Abdominoplasty: Common Types
After pregnancy or significant weight loss, many women find themselves unhappy with the look of their tummy. After these events, there may be a great amount of loose skin left in the abdomen. Although diet and exercise can help, sometimes the elasticity of the skin is not what it used to be and you may consider abdominoplasty, to return to the way you once looked.
Abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck, removes excess fat and skin simultaneously from the abdominal area. You may have seen the before and after pictures of abdominoplasty Pittsburghpatients, and some of the scars may look rather large and frightening, but there are several options for the tummy tuck procedure. Depending on the severity of your bulge and loose skin and depending on the results you want to accomplish, there are various types of tummy tuck procedures that can help you achieve what you want.
The endoscopically-assisted abdominoplasty procedure is minimally invasive and allows you to recover quicker than other methods. This is best for those looking for a small fix to their slight bulge with minimal scarring. A mini-tuck is another way to avoid major visible scarring, best for patients with minor bulging in the abdomen and mild to moderate excess skin in the lower abdomen region. This, combined with some liposuction, can tighten your muscles and reduce your unsightly tummy. Though the surgery is considered a “mini” one, keep in mind that it is still surgery and you should plan for a longer recovery time.
The high-lateral tension tummy tuck is usually used on those patients that seek a more defined waste line. This type of tummy tuck allows for liposuction to be performed more thoroughly. Finally, an extensive abdominoplasty is most likely the option chosen by those who have undergone extensive weight loss. Both the lower and upper abdomen regions are targeted and usually involve an umbilicus transposition—which means you will have a new belly button. This type of abdominoplasty procedure is usually performed on a bariatric patient who has lost a tremendous amount of weight and has no other way to get rid of the loose skin. However, this type of procedure may also be required if you have had a pregnancy in which you gained an unusual amount of weight, significantly stretching out your skin.
To be a candidate for any tummy tuck procedure, it is advisable that you be at a healthy weight. Losing large amounts of weight after an abdominoplasty procedure will likely negate the results of the procedure, once again creating loose skin. Also, pregnancy after this kind of procedure is not advisable, thus you should think carefully about your current and future life plans and goals and decide accordingly.
Once you have carefully considered your options and believe you are a candidate for any of these types of abdominoplasty, Pittsburgh plastic surgeon, Dr. Brian Heil is ready to personalize a plan for you.
