Abdominoplasty or Tummy Tuck Plastic Surgery
The abdominoplasty or tummy tuck plastic surgery
is designed to improve the appearance of the abdomen in both
male and female patients. There are a variety of different
procedures that can be used to maximize the appearance and
contour of the patient's abdomen.
Operation: The abdominoplasty
may be performed on patients who have lost weight, the result
of which is flaccid, hanging skin; or patients who have had
pregnancies, where the support of the rectus muscles has been
damaged, resulting in a separation (diastasis) of the abdominal
muscles or a combination of the two. The surgery has the added
benefit of minimizing or eliminating the stretch marks (striae)
that are common.
This procedure can be performed by Dr. Sherman
in our fully accredited out patient operating facility, or
in the hospital. Dr. Sherman performs the operation at The
New York Hospital Cornell Medical Center.
The tummy tuck plastic surgery procedure takes about two
hours, and is usually performed under either a general or
epidural anesthesia. Different techniques may be used depending
on the needs of the patient, the presence of scars, and amount
of fat that needs to be contoured. On thin patients who have
excess skin and separation of the muscles, the cosmetic surgery
may be performed in the office or at the hospital as an out-patient.
If you are contemplating another pregnancy, this operation
should be deferred until you have finished your pregnancy.
Your needs will be addressed during consultation.
The mini-abdominoplasty is a popular alternative
to the full procedure. It may be offered to patients that
have a limited amount of skin below the belly button (umbilicus)
and where the focus of repair is the limited skin and the
underlying muscle.
On male patients who have had significant weight
loss, the operation may also be beneficial. This procedure
has different goals than the abdominoplasty for women.
Anesthesia: Depending on the
anatomy of the patient and the amount to be treated the procedure
may be performed under general anesthesia, epidural anesthesia,
or an intravenous anesthesia supplemented with tumescent infiltration.
All of our anesthesiologists are board-certified and highly
experienced.
Convalescence: The convalescence
for this procedure is about two weeks. It may be three weeks
before you may pick up children or heavier objects. You should
wait for at least three weeks before you start exercising.
Complications: Complications
after this surgery are well-documented. While the incidence
of wound healing problems, pulmonary embolus and scarring
are low, they may occur. Dr. Sherman will go over all of these
with you and their incidence, both in the literature, and
in his practice.
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