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Plastic Surgery
Procedures
Procedures>>Tummy Tuck
- Phoenix & Scottsdale, Arizona
Tummy Tuck and Mini Tummy Tuck
Procedures (Abdominoplasty)
Excess skin from
extreme weight loss or multiple pregnancies may
have left your abdomen stretched and sagging.
Even if you follow a healthy diet and a strict
exercise regimen, you still might not be able to
get that taut, flat midsection you desire. If any
of these are the case, a tummy tuck might be the
ideal option for you.
During the tummy tuck procedure, excess skin is
removed from your abdomen and the muscles and
remaining skin are then tightened. In cases where
fat deposits exist only in the region below the
navel, a mini tummy tuck (a simpler, less-involved
alternative to a full tummy tuck) might be a
better option. During the mini tummy tuck, an
incision is made across the abdomen, excess fat
and skin are trimmed away, and the flap is
stitched back into place. No matter which
procedure you choose, the tummy tuck is an
excellent way to flatten your stomach. If you are
interested please contact us
for more information.
Which
Procedure is best for you?
There is a range of Tummy Tuck Procedures
designed to treat the spectrum of patient needs.
In consultation with a plastic surgeon, the choice
of procedure will be made based on the your
anatomic features and desired outcome. While all
tummy tucks have in common that they tighten the
abdominal skin, there are two key differences
between the various procedures. The incision
lengths vary depending on the amount of skin to be
excised, and the abdominal muscles may be
tightened if they have excess laxity.
The
length of the incision is determined by the amount
of loose skin that is to be removed. The incision
lengths vary from as short as six inches (Mini
Tummy Tuck) to as long as the entire
circumference of the waist (Body Lift).
The most common incision length runs from hip to
hip concealed beneath the bikini line.
In addition to
removing loose skin, localized fat deposits can
also be removed during your tummy tuck. It is
recommended, however, that you be as close as
possible to your goal weight before having the
procedure.
Liposuction may be performed in combination
with tummy tuck to remove additional fat around
the abdomen or to treat other areas such as the
hips and flanks.
In some instances a
compressive garment will need to be work for a few
weeks after surgery. This helps to reduce
swelling, improve contour and prevent fluid
collection.
Full Tummy Tuck
With the traditional
tummy tuck, the abdominal skin is pulled so far
downward that it is necessary to reposition the
belly button to keep it centrally located. This
results in a circular scar around the belly button
and a dramatic improvement in abdominal contour.
The traditional tummy tuck is the best solution
for most people. It is also possible to tighten the muscles of the upper and
lower abdomen with this procedure.
Mini
Tummy Tuck
A mini tummy tuck is
a smaller procedure designed to improve the
contour of the abdomen only below the belly
button. It is best for patients who have subtle
skin and fat excesses of the lower abdomen or
unattractive scars from previous surgery (such as
a C-section). It is possible to tighten the
muscles, but only below the belly button and in
smaller amounts than with the traditional tummy
tuck. Only a small percentage of patients are good
candidates for a partial tummy tuck.
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Frequently Asked Questions |
Who is a candidate
for a tummy tuck?
Patients who have excess skin and fat of the
abdomen are candidates for a tummy tuck.
Those who have laxity primarily below the
umbilicus (belly button) are candidates for a
partial-tummy tuck. Loose skin and fat above
the belly button require a full tummy tuck to
achieve optimal results.
After pregnancy
or substantial weight gain, the abdominal
muscles are frequently stretched beyond their
ability to recoil. In these cases abdominal
exercises will not be effective at flattening
the abdomen. Once the internal pressure
distending the muscles is removed, as with
weight loss, it is possible to tighten the
muscles during the tummy tuck procedure. The
combination of tightening muscles and
excising excess skin and fat from the abdomen
may result in dramatic improvements in
abdominal contour.
Will the tummy tuck
remove stretch marks?
Stretch marks
below the belly button may be removed when
the skin in that area is excised. Above the
belly button it is frequently impossible to
remove stretch marks. When the skin of the
abdomen is tightened, however, the texture of
the stretch marks usually improves and
becomes less noticeable.
Where are the scar
locations from a tummy tuck?
The tummy tuck
results in a horizontal scar along the bikini
line. The incision is designed so that it may
be easily concealed with a bathing suit.
Depending on a patient's preferences for
bathing suit styles, the lateral incisions
may be made higher or lower. The surgeon will
discuss this with the patient when drawing
the pre-operative markings. For the full
tummy tuck procedure, there is also a
circular scar around the belly button.
Is there a difference
in the size of the scars between the partial and
the full tummy tuck?
The amount of
skin excised with the tummy tuck determines
the length of the scar. For full tummy tucks,
a large amount of skin is removed and the
resulting scar is usually from hip to hip.
The scar resulting from a partial tummy tuck
may be one half that length. The size and
location of the scar is planned with the
patient based on their individual anatomy and
desires.
Is it better to lose
weight before or after a tummy tuck?
The closer a
patient is to their ideal weight, the tighter
the abdomen can be made during a tummy tuck.
Many patients will be inspired by their
surgical improvements and lose additional
weight through diet and exercise after
surgery. If a patient needs to lose
substantial amounts of weight, however, it is
better to do it before surgery.
When is liposuction
possible instead of a tummy tuck?
Liposuction is an
effective way of removing fat, but not skin.
Patients are candidates for liposuction when
their skin has adequate elasticity to tighten
after removal of fat. Patients who are
younger and who have localized deposits of
fat are the best candidates.
Patients who
have excess skin and fat on the abdomen are
best treated with a tummy tuck. The longer
incisions are required, but the improvements
in tightening the skin and muscle may be
dramatic. During a tummy tuck,
abdominal fat is removed in addition to skin
excision and muscle tightening. Many patients
will also benefit from liposuction of the
surrounding areas to achieve their ideal
figure. Liposuction of these areas is
commonly performed at the same time as a
tummy tuck.
How long does the
tummy tuck operation take?
The tummy tuck
operation is approximately two hours.
How long is the
recovery from a tummy tuck?
Patients should
plan to miss one to two weeks of work after a
tummy tuck. An elastic compression garment is
worn under clothing for several weeks
following surgery. Vigorous exercise should
be avoided for six weeks following surgery.
Is the recovery time
different for full and partial tummy tuck?
A partial tummy
tuck is a significantly smaller operation
than a full tummy tuck, and the recovery is
faster. Most patients will miss only one week
of work. Vigorous exercise should be avoided
for six weeks following surgery.
How common is the
tummy tuck for men?
The tummy tuck
is a common procedure for men. Patients who
have lost a significant amount of weight
frequently have excess skin that may be
excised with a tummy tuck. This skin usually
would not tighten with exercise or dieting
alone. A tummy tuck can help these patients
to achieve their ideal figure following a
successful program of diet and exercise.
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