A tummy tuck, formally known as abdominoplasty, removes excess fat and skin in the abdomen area and repositions weakened or separated muscles, giving you a flatter, smoother, more contoured abdomen.
A flat stomach. Everyone wants one, but few of us have one. This is because no matter how much we diet and exercise it rarely does anything to the abdomen area. The combination of loose, sagging skin and weaker muscles gives most of us a little pooch, no matter how much we try to make it otherwise. And, if you’ve had children, a sagging lower abdomen is almost guaranteed. The skin and underlying muscles have simply been stretched too much.
At CRS Plastic Surgery, Dr. Low and Dr. Cheung perform tummy tuck surgery to tighten your stomach area and slim your contour.
Am I a good candidate for a tummy tuck?
These surgeries mainly focus on loose sagging skin and separated muscles. People who have gained and lost a good deal of weight and women who have had children are good candidates for a tummy tuck because the skin that has been stretched for a period of time usually cannot return to its former degree of tautness. Also, the localized weight gain with pregnancy can separate the abdominal muscles and there is no way they will return to the center of the stomach without surgery.
But if you’re considering having additional children a tummy tuck will have to wait. The effects of pregnancy will negate the results of your tummy tuck. Also, people who plan to lose more weight should delay their tummy tuck as the additional weight loss will create more loose skin. It’s important to remember that abdominoplasty is a body-contouring procedure, not a weight loss procedure.
How is a tummy tuck done?
Dr. Low or Dr. Cheung will make a horizontal incision between the pubic hairline and the belly button. The goal is for the scar from the incision to be covered by a bikini bottom. The shape and length of the incision is dependent on the amount of excess skin involved. Full tummy tucks have a second incision at the belly button to remove excess skin on the upper abdomen. This is not always required and can vary with the individual patient. After the incision(s) are made the upper abdominal skin is pulled away from the muscle beneath. The underlying muscles are pulled together and stitched into place for a firmer abdomen and narrower waist. Fat pockets may be removed with minor liposuction at this point. The skin is then stretched downward and over the newly tightened muscles, excess skin is trimmed, and the navel is moved to a new, natural position. The incisions are then closed.
In a mini tummy tuck, the incision made is shorter and the skin is only lifted to the navel area and the navel remains in place. A mini tuck is ideal for patients who don’t have large amounts of loose skin, and whose muscle strength is still relatively strong.
Want to get your tighter tummy back? Call us at CRS Plastic Surgery, (954) 533-8029, and set up a consultation for a tummy tuck.