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Am I a good
candidate for the
tummy tuck procedure?
You may be a good
candidate for a tummy
tuck if you fall into
one of the following
categories:
-
You are a man or
woman in
relatively good
condition
bothered by fatty
deposits and
loose skin around
the abdomen area.
-
Have an abdomen
that protrudes
and is out of
proportion to the
rest of your
body.
-
A woman who has
excessively
stretched her
abdominal muscles
due to multiple
pregnancies.
-
Have excess fatty
tissue
concentrated in
the abdomen area.
-
Older people who,
due to age, have
sagging, loose
skin on the
abdomen or
weakened
abdominal muscles
How is a tummy tuck
procedure done?
In most
situations, the
surgeon will make a
long incision from one
side of the hip-bone
to the other and
another to release the
navel from surrounding
tissue. The skin
tissue is lifted to
reveal the abdominal
muscles which are then
tightened by pulling
them together and
stitching them into
their new position.
Extra skin is removed
and a new hole is cut
for the navel before
finally closing the
incisions.
What is a Mini Tummy
Tuck?
In cases where the
amount of loose skin
is minimal and the
excess fat deposits
are located below the
navel, it may be
possible to avoid an
incision around the
navel. In a mini tummy
tuck , a horizontal
incision is placed
just within or above
the pubic area. If
there is loose skin
above the navel, the
surgeon may make a
second incision around
the navel.
Skin in the shaded
area is separated from
the abdominal wall. To
tighten the abdominal
wall, the surgeon
brings loose
underlying tissue and
muscle together with
sutures. Sometimes
liposuction may be
used alone, or in
conjunction with
abdominoplasty, to
remove abdominal fat.
What is an Endoscopic
Tummy Tuck?
An Endoscopic Tummy
Tuck is another
technique employed to
minimize scarring and
may be useful when
patients have only a
mild degree of excess
fat and muscle laxity.
Abdominal skin is
pulled downward, and
the excess is removed.
A small opening is
made to bring the
navel through. Your
plastic surgeon will
discuss with you the
particular method that
he or she recommends
for achieving the best
result in your
particular case.
A bikini incision
across the lower
abdomen is used.
Excess skin and
fat are removed
and the abdominal
muscles are
tightened.
Liposuction is
often used during
an
abdominoplasty.
Some patients are
candidates for
the endoscopic
technique using
minimal incisions.
What can I expect
from the after the
procedure?
After your tummy tuck
surgery, you will go home
wearing a firm
elastic garment.
A light support
garment is
recommended for
two to three
weeks. It may be
removed for brief
periods to
shower.
There will be
some
postoperative
discomfort for a
few days but it
is easily
controlled by
medication.
You will have a
firmer
abdominal wall, a
narrower
waistline and a
flatter lower
abdomen.
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