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ABDOMINOPLASTY (TUMMY TUCK)

Abdominoplasty or "Tummy Tuck" is intended to deal with the loose redundant abdominal wall skin frequently associated with abnormal relaxation of the anterior abdominal wall muscles. In addition, it addresses the stretch marks and the fatty area in the lower abdomen.The procedure is aimed to give the patient a smoother, flatter abdomen.

It is usually performed under general anesthesia as an outpatient procedure. Standard abdominoplasty usually takes around 2-3 hours to perform. The incision is made at the lower abdomen along the bikini line. It entails excising the redundant abdominal wall skin and tightening the rectus muscles (vertical abdominal muscles). In Mini abdominoplasty, a variation of the procedure, the scar is shorter and the recovery is quicker. This procedure is better suited for patients with flat good contour in the upper abdomen but with lower abdominal weakness with skin overhang.

No sutures to be removed since I use dissolvable sutures to close the wound. Patients are required to wear a compression garment for 4-6 weeks to allow for better healing.

Patients are encouraged to move and walk within 1-2 days. The patients are allowed to be back to work from 1 to 3 weeks. More strenuous activity is allowed in 4 to 6 weeks. Scars take 6 months to 2 years to flatten and fade away.

Liposuction of the hips, flanks or thighs are performed as additional procedures that may enhance the result as necessary. Breast Procedures or Thigh Lift can also be done combined with this procedure as long as the patient's health allows.

Heavy smokers, morbidly obese patients, poorly controlled diabetics, patients who just delivered, lactating mothers, patients on multiple medications or blood thinners and those on a dynamic weigh loss program may need special attention or prior therapy to optimize the outcome of their surgery.

The specific risks and the suitability of this procedure for a given individual can be determined only at the time of your consultation. All surgical procedures have some degree of risk. Minor complications that do not affect the outcome occur occasionally. Major complications are unusual