Abdominoplasty

Despite a regimen of diet, exercise and weight loss, some patients have an excess of soft tissue on the lower abdomen. Even the most disciplined patient may find it impossible to rid herself of some fullness just below the belt line. Contributing factors may be a previous pregnancy, aging, prior surgery, massive weight loss or a combination of issues.

Abdominoplasty or tummy tuck refers to the surgical contouring of the mid-section of the body. A patient may decide to have a tummy tuck for a variety of reasons. One common reason that a patient may have a persistent bulge in the lower abdominal area is due to the relaxation of the lower abdominal muscles secondary to either pregnancy or cesarean section. Another common cause of a persistent area of fullness is significant weight loss.

Common to most scenarios is that each patient has tried to lose the persistent bulge through diet and exercise. The tummy tuck is designed to contour the abdominal area by removing the excessive soft tissue. However, abdominoplasty is not a treatment for generalized obesity and should not be used as a substitute for a healthy diet and moderate exercise.

The patient's experience begins with a thorough evaluation during a complimentary consultation at the Wetherington Plastic Surgery Center. During this visit the patient is informed about the procedure and is educated about the risks and complications associated with abdominoplasty. Financial and scheduling information is provided.

The surgical procedure is performed at the Wetherington Plastic Surgery Center and is approximately three hours in duration. The excess skin and fat of the lower abdominal area is removed, and the muscles are repaired to help flatten the area. Typically, additional fat removal is performed utilizing liposuction. The incision is planned so that the scar is hidden, allowing the patient to wear her bathing suit of choice. A typical patient is healed well enough to resume normal levels of activity within a few weeks, although it may take several months for the incisions to lose all of their pink color and fade.

Abdominoplasty is a relatively safe and popular procedure that helps contour the lower abdominal wall. The ideal candidate has already invested time and effort into their well -being with a healthy lifestyle.