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With summer fast approaching, many people want to get “bathing suit ready”. Unfortunately, after fluctuations in weight and/or multiple pregnancies, patients may experience loss of abdominal tone, stretch marks, bulging upper abdomen and excess fat that fails to resolve with diet and exercise. A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) reverses the effects of pregnancy and/or weight gain by creating a firmer, flatter and more contoured abdomen. This procedure not only removes the excess fat, skin, and stretch marks but also tightens the abdominal wall muscles that have been stretched out from childbirth or being over weight. There are different types of abdominoplasty that may be done depending on the issues that need to be corrected. The method used will depend on the degree of laxity and the amount of excess fat. Incisions are hidden within the panty line and the result is a flatter and more contoured abdomen.
- Standard Abdominoplasty – This procedure is the most common surgery to correct large amounts of laxity and tissue excess. By elevating the skin from the groin to the lower rib cage, the abdominal wall muscles can be tightened as an internal corset. The abdominal skin is then pulled downward and the excess skin is removed. This allows for removal of stretch marks from the belly button to the panty line. The belly button is left attached to the abdominal wall and brought out through a new small opening after the upper skin has been smoothly redraped.
- Mini-Abdominoplasty – This is a much less involved procedure that simply removes an unwanted fatty deposit/excess of the lower abdomen. The belly button is not relocated and it does not address issues such as upper abdominal bulge or skin.
- Vertical (Fleur de lis) Abdominoplasty – This procedure not only requires the lower incision but also a midline incision. A vertical abdominoplasty is less frequently done and is typically reserved for patients with severe laxity of skin in both the horizontal and vertical dimensions.
Have you or someone you know been thinking about how they are going to get ready for that bathing suit this summer? Call our office at (504) 888-4297 for a consultation today or visit our tummy tuck page to learn more. to learn more about a tummy tuck and find out how we can get you “bathing suit ready” for this summer.
Best Regards,
Trey Sands, MD
