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Tummy Tuck[Abdominoplasty]
A tummy tuck is a procedure that removes excess fat
and skin from the middle and lower abdomen. The procedure
also tightens the muscles of the abdominal wall that
have become lose resulting from pregnancies, weight
loss, or weight gain. A tummy tuck can dramatically
reduce the appearance of a protruding abdomen, giving
the patient a flatter stomach and a smaller waist.
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About the Procedure
The best candidates for a tummy tuck are men and women
who are in good shape, but that have large fat deposits
or loose skin in the stomach area which doesn’t
respond to diet or exercise. This procedure is particularly
helpful to women who have had multiple pregnancies and
whose abdominal muscles have been stretches beyond the
point where they can return to normal.
The most common approach to a tummy tuck
involves an incision along the abdomen, a little above
the pubic area. In a full tummy tuck, the surgeon also
makes an incision around the belly button to free it
from the surrounding skin in the area. The skin is then
separated from the abdominal wall. Loose tissue from
the left and right of the abdomen are pulled together
and then sutured. The procedure tightens the muscles
and provides a stronger abdominal wall.
Excessive skin from the area is then
removed and a new opening for the belly button is made.
After closing the incisions, a dressing is placed over
the area.
A PainPump® is then inserted into
the area of the abdomen. This device delivers a continuous
flow of anesthetic to the operative site. With the use
of the PainPump® for a few days, soreness and discomfort
is greatly reduced.
A support garment should be worn for
6 weeks after the surgery.
Patients will notice immediately after
a tummy tuck their flatter, firmer stomach. The scars
will fade over time.
Some patients find they don’t need
a total tummy tuck and choose to have a partial or mini
tummy tuck. During a mini tummy tuck the skin is separated
only between the incision and the navel. The skin flap
is stretched down, excess skin removed, and the flap
stitched back into place.
Liposuction is sometimes used in conjunction
with a tummy tuck to remove fat deposits on the hips,
thereby producing a better result.
Recuperation from a tummy tuck varies
among patients, however, the normal down time is two
weeks.
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