Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)

The abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, procedure is used to flatten and reshape the abdomen, tighten the abdominal musculature and remove excess deposits of fat. There are three types of abdominoplasty: the standard or full abdominoplasty, mini-abdominoplasty, and endoscopic abdominoplasty. In the mini-abdominoplasty, an incision is made over the pubic area, which extends approximately for one-half the width of the abdomen. Excess deposits of fat may be removed before the incision is made using conventional, power-assisted, laser lipolysis or ultrasonic liposuction. After the incision is made, the skin and fat are elevated off the underlying muscle fascia up to the level of the umbilicus, or belly button. Any ventral hernia of the abdomen or separation of the muscles (diastasis recti) is repaired. The excess skin is removed and the incision is sutured close. The patient is placed in an abdominal binder, which is worn for 3 weeks.

The endoscopic abdominoplasty tightens the muscles of the abdomen through one or two small incisions. Although liposuction is often performed at the same time, there is no tightening of the skin performed.

The full abdominoplasty requires an incision that extends along the lower abdomen from hip to hip. In addition, an incision is made around the umbilicus, or belly button, because the separation of the skin and fat off the muscle of the abdomen extends up to the rib cage. Although the mini-abdominoplasty and the endoscopic abdominoplasty can be performed under an intravenous sedation with local anesthesia, the full abdominoplasty generally requires general, epidural or spinal anesthesia. Recovery from the full abdominoplasty is slightly longer than from the other two procedures. It is usually performed in the hospital, and patients often require drains, which are left in place for several days.

The treatments listed are not intended to be complete or comprehensive. The specific risks and the suitability of these procedures for a given individual can be determined only after a personal consultation. Please email us at infoplstc@RothausMD.com or call us at 212.737.0770 to schedule a consultation.

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