Shop Now: …time to say goodbye to excess abdominal skin and fat!
A flat and well-toned abdomen is something many of us strive for through exercise and weight control. Sometimes these methods cannot achieve our goals.
Even individuals of otherwise normal body weight and proportion can develop an abdomen that protrudes or is loose and sagging. The most common causes of this include:
- Aging
- Heredity
- Pregnancy
- Prior surgery
- Significant fluctuations in weight
WHAT IT IS:
Lipoabdominoplasty, more commonly known as a Tummy Tuck, is a regular procedure Dr. Weiler performs to remove excess skin and fat many patients are left with after pregnancy, weight loss, or weight gain.
This procedure includes liposuction to the upper or lower abdomen and love handle areas, tightening of the abdominal muscles, as well as removing excess skin below the belly button and tighten the remaining skin. When these procedures are combined the end result is a major transformation in the contour of the patient’s waistline and stomach.
HOW IT WORKS:
Dr. Weiler places the Tummy Tuck incision along the lower abdomen right above the pubic region similar to where a c-section scar is located. It hides well under swimsuits and clothing. The length of the incision can vary depending on the patient. Dr. Weiler then removes the excess fat and skin from the abdomen and tightens the abdominal muscles to improve the waistline’s appearance.* The belly button remains intact and is pulled through to a new skin location.
A lipoabdominoplasty is performed at Weiler Plastic Surgery under general anesthesia on an outpatient basis. Patients will need someone to drive them home after the surgery and have someone stay with them for a day or two after surgery.
Dr. Weiler will place two small drains to aid in removing any excess fluid The drains are typically removed at the patients one week follow-up visit. A compression garment is applied after surgery and should be worn for four to six weeks.
If you are a current smoker, Dr. Weiler advises you to stop smoking a minimum of three weeks prior to your procedure. Smoking can greatly affect the healing process after an abdominoplasty. All current medications you are currently taking will be reviewed at your preoperative appointment and we will inform you if anything you are taking will need to be stopped prior to surgery.
WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER SURGERY:
We like to see our patients back in the office one to two days after surgery. At this time, dressings are taken off and the incisions are assessed. Concerns are addressed and instructions are reviewed for optimal recovery. After this visit you will be allowed to go home and shower with your compression garment on. You should expect some swelling and bruising initially which will subside over the next couple of weeks. Tightness in your abdominal muscles is normal after your surgery. Some patients may not be able to stand completely upright for a few days following surgery. Walking around after your surgery is very important to promote circulation. Dr. Weiler also likes his lipoabdominoplasty patients to start on full-strength aspirin daily for the first week after surgery. You will return to the office seven days post surgery and again at two weeks for your follow-up visits.
RECOVERY:
A patient’s recovery after a Tummy Tuck procedure is highly variable, but in general most patients are able to return to work within seven to ten days and are back to normal activities within two to three weeks.* Strenuous activity is to be avoided for several weeks following the surgery. At six weeks most patients are able to resume normal activity with no restrictions.
You can view more of Dr. Weiler’s Tummy Tuck Before + Afters here.
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Watch this short video of Dr. Weiler explaining his approach on the procedure:
If you’d like to contact us for a consultation or more information on this or any of our procedures, you can do so here.
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