This particular surgery can help you if:
– You have been left with folds of abdominal skin (after significant weight loss through diet and exercise),
– You have had successful weight loss surgery,
– You have scarring from a previous surgery or injury,
– You have stretched skin and muscles following pregnancy (and do not plan to have any more children).
It is important to note that this surgery is not a weight loss treatment and won’t prevent you from gaining weight again in the future. If you plan to lose more weight, it is advisable to do so before having an abdominoplasty, and you may wish to inform Dr. Shahram that this is your plan. Typically, this surgery is most effective when a patient is at their ideal body weight, as maintaining this weight helps prevent the need for any further treatment.
During a standard tummy tuck procedure, Dr. Shahram will make incisions (precise cuts) over the abdomen and across the bikini line, from hip to hip. An incision is also made around the umbilicus (belly button) to free it from the surrounding tissue so that it can be repositioned. If necessary, stretched or torn abdominal muscles are pulled together and sutured in place. The skin is pulled down and the excess is removed. A new hole is then made to accommodate the umbilicus. Once the surgery is complete, all incisions are closed with stitches.
If you are only having a small amount of skin and fat removed, Dr. Shahram may have given you the option of a mini tummy tuck, in which a smaller incision is made just above the pubic area. This results in less scarring, and there is no need to move the umbilicus, although sometimes the umbilicus is stretched during the procedure, somewhat changing its shape.