper diet and exercise the striking results of the surgery will be long lasting.