Abdomnoplasty or tummy tuck techniques are yielding better results than ever before. A tummy tuck is a procedure to remove excess fat and skin and to tighten underlying muscles in the abdomen. It also gets rid of loose or wrinkled skin and stretch marks. Both women and men benefit from this extremely effective body contouring surgery.
Pregnancy, weight gain and weight loss can have a devastating impact on a woman’s abdomen. Only rarely dieting and exercise can fully restore the abdominal wall to its flat desirable shape after the skin and muscles have been stretched to their limit. Subsequent to losing weight, men can also have difficulties regaining their youthful flat abdomen.
There are 3 components to the abdominal wall deformities; (i) wrinkly or loose skin with stretch marks which are usually as a result of pregnancy, aging or marked weight loss, (ii) excess fat tissue, usually more prominent in the lower abdomen and (iii) separation of the muscles of the anterior abdomen, where exercise doesn’t help as once the muscles relax, they separate and the tummy bulges out.
A full tummy tuck addresses the three defective components (skin, fat and muscles), and as such it benefits most patients who want a flat stomach and skin as tight as possible. The results of a full tummy tuck can be dramatic, especially when combined with liposuction of the flanks. At Tummy Tuck Beverly Hills centers, the procedure can be done totally under local anesthesia (tumescent technique), twilight anesthesia or general anesthesia, depending on individual preference and needs. A second incision is made around the belly button. The skin and fat as a unit are separated from the abdominal wall and lifted up the rib cage exposing the fascia muscles. The fascia is then sutured in order to tighten loose or stretched out muscles located underneath the fascia. This creates a tighter abdominal wall and a thinner waist. The skin is stretched down and excess skin and fat are removed. A new opening is cut on the skin for the repositioning of the belly button. Usually drains are inserted to eliminate fluid and blood buildup. Every effort is made to hide the scars in the bikini area. The incision is then closed and a firm dressing is placed on the abdomen. Liposuction to remove excess fat from the hips and flanks are often performed in conjunction with tummy tuck surgery for better body contouring.
A mini tummy tuck or partial abdominoplasty is best suited for patients who have a pouch below the belly button and who do not have significant stretch marks, saggy skin or a hooded belly button. A mini tummy tuck requires a smaller incision and leaves the belly button intact. Liposuction is frequently employed with this technique to remove excess fat above and below the belly button to enhance body contour. Tummy tuck surgeries are safe and are one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures in the USA today.
