Landon Plastic Surgery

Abdominoplasty, also known as tummy tuck is designed to remove the extra skin and fat of the lower abdominal wall and provide access for tightening the abdominal wall musculature. Candidates for abdominoplasty include young patients with laxity after pregnancy, those with persistent rolls of the abdominal wall, despite diligence with exercise, weight loss and good nutrition, and older patients with laxity of the abdominal wall. Abdominoplasty differs from liposuction principally by the open nature of the procedure, the need for removal of excess skin and the ability to correct muscle laxity.

Surgery times vary between 2 to 3 hours. There is often the need for some liposuction with the abdominoplasty to smooth out the contours of the flank and upper abdominal wall. General anesthesia is required. Incisions vary from patient to patient with regards to the height of the incision and are adapted to bathing suite wear and patient preference. All absorbable stitch material is used and waterproof dressings are applied for the ease of postoperative hygiene. A drain to remove fluid for a period of 5 to 7 days is required and removed in the office during routine follow up.

Your return to work, on average, is approximately 10 to 14 days, and return to exercise is approximately 6 weeks. Driving, on average, is accomplished at approximately 10 to 14 days. Showering is permissible as early as 48 hours after surgery with assistance. A postoperative binder is provided for support and compression of the surgical area.