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Tummy Tuck or Abdominoplasty
in Bethesda Maryland - Washington DC Metro Area
Abdominoplasty, or "tummy tuck," is a major surgical procedure designed to reduce the appearance of a protruding or misshapen abdomen. Excess skin and fat is removed from the middle and lower abdomen, and muscles of the abdomen wall can be tightened. The result is generally a leaner, more contoured look.
How abdominoplasty can help you
If you are in relatively good shape but are bothered by a large fat deposit or loose abdominal skin that won't respond to diet or exercise, then abdominoplasty may be for you. An abdominal "apron" of fat or skin may result from the stretching of muscles and skin during multiple pregnancies, or after a dramatic weight loss, or due to loss of elasticity from aging. However, if you are planning future pregnancies or weight loss, you should postpone the surgery until your body has been maintained at a consistent weight and shape.
Your surgical consultation
Your surgeon will evaluate your general health, determine the extent and location of fat deposits in your abdominal region, and carefully assess your muscle and skin tone. These factors will determine the extent of surgery required for the look you desire. For example, if your fat deposits are limited to the area below the navel, you may require a less complex procedure called a partial abdominoplasty, or "mini-tummy tuck," that is often performed on an outpatient basis. In other cases in conjunction with abdominoplasty, liposuction may be used on adjacent areas, such as the hips, to enhance the body contour.
The surgery
Many surgeons perform both partial and complete abdominoplasties in an outpatient surgical center or in an office-based surgical suite. Others prefer the hospital, where their patients can stay for several days if needed.
Depending on the extent of surgery, you may receive a general anesthetic, so you'll sleep through the operation, or a local anesthetic combined with a sedative to make you drowsy. In this case, you would be awake but relaxed. Your abdomen would be insensitive to pain, but you might feel some tugging or occasional discomfort during the procedure.
Surgery usually takes from two to five hours, depending on the extent of work required. A partial abdominoplasty may take only an hour or two.
Most commonly, the surgeon makes a long incision from hipbone to hipbone, ,just above the pubic area. A second incision is made to remove the navel (to be reinserted later) from surrounding tissue. With partial abdominoplasty, the incision is much shorter and the navel may not be moved, although it may be pulled into an unnatural shape as the skin is tightened and stitched. Next, the surgeon separates the skin from the abdominal wall all the way up to the ribs and lifts a large skin flap to reveal the vertical muscles in the abdomen. These muscles are tightened by pulling them close together and stitching them into their new position. This provides a firmer abdominal wall and narrows the waistline. The skin flap is then stretched down and the extra skin is removed. A new hole is cut for the navel, which is then stitched in place. Finally, the incisions are closed, dressings applied. A temporary drainage tube may be inserted to remove excess fluid from the surgical site during healing.
If you are interested in scheduling a complimentary consultation for Tummy Tuck or Abdominoplasty, please use our online plastic surgery information form to make an appiontment.