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Ohio 43214.
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What is a Tummy Tuck?
A tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is a surgical procedure where excess skin and fat are removed from the stomach, and the abdominal muscles are tightened in an effort to flatten the stomach. This surgery is performed as an outpatient procedure usually under anesthesia, which can be in the form of a general, spinal or epidural anesthetic.
There are many different types of tummy tucks. Smaller scale tummy tucks are performed on patients who have a small amount of skin to be removed and usually a bulge just on the lower abdomen. This type of tuck may include liposuction of excess abdominal fat which is not normally performed with larger tummy tucks. Standard tummy tucks involve the removal of all of the skin and fat from the belly button down to the pubic hairline. In addition, the muscles from the rib cage all the way down to the pubic hairline are tightened in the midline.
Currently there are also much more extensive tummy tuck procedures which involve the removal of excess skin circumferentially around the body. This enables the surgeon to take out excess skin and fat in the sides and the back, as well as the abdomen and are typically done on patients who have lost a considerable amount of weight.
Ideal candidates for tummy tucks are patients who have excess skin and are close to their ideal body weight. Normally, patients who fall into the above description include women who have had several children and are not planning to have anymore.
The surgery starts with an incision made in the lower stomach area. Then the skin and fat are elevated off of the abdominal muscles up to the rib cage, leaving the belly button by itself. The abdominal muscles are then tightened. Thereafter, the excess skin is pulled down, the fat and skin are removed, and a new position for the belly button is selected. Once that is done, the lower incision is closed with sutures. Most surgeons put in one or two drains at the time of surgery. These are removed within three to seven days of the surgery.
There are many different types of tummy tucks. Smaller scale tummy tucks are performed on patients who have a small amount of skin to be removed and usually a bulge just on the lower abdomen. This type of tuck may include liposuction of excess abdominal fat which is not normally performed with larger tummy tucks. Standard tummy tucks involve the removal of all of the skin and fat from the belly button down to the pubic hairline. In addition, the muscles from the rib cage all the way down to the pubic hairline are tightened in the midline.
Currently there are also much more extensive tummy tuck procedures which involve the removal of excess skin circumferentially around the body. This enables the surgeon to take out excess skin and fat in the sides and the back, as well as the abdomen and are typically done on patients who have lost a considerable amount of weight.
Ideal candidates for tummy tucks are patients who have excess skin and are close to their ideal body weight. Normally, patients who fall into the above description include women who have had several children and are not planning to have anymore.
The surgery starts with an incision made in the lower stomach area. Then the skin and fat are elevated off of the abdominal muscles up to the rib cage, leaving the belly button by itself. The abdominal muscles are then tightened. Thereafter, the excess skin is pulled down, the fat and skin are removed, and a new position for the belly button is selected. Once that is done, the lower incision is closed with sutures. Most surgeons put in one or two drains at the time of surgery. These are removed within three to seven days of the surgery.