"Tummy-Tuck" (Abdominoplasty)
Abdominoplasty ("tummy-tuck") is a procedure for contouring of the
abdominal wall used especially in patients where liposuction alone is unlikely to
resolve the cosmetic problem. This occurs especially in patients with excess, stretched out skin and
bulging abdominal muscles such as
seen in smaller women following pregnancies with large babies. Presence of
many stretch marks on the belly skin or a large amount of skin and fat overhang (panniculus) makes a
tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) the procedure of choice. Lax,
stretched out skin is also seen in patients who experienced large volume
weight loss following bariatric surgery (gastric bypass and gastric
banding). Dr. Zemplenyi performs abdominoplasty at our Bel-Red Center for Aesthetic Plastic Cosmetic Surgery
on patients from Seattle, Bellevue and the entire Puget Sound region.
Pre-operative Consultation
We wish is to help you decide on the best treatment program tailored
for your individual needs. During your consultation Dr. Zemplenyi will
address your abdominal contour cosmetic concerns and will advise you on the various
abdominoplasty techniques available for their correction. In general, a
full abdominoplasty consists of a mobilization of the abdominal skin
wall away from the underlying Rectus abdominis, freeing up the belly
button and sliding the wall in a downward direction with removal of
excess skin from the area immediately above the pubic region. The muscle
wall is reinforced with sutures and a new opening for the belly button
is created. Modified, lesser versions of a tummy tuck avoid the
mobilization of the belly button and avoid the re-enforcement of the
muscle wall. Although Dr. Zemplenyi will provide you with his
recommendation for your treatment, you will be empowered to make an
informed decision about those procedures best for you. While
tightening of the Rectus abdominis muscles of the belly wall is not
necessary in all cases of a tummy tuck the results tend to be enhanced
when the belly wall is reconstructed and tightened-up.
Surgery & Anesthesia
Our goal is to perform all surgeries without any patient recollection
of the procedure and with the least amount of discomfort, nausea or
other anesthetic side-effects. Dr. Zemplenyi performs
tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) most commonly under general anesthesia
although sedation "twilight sleep" anesthesia is possible in
some patients.
Please refer to the section on Anesthesia and Pre-operative instructions
for further information. The exact technique of abdominoplasty to
be used is chosen by you and Dr. Zemplenyi in the pre-operative
consultation. We often perform an abdominoplasty along with liposuction
of the epigastric (upper belly) and the "love handle" region.
A horizontal curved incision is placed above the pubic hair region
and extends toward the bony pelvic (iliac crest) bones. The exact
length of the incision depends on the width of the skin between the
belly button and the pubic region to be excised in order to re-establish
tightness of the belly skin envelope. The scar is placed so
that it is covered in a bathing suit. Drains are inserted for
evacuation of accumulated fluid and remain in place for about seven to
ten days.
After Your Surgery
Most patients are discharged home following about 45 to 60 minute
stay in the recovery room at the Bel-Red Center for Aesthetic Cosmetic
Plastic Surgery. Post-operative discomfort is controlled with prescribed
narcotic pain medications and muscle relaxants. A check-up visit
with Dr. Zemplenyi occurs the next day, and most patients take about one
week from work and avoid strenuous activities for three to four weeks.
The drains are removed at seven to then days as are some of the sutures.
Final cosmetic result is not achieved until three to four months when
all of the residual changes resolve.
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