Women whose skin has poor elasticity may develop a “pooch” in the abdomen after weight loss or pregnancy. Exercise can tone and strengthen abdominal muscle but if the skin has stretched beyond its capacity to snap back, no amount of exercise can completely reverse the damage. Excision of the excess skin with plastic surgery is often the only option. An abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck as it is popularly known, can restore tone to an abdomen by removing excess skin and tightening the abdominal wall. This operation takes about three hours and is commonly done in an office outpatient setting for patients whose general health is good.
If there is loose skin and muscle throughout the upper and lower abdomen a full abdominoplasty gives the maximum improvement, but if the problem is limited to the lower abdomen a “mini” tummy tuck may be all that is necessary. One drawback of an abdominoplasty is the creation of a long scar across the lower abdomen but this usually fades well over time and is positioned so it can be hidden by most clothing. It takes about two weeks to be up and around after an abdominoplasty, although complete healing takes several months.
The great majority of women who elect for body contour surgery such as abdominoplasty after childbirth or weight loss find it to be an excellent finishing touch in the restoration of their figure. Please visit DrPechter.com for “before and after” pictures of this procedure.
Dr. Pechter is the author of The Grid/Staple Adjunct to Abdominoplasty. He is certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery, a member of The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and an assistant clinical professor of plastic surgery at UCLA.
For more information or to schedule a consultation, call his office at 661-255-2151 or visit www.DrPechter.com .