Learn about the new and safer alternative to the Schedule your consultation today
traditional tummy tuck procedure
NYC – (212)265-8877
Garden City, Long Island – (516)742-4636
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The tummy tuck procedure removes excess fat and skin and tightens underlying muscles in the abdomen. It also gets rid of loose or wrinkled skin and stretch marks. Both women and men can benefit from this extremely effective body contouring surgery. |
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Pregnancy, weight gain and weight loss have a devastating impact on a woman’s abdomen. Only infrequently can dieting and exercise fully restore the abdomen wall to its flat desirable shape after the skin and muscles have been stretched to their limit. After losing weight, men can also have difficulties regaining their youthful flat abdomen.
How do Liposuction and Tummy Tucks Compare?
Liposuction is ideal to contour the abdomen for those who have good skin tone and excess fat that is resistant to diet and exercise. The tummy tuck is a better procedure for women and men who have loose abdominal skin following pregnancy and weight loss.
Abdominal wall deformities have 3 components:
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Full Tummy Tuck, or Abdominoplasty |
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The fascia is then sutured in order to tighten loose or stretched out muscles located below the fascia. This step creates a tighter abdominal wall and a thinner waist. The skin is stretched down and the excess skin and fat are removed. A new opening is cut on the skin for the repositioning of the belly button. Usually drains are inserted to eliminate fluid and blood buildup. Every effort is made to hide the scars in the bikini area. The incision is then closed, and a firm dressing is placed on the abdomen. Liposuction to remove excess fat from hips and flanks are often performed at the same time as the tummy tuck for a better body contour.
Mini Tummy Tuck
A mini tummy tuck or partial abdominoplasty is best suited for patients who have a pouch below the belly button who do not have significant stretch marks, saggy skin, or a hooded belly button. The procedure is less invasive than a full tummy tuck. While a full tummy tuck involves an incision around the belly button and across the lower abdomen, a mini tummy tuck leaves the belly button intact and requires a smaller incision. The excess skin and fat are removed and the muscles are tightened. Liposuction can also be combined with this procedure to remove excess fat above and below the belly button which will enhance body contour.
Dermolipectomy
A dermolipectomy is a procedure that removes skin and fat from the abdomen but does not tighten the muscles. It is indicated for slender women who have wrinkly or excess skin but good muscle tone. The scar is the same as a tummy tuck.
The tummy tuck procedure will not remove stretch marks of your mid or upper abdomen (but it will shift them to a lower area of your abdomen). There will be a scar extending across the lowest part of your abdomen, just above the bikini line. Also, there will be a second scar around your belly button, if the belly button needs to be moved. These scars are usually hidden by underwear or a swimming suit. The scars may worsen during the first 3 to 6 months as it heals which may be disconcerting. However, this is normal. It takes approximately 9 months to a year before the scars flatten out and lighten in color. Ultmately, you are most likely to look and feel better with a flat abdomen and scars than with a bulging belly. Serious complications after tummy tuck surgery are uncommon. However, there are risks with any surgery and specific complications associated with this procedure.
The ideal candidate for tummy tuck surgery should meet most of the following criteria:
If you do not meet all of these criteria, but meet some of them, you may still be a good candidate for a tummy tuck. The traditional tummy tuck procedure is most suited for those who are close to their ideal body weight, but if you have a lot of fat in an isolated area, you may still be a good candidate.
If you intend to lose a lot of weight, wait until after your weight loss to schedule abdominoplasty surgery. If you plan on future pregnancies, you should wait until you are done having children. A subsequent pregnancy will stretch the abdomen again.
Increased Risk factors for the Tummy Tuck Procedure:
You are probably not a candidate for this procedue if you have any of the following conditions:
**An Explanation of the Various Type of Anesthesia**
Tumescent Anesthesia- refers to a solution that contains local anesthesa within it and is injected into the fat so that local anesthesia is achieved. There are minimal risks associated with this method
Twilight Anesthesia-sedation that places you in a "dreamlike state" so that you are relaxed and comfortable
General Anesthesia- you are completely anesthetized and require breathing assistance
The Abdominolipoplasty Procedure
The traditional abdominoplasty procedures (full tummy tuck, mini-tummy tuck and dermolipectomy) are associated with a relatively high complication rate because of the necessay large area of work performed under the front abdominal flap. This type of dissection involves extensive trauma and compromise to the blood supply of the abdominal flap which can lead to complications and a long recovery period. General anesthesia or heavy twilight sedation is frequently required to complete the surgery because of the extensive time and effort required.
Dr. Prasad has adopted a revolutionary minimally invasive approach to tummy tuck that can be safely and effectively performed as an office procedure under local tumescent anesthesia. The technique is called Abdominolipoplasty and it combines two procedures: liposuction of the abdomen and the tummy tuck. By avoiding the use of general anesthesia or heavy sedation (and complications associated with this type of anesthesia) this new procedure offers a shorter postoperative recovery.
In the past, traditional teaching held that performing abdominal liposuction at the same time of tummy tuck would further disrupt the blood supply, creating a significantly greater risk of significant complications.
Recent studies had clearly demonstrated that such a belief was erroneous. It is well established now that when one performs limited liposuction, the blood vessels remain intact and functional even though the fat is removed. The removal of the fat by liposuction leaves an empty space. Because the overlying skin remains extremely mobile, we can remove as much skin as needed with a standard tummy tuck.
The management of the belly button is identical in both procedures. The skin incisions and the amount of skin removed are also similar. The tightening of the muscles also can be performed with either procedure. However, with the technique used by Dr. Prasad, the amount of fat one can remove is greater. This improves abdominal contour by thinning the fat layer considerably more than with the traditional tummy tuck while decreasing the risks. Dr. Prasad’s approach doesn’t require the routine use of suction drains - which is a standard requirement in traditional tummy tuck.
Performing the procedure under local tumescent anesthesia with sedation as needed adds additional benefits over the traditional tummy tuck for the following reasons:
In Dr. Prasad’s experience, the abdominoplasty under local tumescent anesthesia results in a shorter and more aesthetically pleasing scar when compared with the scar from traditional tummy tuck. His approach creates a more youthful abdominal silhouette and more harmonious results while avoiding complications and the prolonged recovery time associated with the traditional tummy tuck.
Schedule a complimentary consultation today:
Amiya Prasad, M.D., F.A.C.S.
New York City: 61 East 66th Street (between Park & Madison Avenue)
(212)265-8877
Garden City, Long Island: 901 Stewart Avenue (near the Roosevelt Field Mall)
(516)742-4636
