Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)

Abdominoplasty is designed to smooth and flatten the abdomen when the muscles of the abdomen have become distended and the skin is loose. The surgery consists of making incisions either horizontally above the pubic area outward toward the hips or a smaller incision above the pubic area and incisions vertically up both hips, as if you would be wearing a French-cut bikini. Working through the incision, your surgeon may tighten the underlying muscles by pulling them together and stitching them in place, and any excess skin will be trimmed. After surgery, Dr. Carli usually recommends his patients have a one-night stay at the hospital, after which you will go home. A large bulky dressing is applied and drains will be in place fore a few days. The first week after surgery you will need to walk hunched over to avoid any tension to the suture lines. After two weeks you may resume most normal activities, but any strenuous activities such as exercise must wait approximately three months. During this time you are required to wear a corset.

The surgery itself is about 2.5 hours under general anesthesia, after which you will be in recovery for about 2 hours before Dr. Carli and his staff transport you to the hospital, if you require hospitalization.

Prior to surgery, lab work will be performed and possibly an EKG and/or chest x-ray. These tests are included in the price of your procedure. You will also receive a medication bag with pain meds, antibiotics, sleeping pills, and nausea medicine. After your dressings and drains have been removed, a compression girdle must be purchased and worn day and night for 3 weeks, then at night only for 3 more weeks. You will see quite a difference after surgery, and as the months pass your incision line will fade. Abdominoplasty produces long-Iasting results. Unless you gain or lose a significant amount of weight, you should expect to retain your new shape for many years.