Abdominoplasty, commonly known as a "tummy tuck," is performed to remove excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen and to tighten the muscles of the abdominal wall. If there is a large fat accumulation, liposuction may be suggested first to remove excess fatty deposits, followed by an abdominoplasty to address loose skin and muscles at a second stage.

Women whose abdominal muscles and skin have been stretched out from multiple pregnancies, as well as older women who have a loss of skin elasticity due to age or weight fluctuations, are ideal candidates.

Women who are planning future pregnancies may be advised to wait, as the vertical muscles in the abdomen that are tightened during surgery will tend to separate again during pregnancy. Men are also candidates for abdominoplasty following massive weight loss or due to aging and lack of exercise. View tummy tuck before and after photos.

We usually perform tummy tucks under general anesthesia, and we prefer to have patients stay in the hospital to recover overnight. The most common technique involves an incision made across the lower abdomen, just above the pubic area.

This incision can be angled to be easier to conceal. A second incision is usually made to free the navel from surrounding tissue. We then separate the skin from the abdominal wall all the way up to your ribs and lift a large skin flap to reveal the vertical muscles in your abdomen. These muscles are tightened by pulling them close together and stitching them into their new position.

The skin flap is then stretched down and the extra skin is removed. A new opening is made for the belly button at the right position. The incisions are closed with sutures and/or staples, and gauze is placed over the incision area.

If the fat deposits are all located below the navel, we may recommend a less complex procedure called a mini-tummy tuck or partial abdominoplasty. In partial or modified tummy tuck, the incision is much shorter and the navel may not need to be moved. The skin is separated only between the incision line and the navel. This skin flap is stretched down, the excess is removed, and the flap is stitched back into place. Both a partial and complete abdominoplasty may be performed in conjunction with liposuction to remove fat deposits from the hips, waist or thighs for a better contour.

Liposuction has consistently been the most popular cosmetic surgical procedure in the world for the past several years. It is a safe and effective method to reduce the overall number of fat cells, and produce a better contour. You can remove unsightly bulges from almost any area to produce a slimmer and improved shape.

Most body areas can be suctioned for better contour and reduced volume, from the face down to the ankles. The most popular areas for women are the abdomen, inner thighs, outer thighs, hips, flanks and knees. The most common areas for men are the abdomen, love handles or flanks and chest wall. Liposuction can even be used to reduce heavy breasts in some women.

If you evaluate your body in distinct units, such as the upper abdomen, lower abdomen, knees, and prioritize the areas that would benefit most from recontouring.

The most common technique of liposuction is referred to as tumescent liposuction. We have found that by injecting large amounts of saline solution mixed with a blood vessel constricting agent known as adrenaline, blood loss is dramatically lowered. The added benefit of tumescent liposuction is that it allows the procedure to be done while the patient is under only mild sedation.

Before having liposuction, we will discuss your lifestyle, aerobic shape, and body weight fluctuations. Patients who are severely overweight may have to undergo these procedures in stages or may be told to lose weight prior to undergoing a liposuction procedure.

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About the Author

Dave Stringham is the President of LookingYourBest.com an online resource for plastic surgery procedures. Learn more about breast augmentation and other plastic surgery procedures.