Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

An abdominoplasty is an operation in which excess skin and fat from the abdominal wall, particularly below the navel, is removed and the remaining skin tightened. This is accomplished by elevation of the skin and fat, tightening the underlying muscles if necessary, pulling the excess skin downward, and excising the excess. It is particularly effective in removing stretch marks from the lower abdomen, but it must be understood that not all stretch marks can be eliminated, and that some laxity, particularly noticeable when flexing the hips, will persist. The same navel is reinserted into the skin after the tightening procedure.

Frequently, particularly after childbirth or weight loss, patients present with a weakness of the abdominal wall muscles; in such cases, the defect between the anterior muscles is repaired (“fascial repair”) before trimming the excess skin and fat.

This procedure can be combined with other abdominal or non-abdominal operations such as liposuction, facelifts or other procedures.

The operation is directed toward an improvement and does not in any way guarantee complete obliteration of all folds and stretch marks. You must accept the judgment of your plastic surgeon and realize that he/she will remove as much as is safe and suitable. Particularly in patients with thicker abdominal walls or marked skin excess, it may be desirable to return for a secondary liposuction of the abdominal wall or an additional skin excision to obtain an optimal result. Should this prove desirable, the patient will be responsible for all costs associated with all secondary surgical procedures.

The type of skin, degree of elasticity and age of the patient all influence the overall result that is obtained. The operation should not be undertaken if the patient intends pregnancies in the near future. Should a patient become pregnant after an abdominoplasty, a normal pregnancy will ensue but the abdominal wall will again get stretched. While it is not necessary for the patient to reach a certain weight before surgery may be performed, it is desirable that the patient's weight be stable for at least six months prior to surgery and that the patient be at a weight he/she feels can be maintained after the procedure.

A common question is, "How long will the results of this procedure last?" This is impossible to state. Factors affecting the length of the improvement include physical conditioning afterwards, type of skin, and alterations in weight. In general, it is not necessary to repeat this procedure to maintain the optimal result. It should be noted that this procedure removes the skin and fatty excess that a patient has at the time of the abdominoplasty but does not prevent a patient from gaining weight and stretching the abdominal wall again in the future. Should a patient wish to repeat the operation, regardless of the length of time since the initial operation, the degree of laxity or fatty excess remaining, each patient will be responsible for the cost of a subsequent procedure.

The following information has been prepared to familiarize you with facts about the surgical procedure known as abdominoplasty ("tummy tuck") or abdominal fascial repair. You are requested to read this information thoroughly and to discuss any questions which might arise with your surgeon before you give your consent to proceed with this procedure. You are also requested to keep this form as a reference in the postoperative period.