Tummy Tuck

The Abdominoplasty procedure is better known as a “Tummy Tuck”.  It is a procedure that has literally changed people’s lives and shape.  It is a procedure that removes hanging skin, excess fat, stretch marks and scars transforming an unpleasant body shape into a flat, smooth and attractive torso.  It accomplishes what liposuction cannot do.  The “Tummy Tuck” procedure is used for women who have excess skin, stretch marks and weakened abdominal wall muscles after having babies and massive weight loss clients who have sagging and over stretched skin after losing large amounts of weight.  The majority of clients receive the traditional abdominoplasty with liposuction of the hips and waist; however, there are several Abdominoplasty procedures used to address each individual’s specific needs.   

Abdominoplasty Procedures

Mini-abdominoplasty:  Removes an ellipse of excess skin, stretch marks, scars and fat from below the belly button.  The upper abdominal skin is not pulled down to the pubic area.  The scar runs from hip to hip.

Traditional Abdominoplasty: Removes a ellipse of loose skin with stretch marks, scars and fat.  The upper abdominal skin and fat is detached from the abdominal wall, the lax abdominal wall muscles are approximated, the upper abdominal skin is pulled down and sutured to the pubic skin and the belly button is sutured to a new opening made in the stretched upper abdominal skin.  Liposuction of the hips and waist are often performed with the traditional abdominoplasty.  The scar is from hip to hip.

Fleur-de-lis Abdominoplasty:  Removes a horizontal ellipse of skin and fat and a midline vertical ellipse of skin and fat.  This type of abdominoplasty is used when client’s have had a vertical incision for inta-abdominal surgery in the past.  The lax muscles are re-approximated and the belly button re-attached.  This procedures pulls the sides tight as well as the abdomen.  The scar forms an inverted “T” configuration.

Belt Abdominoplasty:  Removes skin and fat circumferentially around the lower torso in clients with massive weight loss.  It removes the sagging skin of the sides and sacral areas as well as the lower abdomen.  It pulls the thigh and buttocks up for a flatter, smoother thigh-waist and buttock shape.  This procedure is a significant surgical undertaking that requires an overnight stay in the recovery area.  Depending on the extent of undermining of the lateral thigh, this procedure may also be called a High Lateral Tension Abdominoplasty.