Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) in Baton Rouge

What is a Tummy Tuck?

A Tummy Tuck or Abdominoplasty is a procedure to improve this abdominal appearance with removal of the excess skin and adiposity and usually tightening the loose and sagging or separated muscles of the abdomen.

Both men and woman desire to have a flat, firm, smooth, and well toned abdomen. Present clothing often accentuates or exposes the abdomen that cannot be hidden. Men and woman often develop an abdominal “pooch”, have excess or loose skin, excess fat, or loose and stretched muscles. Diet and exercise often does not correct this problem. A loose, flabby abdominal appearance is not attractive.

The causes of this abdominal appearance may be the result of:

• Pregnancy, especially multiple pregnancies
• Fluctuations in weight gain or weight loss
• Aging and lack of exercise
• Previous surgery
• Heredity

What Should Not Be Expected from a Tummy Tuck?

A Tummy Tuck is not for weight loss. If you are significantly overweight with a very protuberant and bulging abdomen that has not responded to diet or exercise it may be advisable to seek consultation for possible Bariatric( Weight Loss) Surgery. Bariatric surgery will result in significant weight loss and decreased intra-abdominal fullness and distension. After your weight loss has remained stable, a Tummy Tuck may then be considered.

Stretch marks of the upper abdomen will not be removed with a Tummy Tuck. Stretch marks if present in the lower abdomen particularly between the belly button and pubic area will however be removed with the skin excision.

Types of Tummy Tucks (Abdominoplasty)

Mini Tummy Tuck -Abdominoplasty

If you have excess skin and laxity or a “pooch” that is limited to below the belly button down to the pubic area without any excess skin or muscle laxity above the belly button, then this may be an option. Unfortunately most patients are not candidates for this more limited procedure since they have excess skin, laxity and or muscle weakness above the belly button as well

In this procedure only a limited amount of excess skin and or fat is removed from the lower abdomen above the pubis. If there is separation and weakness of the abdominal muscles below the belly button these are also repaired and sutured. The muscles above the belly button are not repaired. The belly button is left intact.

This procedure provides for a smaller incision, less extensive operation, and a faster recovery time than a Full Tummy Tuck.

Full Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

A Full Tummy Tuck is performed if there is excess skin and or muscle laxity above as well as below the belly button. The abdominal skin flap is elevated from the pubic area up to the lower chest. The belly button is initially detached from the skin flap and than repositioned in the skin flap that is re-draped inferiorly. The separated abdominal muscles are repaired from the mid portion of the lower chest superiorly to the pubis inferiorly.

New Ideas in Tummy Tucks

There are specific aspects of the Tummy Tuck surgery and the recovery process that Dr. Williams performs that differ from other Plastic Surgeons in the area. These innovations are provided to give patients a less painful and faster recovery. These include placement of a pain pump in surgery and Hivamat therapy in the recovery period. Each of these aspects will be discussed below.

How is a Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) Performed

The tummy Tuck is almost always performed with general anesthesia. The reason for this is that repair and suture of the abdominal muscles requires full muscle relaxation.

The Incision

A bikini type incision is made above the pubic area. The patient is asked to bring a bikini bottom or other type of apparel so that placement of this incision can be hidden within this clothing.

If a Mini Tummy Tuck is performed this will be the only incision. For a full Tummy Tuck an incision will also be around the umbilicus\belly button.

Muscle Repair

For a Mini Tummy Tuck the skin of the abdomen is elevated from the abdominal muscles only up to the belly button, and the separated muscles sutured from below the belly button down to the pubis. For a Full Tummy Tuck the skin is elevated up to the lower chest and the muscles repaired from the lower chest superiorly to the pubis inferiorly.

Belly Button\Umbilicus

The belly button is not moved in a Mini Tummy Tuck. In a Full Tummy Tuck the belly button that has been detached from the abdominal skin flap is sutured to the abdominal wall to ensure an “inny” type belly button. This belly button is then repositioned in the skin flap that is re-draped inferiorly.

Pain Pump

It is important to minimize pain after surgery so that you will be able to move around sooner and decrease problems created by lack of mobility, sleep and eat better, and feel better sooner. Most often pain is relieved by narcotics like morphine. These drugs act on the central nervous system and affect the entire body. Narcotics cause unwanted side effects of nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, drowsiness and alteration of mental status. Local anesthetics work by blocking and controlling pain in the area affected without narcotic side effects.

Since most of the pain of a “Tummy Tuck” is due to the suture and repair of the abdominal muscles, Dr. Williams places catheters for the pain pump beneath these muscles that delivers a safe continuous amount of local long acting anesthetic. Because there is less pain from the abdomen you will need less oral pain medication, be able to move better and sooner, have a more comfortable recovery, and a faster return to normal activity.

Drains

Drains are placed to prevent accumulation of fluid or blood. These are removed when drainage has stopped.

What Will Be My Recovery After the Tummy Tuck

Immediately after surgery you and your care giver will be given detailed instructions about the care of the incisions, drains and catheters, medications, activity, ambulation and follow up.

Most patients can return to work after about two weeks as long as this does not require excessive lifting, pushing or pulling activity.

Hivamat Treatment

What is Hivamat

Developed in Germany, Hivamat also known as Deep Oscillation Therapy, generates low frequency gentle electrostatic impulses deep in the patient’s tissue. This creates “kneading” of the deep tissue that compresses and pumps lymph fluid and inflammatory by-products into the lymphatic system. The accelerated reduction of edema and inflamation increases the speed of tissue repair.

To accelerate the healing process and decrease swelling post operatively you will receive Hivamat Treatments. This unique state of the art treatment given at the Aesthetic Surgery Center is provided to maximize the results of your surgery and speed recovery.