Tummy tuck or abdominoplasty procedures have evolved greatly over the years and are one of the most popular and successful cosmetic surgery procedures available today. A tummy tuck is a surgery to remove excess skin and fat from the abdomen, which may have accumulated subsequent to pregnancy, obesity or age. A tummy tuck can give one a tauter, slimmer waist and flatter abdomen. The laxness of the abdominal muscles and fascia is corrected by folding the excess tissue and suturing it. In a full tummy tuck procedure, the abdominal muscles and connective tissue or fascia that may have become stretched out or lax over time are also tightened. A mini-tummy tuck only removes excess or redundant skin and fat.

Patients aspiring for a tummy tuck must be in good health and not have any active diseases or serious pre-existing medical conditions. It is important to have good skin elasticity. They should also have realistic expectations about the outcome of the surgery. Communication with ones’ surgeon is crucial in reaching ones’ goals and in understanding what can be realistically achieved.A tummy tuck is not a scar free surgery. Tummy Tuck Los Angeles surgeons use tummy tuck techniques that use the smallest incisions possible and that leave scars in a place that will be covered by a standard bikini. There are many different types of tummy tuck procedures. The type that is best suited for one depends on whether one needs to have muscles tightened, skin tightened, fat removed, or a combination of any of these factors. Patients in Los Angeles Tummy Tuck centers discuss the incision types, techniques and placements with their surgeon at their abdominoplasty consultation.

A mini-tummy tuck can be resorted to if only skin and fat removal is desired and not the tightening of muscles or the repositioning of the naval. A mini-tummy tuck usually leaves a shorter scar than a full one. A full tummy tuck is reserved for people with very lax muscles and excess amounts of skin to be excised. In a full tummy tuck the surgeon makes an incision across the lower abdomen just above the pubic bone, usually from hip to hip. This incision is usually placed so that a bikini bottom would hide it. An incision is also made around the belly button. Usually, all the skin and fat around below the belly button is removed. The fascia and rectus abdominus muscles are tightened by folding the fascia along the centerline of the abdomen. This brings the separated muscles together. The skin above the belly button is then pulled down and the incision is closed. A new opening is also made for the belly button. Usually, one or two drains are placed under the incision to allow fluids to drain for a few days. In a Cosmetic Tummy Tuck, Liposuction is often combined with standard tummy tuck procedures to obtain spectacular results.