What Happens During a Tummy Tuck?
A bit of extra weight around the midsection is nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, it’s quite common for people to experience excess skin or fat that accumulates on the abdomen as they age. This doesn’t always result from weight gain. In fact, in many cases, this unpleasant abdominal appearance results from significant weight fluctuation, affects related to pregnancy, or other unwelcome changes that occur naturally over time. This stretched, excess skin on the belly as well as a belly “pooch” that occurs with muscle separation cannot be treated with diet and exercise alone.
For anyone who desires a flatter, trimmer stomach, a tummy tuck can be an outstanding surgical option. A tummy tuck is a popular cosmetic surgery procedure that works by removing excess skin and some fat from the abdomen, while tightening the underlying muscles, to improve the contour of the stomach. Patients often ask exactly what happens during tummy tuck surgery and how it works. The answer depends on the type of tummy tuck procedure they undergo. Allow me to explain.
The most commonly-performed type of tummy tuck is a standard tummy tuck. A standard tummy tuck removes excess abdominal skin and fat and repairs loosened abdominal muscles to create a more slender, shapelier stomach. During a standard tummy tuck, I begin by making an incision which extends from one hipbone to the other. I make this incision low enough so that it can be concealed under bathing suits and undergarments. If necessary, the belly button can be repositioned to provide more natural-looking results.
A mini tummy tuck is designed to help patients who only seek aesthetic improvement to the area below their navel. During a mini tummy tuck, a smaller incision is made. Unlike a standard tummy tuck, the navel is not repositioned as part of a mini tummy tuck. In some cases, no muscle repair is needed and only excess skin is removed.
Lastly, an extended tummy tuck can help those that seek to enhance not only their abdomen, but the flanks (sometimes referred to as “love handles”) as well. This procedure is usually preferred by patients who have experienced significant weight loss in the past or those who want a more slender waistline. During an extended tummy tuck procedure, I make an incision that extends wider than normal, to the sides of each hip. Despite being wider, the incision is usually made low enough to avoid visibility, even when low-rise clothing is worn.
Regardless of which tummy tuck method is the most appropriate for your specific goals, I have seen firsthand in my many years as a board-certified plastic surgeon that a tummy tuck can provide excellent, often life-changing aesthetic results. If you are curious about a tummy tuck or any of the other cosmetic surgeries that I perform, please contact me, Dr. Frank Elliott, today to schedule your plastic surgery consultation. You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for even more cosmetic surgery tips, videos, and more.