Tummy Tuck

Loose abdominal wall skin, which is often associated with excess fat, concerns most women, especially after a pregnancy. With each pregnancy, the rectus abdomini muscles, visible as "six packs" on the abdominal wall, stretch apart and loosen. With this loosening, comes increased bulging of the abdominal contents leading to a protruding abdomen. An abdominoplasty procedure, otherwise known as a tummy tuck addresses this excess fat and skin, as well as the weakness and spreading apart of the rectus abdominis muscles. With a general anesthetic, the patient breathes on his or her and is completely unaware of the surgery. Doctors inject a local anesthetic into the surgical site to minimize post-surgical pain. Using markings made before the procedure, surgeons make incisions at the bikini line and around the belly button. The surgeon then raises the abdominal skin and purges the fat. The surgeon sutures the loose abdominal muscles are together in a special manner to bring them back to an anatomically correct position. This technique also tightens the abdominal wall improves the figure of the patient. Liposuction removes any excess fat remaining on the sides. The surgeon re-drapes the skin over the abdomen and removes excess skin and fat. The doctor sews up multiple layers of skin in sections in order to minimize scarring and to ensure that the final scar will remain within the bikini region. Before the completion of the surgery, the anesthesiologist injects a long-acting anesthetic into the surgical sites to minimize post-operative pain. Silastic drains collect any oozing that may occur during the few days after surgery.

Q: Will insurance cover plastic surgery procedures? A: There is a distinction between cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. Most insurance do not cover cosmetic surgery to reshape normal structures in order to improve the appearance and self-esteem of a patient. Insurance covers reconstructive procedures on abnormal structures on the body caused by birth defect, cancer, trauma, infection or disease. More Plastic Surgery Questions



Other Resources
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Capsular Contracture III - Stage three capsular contracture describes a breast implant, which is firm to touch with visible breast deformity. Stage III capsular contracture can occur anytime after breast augmentation. Patients may experience a firm breast implant from one week to a few decades after breast augmentation surgery.
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Breast Lift Complications - Breast lifts can results wide or raised scars, altered nipple sensation, asymmetry in breasts, and enlarged areolas.