Tummy tuck is a major body contouring plastic surgery procedure involving several key steps. Depending on the type of surgical technique and the extent of surgery involved, the steps may slightly vary. The surgeon will discuss about these steps during the pre-op consultation.
Once the patient is fully aware of what to expect during the tummy tuck procedure, it will help to reduce their pre-surgery anxiety and make them feel more confident. Dr. Gary Motykie is an experienced and proven cosmetic surgeon with board certification in plastic surgery providing tummy tuck to patients in Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, and surrounding communities.
Placing the Incisions
Following the administering of anesthesia, the surgeon will place incisions in inconspicuous locations in the abdominal area. The extent and shape of incisions will depend on the choice of surgical technique. A partial tummy tuck may only involve a minor incision made beneath the belly button.
On the other hand, a circumferential tummy tuck plastic surgery will usually involve an incision around the entire waist line, including the back.
Repositioning the Belly Button
In many cases, the surgeon may decide to reposition the belly button as part of tummy tuck. This can help to make the tightened and lifted abdomen appear more natural looking. The original navel may be detached and placed in a more appropriate location. In some cases, the old navel may not be reattached, but a new navel may be artificially created. This artificial sculpting should only be performed by a reliable and qualified cosmetic surgeon.
Tightening Underlying Muscles
The underlying abdominal muscles may become weak or separated. The surgeon can tighten these sagging muscles during the tummy tuck surgery. The abdominal skin will be separated from the abdominal walls through the incisions. A more toned look will be created by pulling the muscles closer together and suturing them into a firmer position. The waistline will appear narrowed with abdominal muscle tightening.
Removing Excess Skin
Once the abdominal muscles are tightened, the surgeon will pull the skin downward to make it taut and smooth. Excess skin will then be removed. Liposuction may sometimes be performed at this stage to remove excess fat tissue before the skin is pulled tight. Dr. Motykie receives patients from Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, and nearby areas for tummy tuck surgery.
Minimizing Stretch Marks
Although stretch mark removal is not one of the goals in tummy tuck surgery, but it is usually possible reduce the visibility of stretch marks, depending on the incision location. If the stretch marks are located beneath the belly button, they may be removed along with the loose skin. Even other stretch marks may sometimes become less conspicuous following tummy tuck.
Wound Closure
Following the surgery, the incisions will be closed carefully with surgical stitches. The surgeon may place temporary drain tubes under the skin at the incision site to collect excess fluid. This will mitigate the risk of infection. Drain tubes and stitches may be removed around the same time in about one week after the surgery.
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