ABDOMINOPLASTY (TUMMY TUCK)

Rowley Plastic Surgery offers over two decades of experience in expert abdominoplasty with hundreds of very happy patients.

Important BMI Notice

Rowley Plastic Surgery will not accept patients with a BMI over 30 for this procedure.

WHY DO PATIENTS SEEK ABDOMINOPLASTY (TUMMY TUCK)?

Patients typically seek this procedure because of excess abdominal skin, especially after pregnancy or a significant weight loss. Patients also seek to correct diastasis (laxity of the abdominal muscles) which can often occur with pregnancy.

BRIEF SURGICAL FACTS

This procedure is typically an outpatient surgery. It takes approximately two hours in the operating room with a general anesthetic and is often done in the office operating suite or sometimes in an outpatient surgical center where 24-hour observation is available. Most patients can return to work at approximately two to three weeks. Full activity is typically resumed at 6-8 weeks postoperatively.

A tummy tuck is often done as a combined procedure (such as a “Mommy Makeover”) with a breast augmentation or breast lift (mastopexy), as well as liposuction.

SURGICAL PROCEDURE

This procedure is done through a low horizontal abdominal incision. The more skin the patient has, the longer the incision typically is. The skin is elevated off of the abdominal muscles. The skin can be elevated to different degrees and that determines whether or not a scar will be necessary around the umbilicus. After the skin is elevated, it is redraped and excised. The abdominal muscles are tightened at the same time with permanent sutures in multiple layers. Often liposuction for contouring of the hips and thighs occur at the same time as the abdominoplasty. Most patients will have a drain that stays as long as a week and sutures are absorbable. Postoperative pain control is achieved with medications and muscle relaxants and pain pumps are often used. Activity is encouraged early. Please read the nicotine restrictions that apply to this procedure.

DR. JANE ROWLEY’S THOUGHTS ON ABDOMINOPLASTY

“This is actually a more significant procedure than most people understand. The media often portrays this as a ‘skin surgery,’ but this is a surgery that actually involves the entire core of your body, with tightening of the abdominal muscles and tightening of the skin. The results can be exceptional on the right patient. Although weight loss might not be significant with this procedure, contouring and tightening of the abdominal wall is significant.”

ABDOMINOPLASTY: Before and After

Below you may find untouched before and after photos of several patients who have granted permission to show them here.

ABDOMINOPLASTY: MASSIVE WEIGHT LOSS

Just as with breast reduction, we cannot surgically recreate the body of someone who never had excess volume, particularly as it relates to the skin texture. To be considered a success, abdominoplasty after a massive weight loss requires realistic expectations.