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The
abdominoplasty procedure
is
a wonderful surgery that can make a dramatic difference in the contour of
the tummy. Sometimes, no matter
how hard you work out or diet, you just cannot lose that extra bulge in the
midsection. This can be
especially true in women who have children because the abdominal muscles are
stretched and sometimes separated during pregnancy. Let’s look at an example.
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Before
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After
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Shown here is a patient, who has
had 2 children, with extra skin in the lower abdomen. Also observe where the midline appears to be separated under
the belly button as well. In
the postoperative picture, you can see how the extra skin was removed and
the separation of the muscles is repaired resulting in a nice flat tummy.
There are two
types of procedures done:
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1. |
A
full abdominoplasty or tummy tuck, which
is the procedure most patients need, is usually performed for
someone who has sagging skin and muscle above as well as below the
belly button. During
the procedure, an incision is made below the level of the bikini
line and the skin is lifted. The
belly button is reset through a new location in the skin so it
basically stays in the same position. Often times, some liposuction
is done on the love
handle areas to maximally smooth the abdomen.
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2. |
A
mini-abdominoplasty (mini tummy tuck)
is for patients that have only a tiny amount of extra skin hanging
below the belly button. It
is a shorter procedure with less recovery, and is often combined
with liposuction. However,
if the abdominal muscles are separated or the skin sagging is
excessive, a full abdominoplasty is needed for the best results.
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Other procedures:
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Full
Body Lift -
This
procedure is often done for a patient who loses a lot of weight or
after gastric bypass surgery. The
excess skin is removed from all around the abdomen (front and back)
which essentially provides a tummy tuck, buttock lift and outer leg
lift all at the same time.
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Thigh
Lift or Buttock Lift - An incision is made high in the
inner thighs in order to remove excess skin and tighten the muscle.
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Arm
Lift (brachioplasty) The incisions are placed under
the arms to allow excess skin to be removed and the muscle tightened
to take care of the “jiggly area” under the arms.
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Dr. Cuber, who specializes in body contouring surgery
will
carefully examine you to determine which procedure is best for you.
The surgery is performed in our state-of-the-art surgery center, and
patients are discharged to the comfort of their home on the same day.
Postoperatively,
there will be some tightness in the surgical area as well as minor pain and
swelling. Dr. Cuber will always
be available for questions and to make you feel comfortable after surgery. The recovery is about 10 days and about three weeks is needed before
strenuous activities. Please
call the office for a free consultation and Dr. Cuber will be happy to
discuss everything with you.
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