People come in all shapes and sizes and most of us see imperfections in our figure. The person with a prominent abdomen faces particular problems. Clothes do not fit properly. Clothing and bathing suits are chosen to camouflage rather than to compliment. Poor abdominal tone can exacerbate back problems and make exercise more difficult. Poor muscle tone brought about by pregnancies, weight fluctuations, surgeries, hormonal changes, and aging can sometimes be improved with proper diet and exercise, but, unfortunately, some of these problems cannot be corrected no matter how hard we try. Abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck as it is more commonly called, can correct the problems of poor abdominal tone.

He specializes in tummy tucks and other body contouring cosmetic surgeries. The doctor and his staff are committed to each patient's success. A key to this success is gaining as much information about tummy tuck operations as possible before deciding if the procedure is right for you. Patients considering tummy tuck or other cosmetic procedures are encouraged to review the following information and to contact our office to schedule a complimentary consultation or to obtain additional information.

Abdominoplasty

An abdominoplasty or tummy tuck is an operation done to improve the contour of the abdomen. An abdominoplasty improves the muscle tone, removes excess skin and fat, and provides contour improvement to the flanks and waist. This improvement is gained at the expense of a long incision across the lower abdomen and a more lengthy recovery than with most cosmetic surgeries. If good muscle tone and skin tone already exist, the abdominal contour can frequently be improved by liposuction alone, thus avoiding the long incision of abdominoplasty.

He performs most abdominoplasties in his AAAASF-certified surgical suite. The tummy tuck is done under general anesthesia administered by an anesthesiologist. The procedure involves removing all of the excess skin and fat of the abdomen and tightening the abdominal muscle. Frequently, liposuction is used to contour the flank areas. The length of the incision is determined by the extent of improvement required and the patient's desires. Abdominoplasty can take from 2 to 4 hours to complete. Most patients are transferred to Scripps Hospital for 1 to 2 days recovery.

Most patients find recovery after abdominoplasty to be more difficult than other cosmetic surgeries. Most patients experience moderate discomfort which can require strong pain medications. The doctor has found that pain control is much easier in the hospital. Most patients are able to return to their daily activities the second week following the operation, but many people find they do not regain all of their strength until 4 to 6 weeks following the procedure.

As with all surgical procedures, tummy tuck does carry with it some risk. To learn more about tummy tuck and other cosmetic procedures, please contact our office today.