Abdominoplasty

As we age, we all deal with more and more sagging. This is especially true if you’ve had children or if you’ve gained and then lost a good deal of weight. As we discussed in last month’s second blog, the localized weight gain in your lower abdomen can stretch the skin to a degree that it stays loose even when you’ve lost the weight. But even without weight gain, most of us will still develop some slight pooch in our stomach area.

That’s why Dr. Frank uses different methods for his tummy tuck procedures. He matches the type of tuck to the patient’s unique needs.

What are the different kinds of tummy tucks?

Here’s a description of three methods used for these surgeries:

Standard abdominoplasty (tummy tuck)

Also known as a full tummy tuck, in a standard tummy tuck Dr. Frank makes two incisions. The first incision runs from hipbone to hipbone, usually descending down along the pubic hairline. The goal is to be able to cover the scar with a bathing suit. The second incision is made at the belly button. Once the skin is separated from the underlying muscle, the abdominal muscles are pulled together and stitched into place to make the abdomen firmer and to narrow the waist. This is to repair stomach muscles that have actually become separated. Next, the skin is pulled downward, excess skin is trimmed away, and the navel is reattached in a natural position.

These full tummy tucks are usually the best option for women who have had children, as the localized weight gain stretches the stomach skin and separates the support muscles.

Partial abdominoplasty (mini tummy tuck)

Also known as a mini tummy tuck, in this procedure Dr. Frank makes just a single incision along the pubic line. The length of this incision may vary depending on the degree of the patient’s sagging. Mini tummy tucks can be good for patients who don’t have a lot of excess sagging skin, but simply want to remove their stomach pooch. This would probably be more typical if a woman hasn’t had children, but has noticed a slight pooch with age.

Circumferential abdominoplasty (extended tummy tuck)

This method involves the upper and lower incisions as with a standard tummy tuck, but the bottom incision is extended. Where it usually stops at the hipbone in a standard procedure, here it extends around the flanks and onto the back. This allows Dr. Frank to also address sagging, excess skin and fat on the outer thighs and buttocks. Fat and skin that are hanging over the belt line will be removed to create a slimmer, smoother contour. Dr. Frank will tighten applicable muscle and will likely use some liposuction to remove unwanted pockets of fat. If you’re familiar with an outer thigh lift or buttock lift, it is as if these procedures were added to a standard tummy tuck in these circumferential tucks.

Do you have loose skin on your abdomen and long for the slimmer contour of your younger days? Call Dr. Frank at (403) 245-1228 and set up a consultation for a tummy tuck.

Part of aging is slackening of both our skin and the support tissues beneath. This creates sagging across the body, but especially in certain areas such as the lower abdomen, the tummy. If you’re a woman and have had a couple of kids, it’s almost guaranteed. Clinically known as abdominoplasty, the goal of a tummy tuck is to tighten and change the contour of the abdomen area. The procedure removes excess fat and skin, and restores weakened or separated muscles, resulting in a flatter, more contoured abdomen.

Abdominoplasty is a specialty of Dr. Frank and his patients from Calgary and the surrounding areas are thrilled with their slimmer contours afterwards.

What causes the sagging that merits a tummy tuck?

When the skin is overstretched for a long period of time, it has trouble rebounding to its former degree of tautness. That’s what happens during the weight gain of pregnancy, or if the patient has gained a good deal of weight and has then shed the pounds. In many cases, the muscles that control the area have become stretched and separated, diminishing their ability to tighten the area as they formerly did. Plus, simple aging tends to make both our muscles and the underlying tissues less tight. A tummy tuck is more about skin and muscle than fat.

Who is a good candidate for a tummy tuck?

If you have loose, inelastic skin, with some pockets of fat, a tummy tuck is the best option (combined with light liposuction to remove the fat). Pregnancy is especially hard on the abdominal muscles because the way it focuses the weight gain in such a small area. This can permanently stretch and separate the abdominal muscles and they won’t return to their former degree of tautness without surgery.

However, if you think you may want to have additional children, your tummy tuck will have to wait. The effects of pregnancy will negate the results of your tummy tuck. Also, people who plan on losing additional weight should delay their tummy tuck because the additional weight loss will create more loose skin. It’s important to remember that abdominoplasty is a body-contouring procedure, not a weight loss procedure. You should be at a healthy weight prior to surgery, with a BMI (Body Mass Index) no greater then 30.

Is there just one kind of tummy tuck?

Dr. Frank treats every tummy tuck procedure as unique because every patient’s body is different. If you have very little excess sagging skin, but want to address your belly bulge, a mini tummy tuck could be right with its shorter incisions. Of if you have a good deal of loose abdominal skin, both above and below the belly button, you probably would do best with a full tummy tuck. Liposuction may be added for cases with more fat. In other words, there isn’t a single tummy tuck procedure.

Are you interested in a slimmer contour on your lower abdomen? Call Dr. Frank at (403) 245-1228 and set up a consultation for abdominoplasty.

If you’ve had children or lost a good deal of weight, odds are your abdomen isn’t what it once was. Loose skin and a little pooch — that’s the usual situation. Why? Because when skin and connective tissue beneath is stretched, due to pregnancy or weight gain, it can only maintain its ability to return to its former tautness for so long. After that, the elasticity is lessened. The result? The tummy pooch or worse.

But Dr. Frank can bring your abdomen back closer to its former self with a tummy tuck. There are a few options when it comes to Dr. Frank’s tummy tuck procedures.

 

Full tummy tuck

A full tummy tuck is recommended for those women with a good deal of loose abdominal skin. During a full tummy tuck, a larger section of excess skin and fat is removed, and the underlying muscles are often brought back to closer to the center to produce a shapelier waistline. A full tuck will also include a second incision, through the belly button if possible, to address looseness above the belly button. In a full tuck, the belly button may be repositioned to a higher location, depending on the amount of skin removed.

Muscle repair

To create the tight, flat abdomen that everyone wants, Dr. Frank not only removes excess skin, but also may reposition muscles that have become separated in the center of the abdomen. It’s not that the muscles have lost their ability to contract, it’s that they may have separated and no longer provide the same support to the middle of the lower abdomen. Of course, every patient’s situation is unique.

Liposuction

There was a time when women chose between a tummy tuck and liposuction, but now the two procedures usually have at least some overlap. In addition to loose, saggy skin, most people also have pockets of fat that don’t respond to exercise or dietary changes. Liposuction removes these pockets.

Who says having a stomach pooch is a part of middle age? Let Dr. Frank tighten up your lower abdomen and give you back a stomach you like to show off in a swimsuit. Call us at (403) 245-1228 to schedule a consultation.

Across North America, approximately 1 of every 3 births are delivered using cesarean section. This surgical procedure may be necessary for some reasons, or it may be chosen by an expecting mother. However it occurs, a C-section birth often alters the abdominal profile to such an extent that a woman feel unhappy with her appearance. The popularity of Mommy Makeovers is a testament to the desire women have for satisfactory body contours after childbirth. An aspect of this process that may be of particular interest to a mother who has given birth via cesarean section is tummy tightening with abdominoplasty.

Abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck surgery, is a procedure that addresses laxity in the abdominal wall. It is not intended to remove excess fat tissue, but to tighten the muscle tissue that has been stretched beyond its capabilities to bounce back. Here, we want to discuss a few tips for women who are considering a post-cesarean tuck.

• Give your body time to recover. We understand how urgent the need to feel good can be. However, women who have undergone a C-section have undergone major surgery. The body needs time to recuperate from the stress of this procedure, and from the pregnancy itself. The general recommendation is that cosmetic surgery after childbirth occurs at 6 to 12 months post-delivery. Before that time, the sense of urgency can be addressed by choosing a qualified cosmetic surgeon and scheduling a consultation for the future procedure.
• Work on fitness goals before surgery. Establishing healthy post-pregnancy lifestyle habits such as eating a well-balanced, low-sugar diet and exercising daily does a lot to support recovery from pregnancy and childbirth. These habits also prepare the body for an intended cosmetic procedure. Through diet and exercise, it is possible to achieve the noticeable reduction in body fat, which maximizes the results from abdominoplasty when this surgery can be performed.
• Be patient. It’s hard to be patient when you want your body to go back to its pre-pregnancy shape. We understand. But health is the primary objective after giving birth, along with bonding with your bundle of joy. There is no value in rushing the process of physical recovery. In fact, trying to do so can create fatigue that inhibits the optimal quality of life.

Our friendly staff is happy to schedule an appointment for you in our Calgary cosmetic surgery office. Call (403) 245-1228.