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.

Abdominoplasty (tummy-tuck) is a common operation performed by the Smith Plastic Surgery Institute.  After childbirth, the abdomen is permanently changed.  The muscles are more relaxed, the skin is loose, and unsightly stretch marks can be seen along the lower portions of the abdomen.  The abdominoplasty operation corrects all of these results of pregnancy and restores a youthful abdomen and figure.

The first step of the operation involves removing the skin and fat between the pubic bone to above the umbilicus (belly-button).  This gets rid of the extra lower abdominal skin as well as the lower abdominal stretch marks.  The umbilicus is left its original place.  The abdominal muscles are then tightened with sutures to re-create a firm abdomen.  The remaining skin and fat are then lifted up and pulled down to the incision which lies along the pubic hairline.  This creates a flat abdomen.  A small hole is cut in the abdomen to allow to umbilicus to be placed back in its normal position.  A drain is placed to drain any of the body’s natural fluid and the incision is then closed with dissolvable sutures.  The drain is usually kept in place for 7-10 days and is then removed in the office. 

After surgery, patients usually go home the same day.  We strongly encourage patients to walk every several hours to prevent blood clots, which are the most feared complications of this operation.  With frequent walking, they rarely occur.  Most patients can return to work in one to two weeks and can resume vigorous exercise in six weeks.

If you are considering a tummy-tuck operation, please call our office for consultation. Dr. Smith will be happy to discuss the operation with you further as well as modified versions of the operation that you may or may not be a candidate for.

Reasons for Considering an Abdominoplasty:

• Inability of dieting and exercise to improve the abdomen area.
• Excessive accumulation of skin following weight loss.
• Loss of skin elasticity or diastases (loose abdomen muscles) due to pregnancy.
• 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.