What can an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) do for me?

An abdominoplasty can provide you with a trimmer waistline and flatter stomach by removing excess skin and fat from the mid and lower abdomen. The tissue surrounding the muscle can be tightened as well in order to reposition the muscles and achieve the desired result. This can help to reverse some of the changes that occur to the abdominal area following pregnancy, significant weight loss, or resulting from the normal aging process.

Not everyone with excess skin and fat in the abdominal area is well suited for the tummy tuck procedure. If the excess tissue is predominantly fat, liposuction of the area may be the best solution. An abdominoplasty is most beneficial in cases where excess skin and/or displaced muscle tissue compromise the structural strength of the abdominal wall, resulting in a protruding abdomen. If you have any questions as to what procedure would best fit your case, feel free to come in for a complementary consultation with Dr. Springer and Dr. Szczerba. They will help you choose the best option given your unique set of circumstances.

Why consider an abdominoplasty?

If you experience any of the following symptoms or conditions, you may be a good candidate for this procedure:

• Protruding abdomen that is out of proportion to the rest of your body, as can occur following pregnancy, weight loss or other significant changes to the abdomen.
  
• Excess of sagging abdominal skin or fatty tissue in your mid or lower abdomen.
  
  

The best candidates for a tummy tuck are those who maintain a healthy diet and exercise program but still experience loose skin and a protruding abdomen. Women who have had multiple pregnancies or those who have undergone a significant weight loss may have stretched the skin and muscle beyond the point at which they can return to their original form. This procedure tightens up the abdominal area in order to recreate a more flattering figure. In addition, those who have lost skin elasticity can be helped greatly as this procedure will remove excess skin, tightening what is left behind.

Those who are planning on additional pregnancies in the future, or those who are planning on losing a relatively large amount of weight should wait before undergoing this procedure since the integrity of the abdominal skin and muscle may change significantly. If you have any questions on whether or not you are ready to undergo this surgery, please come in for your free consultation with Dr. Springer and Dr. Szczerba.

How do I select a competent plastic surgeon?

Perhaps your most important decision regarding abdominoplasty surgery is the choice of your plastic surgeon. One way to ensure that your physician can offer you the care you deserve is to make sure he or she is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. This is the only plastic surgery board recognized by the American Medical Association and the American Hospital Association in Plastic Surgery. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), two prestigious national associations, require that all of their members pass the plastic surgery board exams. Choosing a surgeon who is a member of one or both of these associations ensures that he or she is well educated and has years of experience in the field of cosmetic surgery.

An equally important factor is how comfortable you are with the surgeon that you choose. Make sure you feel he or she has spent enough time speaking with you, and that the physician understands your needs and desires. You are having surgery, therefore, you should feel like your needs are being heard and met. Ask to see before and after pictures of prior breast reduction patients. The physician should be willing to show some to you – make sure to verify that they are his or her own patients.

How is the abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) performed?

The length and extent of surgery varies depending on the amount of tissue that must be removed and the contour of the muscles and underlying tissues. However, many of the fundamentals of the procedure remain the same across cases.

In an abdominoplasty a horizontal incision is made just above the pubic area, extending from one side to the other. Depending on what areas need revision, an incision around the navel also may be necessary. The skin and fatty tissue is then detached from the muscle underneath. If necessary the loose tissue and muscle underneath are cinched together and tightened with sutures. The skin above the incision is then pulled down, the excess tissue is removed, and a small incision is made for the new location of the navel if necessary. Finally, the incision is carefully sutured closed in order to minimize the visibility of the scar that will result.

If the amount of excess fat is minimal and the skin is relatively taut, the procedure is less involved. An incision is made in the same area but is shorter than with a full abdominoplasty. The skin is lifted and small bulges of excess fat are removed surgically before the incision is closed. Generally, very little skin is removed. This is called a mini-abdominoplasty and is less involved than a full abdominoplasty. For those who have significant amounts of loose, excess skin, a similar procedure called a panniculectomy removes it via an incision made around the pubic area. In this procedure the tissue is separated from the underlying muscle, the skin is pulled downward until it is taut, and the excess is removed before the incision is closed.

If you have stretch marks on your abdomen, some of them may be removed by an abdominoplasty or panniculectomy. Any that are found higher on the abdomen, however, will remain, but they may be relocated to a less conspicuous position. This procedure may help to flatten the remaining stretch marks slightly, but it is likely that there will not be a great improvement in their appearance as a result of this procedure. In addition, scars on the abdomen that remain from previous surgeries may change due to the stretching of the skin in the area.

Do you perform this procedure in a hospital or clinic setting?

Our abdominoplasty cases are performed in a hospital setting. Our staff is very knowledgeable and compassionate, and the hospital fees have been negotiated so that you don’t have to pay a premium for the hospital care you receive. Abdominoplasties are usually performed as outpatient procedures under general anesthesia, so you may go home a few hours after surgery. However, depending on the extensiveness of the procedure, it may be appropriate for you to stay overnight.

What can I expect after surgery?

You will experience some pain and discomfort in the abdominal area for a few days after surgery. A prescription for pain medication will be given to you in order to decrease your level of discomfort. Swelling and bruising will occur and persist for a few weeks, but should resolve almost completely a month or two following surgery. We do ask that you wear a support garment for at least a couple of weeks to help reduce the swelling and support the abdomen while it heals.

We usually suggest that you take at least ten days off before returning to work – a couple more weeks if you have a job that requires heavy labor or lifting. For the first couple of weeks, straining the muscles in the abdomen, bending, and lifting anything heavier than five pounds must be avoided in order to ensure that the incisions heal well. After about a month, you should be able to resume most normal activities including some mild exercise. Sit-ups, strenuous exercise, and other exercises that target the abdomen should be avoided until at least six weeks after surgery.

What are my payment options?

As is the case with all cosmetic surgery, full payment for your surgery is required prior to you surgery date. However, Dr. Springer and Dr. Szczerba offer another payment option in addition to cash, personal check or credit card. For many years they have offered financing to their cosmetic patients, in order to allow more flexibility in payment. When you come into the office for your free consultation, we will be happy to discuss all of the pricing and payment options with you. At that time, we can give you the names of the financing firms with whom we work.

What can I expect from my final result?

Abdominoplasty surgery enhances your body contour by making the abdomen firmer and flatter and possibly giving you a slimmer waist. Most likely it will take at least a month before you begin to see a significant improvement in your result. In many cases the scar continues to lighten more than a year after your surgery. However, it shouldn’t take more than a couple of weeks before you begin to feel more comfortable in your clothes and more confident in yourself as a result of your trimmer figure. As long as you maintain your pre-operative weight with a moderate diet and exercise plan, you should retain your flatter, firmer stomach and thinner contour for years to come. Your improved figure may even motivate you to undertake a more rigorous exercise program and allow you to develop your figure even further, providing you with the firm abdomen you have always wanted.