If you want to improve the appearance of your abdomen, Dr. Furqan Haider is proud to offer tummy tuck surgery at his plastic surgery practice.
A tummy tuck is designed to address excess abdominal skin and loose tissue after pregnancy or major weight loss. Also referred to as “abdominoplasty,” the procedure may be part of a comprehensive post-bariatric body contouring plan. During surgery, excess skin and fat are removed, and the muscles of the abdominal wall are repaired.
The techniques used during the tummy tuck procedure — liposuction and surgical excision — are common to many body contouring techniques. Surgical excision is used to remove excess skin, while liposuction targets fat. Often utilized as a combination approach to address an expanded waistline, liposuction and excision are conducted during a tummy tuck to produce a tauter, more contoured abdomen.
Abdominoplasty is the only body contouring procedure designed to address the skin, fat, and underlying muscles to achieve a firmer and flatter abdomen. This can produce excellent results for patients who have lost a significant amount of weight, who have previously had children, or whose abdominal muscles have naturally weakened due to the forces of genetics and aging. In general, a full tummy tuck is performed to:
As a result of the improvements listed above, many individuals find that their clothes fit much better after surgery and they enjoy higher levels of self-confidence. For patients who were bothered by chafing and irritation caused by the excess skin folds, a tummy tuck may also be able to provide relief.
If you are concerned about the loose skin and fat surrounding your midsection, you may be a good candidate for this procedure. Your midsection may look out of proportion with the rest of your body, a common problem following pregnancy or substantial weight loss. Ideally, you should be of stable weight, in good health, and a non-smoker. Though it doesn’t make pregnancy impossible, it is best if you are not planning any future pregnancies. Finally, candidates for tummy tuck surgery should have realistic expectations for surgery.
Tummy tuck surgery is a rather extensive surgery that requires between 2-5 hours of operating time. After general anesthesia has been administered, Dr. Furqan initiates surgery by marking the incision sites, being careful to minimize visible scarring as much as possible. These incisions are made just above the pubic hairline, below the abdomen, and at the swimsuit line.
Next, the abdominal muscles that have been stretched out from previous pounds or pregnancy are repaired and tightened with sutures. Excess skin in these areas is pulled down and inward, or ’tucked’. The skin is then re-draped, and the incision closed. If liposuction is conducted on the upper abdomen, hips or flanks, it is administered before the incisions are closed. The navel may be remodeled and possibly relocated in order to simplify the process of tightening and re-draping the skin.
Tummy tuck surgery is designed to provide lasting results, and you may not have any need for retreatment if your weight remains stable and you continue to live an active and healthy lifestyle. Minor fluctuations in weight should not have a noticeable effect, but significant weight gain and/or loss could alter the results of your procedure and change your body contour. If you have a child after the operation, this could also modify your results. If you choose, you may be able to have another cosmetic treatment to re-obtain your desired look at a future date.
While we recommend that patients wait until they have finished building their families to have a tummy tuck, the procedure should have no effect on your ability to conceive or bear children. In the event you decide to have another child, you may experience many of the changes in body contour that initially led you to consider a tummy tuck. If you decide at a later date to address these new concerns, Dr. Furqan can go over your options to restore your abdomen to its previous appearance.
Part of your consultation with Dr. Furqan will involve discussing your goals and ensuring a tummy tuck is the ideal procedure to shape your abdomen. Along with abdominoplasty, liposuction is another highly effective body contouring technique that is often utilized to attain a flatter, more taut look. While both treatment options can sculpt the abdominal region, the main difference between liposuction and tummy tuck surgery is that each procedure is performed to address separate concerns.
Liposuction is solely intended for fat removal and cannot treat the other aesthetic concerns that may be deterring a more contoured abdominal appearance, such as loose skin and stretched musculature. If your only concern is redundant fat around the abdomen and hips, liposuction is likely enough to achieve your goals. However, many patients also experience some degree of skin laxity and separated musculature, which are both factors that can result in a hanging or protruding abdomen. For these concerns, tummy tuck surgery is the only procedure designed to address the skin and musculature simultaneously. Abdominoplasty and liposuction can also be combined to incorporate fat reduction into your tummy tuck treatment plan for more comprehensive results.