Body Contouring

Tummy Tuck

Tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, refers to a group of procedures that addresses specific areas of abdominal wall laxity. These procedures usually include at least some liposuction, in addition to a direct surgical tightening of the deep abdominal wall. Incision length is chosen on an individual basis, depending upon the amount and location of redundant or hanging skin. Patients that have tight skin but a lax abdominal wall can often benefit from minimally invasive techniques that have short incisions with minimal scarring. Patients with large areas of lax skin with multiple stretch marks from multiple pregnancies often benefit from the more traditional approaches with longer skin incisions to accomplish the desired changes in abdominal wall contour. Incisions are oriented according to individual preferences for swimsuit and undergarment styles.

Most body contouring procedures, other than small areas for liposuction, are best performed using general anesthesia. Liposuction and limited or "miniabdominoplasty" patients usually return home the day of surgery. Full abdominoplasty and body lift patients usually stay overnight for observation following the procedure and return home the following morning. Postoperative recovery entails a short period of activity restriction following liposuction and a pressure garment to be worn for about four weeks. Tummy tuck patients are restricted from vigorous exercise for several weeks to allow for the deep abdominal wall repair to completely heal and stabilize.