New Jersey Adominoplasty

Purpose 

The Abdominoplasty or "Tummy Tuck" is designed to remove excess abdominal skin and fat, as well as tighten loose abdominal muscles. The perfect candidate is a woman with prior pregnancies which have stretched her abdominal muscles past the point of repair by standard exercise. Poor candidates are those who are obese and simply have too much abdominal fat. Liposuction can be an alternative in these patients.

 

 

Pre-operative Care

Pre-operatively patients usually need routine blood tests to be sure they are not anemic or pregnant. Photographs are taken to assess progress.

Patients should not smoke within three weeks of the operation. Of course, smoking is never a good idea and patients should quit smoking early and permanently.

No aspirin, ibuprofen, or similar drugs should be taken within two weeks of surgery. These medications can cause serious excess bleeding during, and after, the operation. If you have any questions about drugs you are taking, including over the counter preparations and natural herbs, please call the office.

Please shower the night before surgery and do not EAT or DRINK anything after midnight of the night before your surgery. This prohibition includes coffee and juice in the morning. Oral medications can be taken with a sip of water.

You should be at the office surgicenter or hospital at least 90 minutes prior to your scheduled surgical start time. 

At some point before the surgery, you will be brought to a private area and asked to stand with your gown off. Marks will be placed on the areas to be cut as guides to properly "tailor" the surgery. You will then be given anesthesia and the operation will begin. In most cases an incision is made at the upper aspect of the pubic hairline and carried toward each side. The incisions will later be hidden by the underwear or bikini you wear. The skin is lifted off the abdominal muscles all the way up to the ribs. The underlying muscles, which have loosened after pregnancy or weight changes, are tightened with permanent stitches. The skin is pulled down like a window shade and the extra is cut off. In a standard abdominoplasty, a new hole is made for your umbilicus (belly-button), while in a mini-abdominoplasty the umbilicus is left intact since it is not pulled as far downward. 

 

Post-Operative Course

Your scars will start to fade about 4 months after surgery and by one year they should be a fine line hidden by your underwear and bikini. Some patients do not heal as well and may be required to apply a silicone sheet bandage to help compress and lessen the scar. In the end, the results should be very satisfactory.