Tummy tuck surgery, clinicalled called abdominoplasty, is a popular body contouring procedure involving a number of steps. The steps may slightly vary in each case, depending on the type of surgical technique used. The cosmetic surgeon will discuss various aspects of the surgery and explain the procedure steps in sufficient detail during the pre-operative consultation.
Once the patient has a fair idea about how the procedure will be performed, it will help them feel more confident and relieve them of some of their pre-surgery anxiety. The patient should clarify all their concerns or doubts about the procedure and may request for a video or photos showing how the procedure is performed. Dedicated plastic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey provides tummy tuck surgery to patients in Atlanta, GA and surrounding locations.
Incision Placement
Once the anesthesia has been administered, the incisions will be placed in discreet, pre-determined sites. The length and number of incisions can differ according to the type of surgery technique used and the degree of correction required.
For instance, a circumferential tummy tuck may require an incision through the entire waist line, including the back. On the other hand, a partial abdominoplasty may only require one small incision under the navel.
Repositioning the Navel
Depending on the patient’s goals, the cosmetic surgeon may decide to reposition the belly button. This step will help the abdominal area to appear more natural looking due to a raised navel. To perform this step, the surgeon may detach the navel from its original place and reattach it in a more youthful position. In some cases, a new navel may be sculpted instead of reattaching the original navel. This will require an artistic skill to ensure natural looking and attractive results.
Tightening Weak Abdominal Muscles
The abdominal muscles may become weak or separated over time in some cases. The surgeon will tighten and reposition the muscles during the tummy tuck procedure to achieve more effective results. The abdominal skin will be separated from the abdominal wall through the incisions. The muscles will then be pulled closer together and sutured into a position to create a more toned look. This step will help to make the waistline appear narrower.
Removing Loose Skin
Following the tightening of underlying abdominal muscles, the surgeon will pull the skin downward to make it smoother and tighter.
Excess skin will then be trimmed away. In some cases, liposuction may be additionally performed at this point to remove excess fat deposits before the skin is pulled taut. Patients in Atlanta, GA and nearby areas have an opportunity to receive tummy tuck from experienced plastic surgeon Dr. McCluskey.
Minimizing Stretch Marks
Although tummy tuck surgery is not a procedure for reducing stretch marks, but depending on the incision locations, some of the marks may be reduced. Stretch marks under the navel area can be removed with the excision of loose skin. Other stretch marks may also appear less prominent after tummy tuck.
Incision Closure
The surgeon will suture together the surgical stitches after the procedure. This will help the wounds to close naturally in due course. Stitches may be removed in about a week or 10 days after tummy tuck surgery.
For more information on procedures and treatments offered by Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Paul McCluskey and the Plastic Surgery Institute of Atlanta, visit: