A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is surgery designed to remove excess  skin and fatty tissue from the abdomen.  It also may involve repositioning the stomach muscles to tighten the abdominal wall.   Sometimes a healthy body weight and exercise are not enough to take care of waistline problems.  In other cases, multiple pregnancies or  significant weight loss will result in excess skin and loose muscle that do not respond to exercise.  In such cases, a patient can benefit tremendously from a tummy tuck.  This bodily enhancement procedure is designed for those who wish to have a flatter and tighter stomach or regain their "pre-pregnancy" body.       

Reasons for Considering an Abdominoplasty:

• Healthy eating and exercise fail to improve the abdominal area
• Excessive accumulation of abdominal skin following a significant weight loss
• Extra skin and loose abdominal muscles following pregnancies
• Inability to regain abdominal tone despite exercises

General Procedure

     Abdominoplasty surgery lasts about three hours and is performed in the hospital under general anesthesia.  You will spend one night in the hospital, to allow you to rest fully and minimize and strain on the abdominal repair.  The procedure involves an incision in the lower abdomen where the skin is elevated and the abdominal muscles are tightened, providing a firm and tight abdominal wall.  The excess skin is then removed.  Drains are placed under the skin and the incision is closed.  There are also a few stitches around the belly button.    You will spend a quiet night resting in the hospital resting and will go home the next day.  You should not drive for about 2 weeks.

      For patients who have a lesser amount of excess skin, a mini -tummy tuck can be considered.  This will remove skin from the lower abdomen and not involve muscle or the belly button.   It is outpatient surgery and can be performed in an outpatient surgical suite.

Recovery Process

     Generally, post-operative instructions call for plenty of rest and light activity in order to speed up the healing process and avoid complications.  Pain is well controlled with oral medication and antibiotics will be taken as well.  The stitches are dissolvable.  Drains are usually removed a couple of weeks after surgery.   You can begin driving about two weeks after surgery.