A protruding abdomen, whether caused by weak abdominal muscles, weight gain, or pregnancy, is a condition that causes distress to a lot of people. The objective of a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is to flatten and narrow this protruding abdomen by removing excess skin and fatty tissue.

The procedure most frequently used involves an incision made below one hipbone, across the pubic area, to the opposite hipbone. A second incision is made around the navel. The skin is then separated and lifted from the abdominal wall exposing the tissue that covers the large abdominal muscle. This tissue is sometimes sutured in order to tighten and firm the muscles. The skin is then lowered over the abdomen and excess skin is removed. Before the incisions are closed with small sutures, the navel is reconstructed. Firm elastic bandages are then applied to the area.

Dr. Sacks assesses each person to determine if he or she is a good candidate for an abdominoplasty. A modified abdominoplasty may be the recommended operation with even quicker recovery potential. He personally explains all the aspects of the surgery and sees every patient throughout the post-op period. This personal caring has helped earn him his reputation.

Sometimes simply dieting and exercising are not enough to take care of waistline problems.  In such cases, a patient may wish to consider a tummy tuck (or abdominoplasty).  A tummy tuck is the surgical removal of excess skin or fatty deposits from the abdomen, along with the repositioning of abdomen muscles into a tighter formation.  This bodily enhancement procedure is designed for those who wish to have a flatter and tighter abdominal area.  It is also helpful in remedying the vertical separation of abdomen muscles known as diastasis, which can occur following pregnancy.

Reasons for Considering an Abdominoplasty:

• Inability of dieting and exercise to improve the abdomen area.
• Excessive accumulation of skin following weight loss.
• Loss of skin elasticity or diastasis (loose abdomen muscles) due to pregnancy.
• The removal of unsightly skin and fat deposits as well as the proper alignment of the abdomen muscles to produce a more flattering look.

General Procedure

Abdominoplasty surgery lasts anywhere from one to three hours, depending on the desired look and the patient’s unique physiology.  To begin the procedure, an incision is made just above the pubic bone area.  This incision goes horizontally across the lower abdomen and sometimes around to the back.  The skin is then stretched away from the muscle tissue, and excess skin is removed.  The abdomen muscle tissue is tightened to provide a firmly contoured stomach and well-defined waistline.  Finally, the incision is closed; and the skin is stitched back into place.  Sometimes the procedure requires an additional incision around the navel in order to provide the best results.

Recovery Process

Generally, post-operative instructions call for plenty of rest and limited movement in order to speed up the healing process and recovery time.  As the body recuperates, the patient can expect some swelling, pain, and discomfort. Wearing a special girdle helps provide support in the recovery period. Medication can be prescribed to relieve any pain caused by the procedure.  The stitches will be removed one to two weeks after the surgery depending on the procedure(s) involved.  Normal activities can generally be resumed after about two weeks.  It may take up to a year for the body to completely adapt to the new abdominal configuration.  With proper diet and exercise the striking results of the surgery will be long lasting.