WHAT IS A TUMMY TUCK?

A tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen while also correcting separated abdominal muscles (rectus diastasis). For many people who have had children or people who have gained and then lost a massive amount of weight, it is the only way to remove the excess skin and fat that is resistant to diet and exercise, and restore the position of the abdominal muscles and balance to your abdominal contour. 
The ideal tummy tuck patient is someone who is in good overall health and is concerned by displaced abdominal muscles, excess drooping skin in the abdominal area, or a persistent “pooch” despite diet and exercise. Ideally, the person should be within 10-15 pounds of a maintainable goal weight.  A tummy tuck procedure is not a weight loss surgery per se but a body contouring procedure.

Types of Abdominoplasties

The mini-abdominoplasty is appropriate for patients who have excess skin located solely below the belly button. Frequently, this overhangs a c-section scar.  If there is laxity of skin or the abdominal wall musculature above the belly button, this will not be addressed with a mini tummy tuck. Most women that have experienced pregnancy will find that they have laxity both above and below the belly button and may feel dissatisfied with the cosmetic outcome of just a mini-tummy tuck.

A full abodominoplasty involves an incision around the belly button and across the lower abdomen and addresses the entirety of the abdominal region. The full-tummy tuck also provides the most control with body contouring of the lower torso. 

An extended abdominoplasty continues around the hips and flanks to eliminate excess tissue on the sides and back.

A lower body lift is a type of abdominoplasty that extends al the way around the torso. This is helpful for patients who have lost significant weight and may have skin laxity of the lower back and drooping of the buttocks.

During your consultation, Dr. Bindewald will listen to your concerns about your body contour as well as what you hope to achieve with surgery. He will ask about your medical history and prior body contouring procedures, both surgical and non-surgical. During the physical exam, he will assess skin laxity, degree of excess fat, and degree of muscle separation (diastasis), if any.

Limited liposuction is a critical portion of most abdominoplasties to remove stubborn pockets of fat along the hips, upper abdomen, flanks or even back.

Breast surgery can also be combined with a tummy tuck as part of a Mommy Makeover. During your consultation, Dr. Bindewald will work with you to find the right procedure or procedures to achieve your ideal body contour with the least amount of downtime possible. 

TUMMY TUCK RECOVERY PROCESS

The entire tummy tuck procedure takes anywhere from 2 to 6 hours depending on the extent of the work that needs to be done on the abdominal wall. If combined with other procedure, the operative time, of course, would be lengthened. The length of the incision and whether an incision around the belly button is necessary will depend on the amount of skin that will need to be removed and will vary based on the individual. Most tummy tuck patients can be done as an outpatient procedure. It is recommended that you refrain from driving until you are off any narcotic pain medication and when you feel that discomfort will not be distracting; for most people, this may take a few weeks. It is typically recommended to avoid heavy exercise and any core exercises for 6 weeks after surgery and until you have been cleared by Dr. Bindewald to do so.

For more information on Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck surgery) or to find out if it’s the right procedure for you, call the San Antonio Plastic Surgery Center at (210) 616-0798 or request a consultation below.