If you’ve been considering a tummy tuck procedure, you may not know that this “standard” cosmetic surgery procedure actually has a number of different variations, and some of the more current techniques are much likelier to get great results.
All abdominoplasties involve gently tightening loose abdominal muscles with sutures, then trimming away excess skin and fat to create a tighter, firmer result. Older techniques typically created a large, obvious vertical or horizontal scar above the underwear line, involved a long and involved healing process that often required surgical drains (which can also create some extra risk for infection). Some doctors even used to remove the belly button entirely to reposition it.
Newer tummy tuck techniques have come a long way. Just a few of the major advantages (and the reasons up-to-date techniques are so important for safe and effective procedure):
- A lower, thinner, and shorter-length scar: Even in procedures that minimize the appearance of stretch marks or correct for C-section scars, new techniques can create shorter, slimmer, and faster-healing scars. For standard tummy tucks, most surgeons these days also create a much smaller, slightly curved incision and position it below the underwear line to make the incision site much less noticeable.
- Flexible options for full vs. mini tucks: Far from a “one size fits all” procedure, tummy tuck procedures today let you control the level of change you want to see. Younger women with less significant muscle laxity and excess fat are often excellent candidates for a lower or “mini” abdominoplasty, a faster, less-intensive surgery with less downtime.
- Faster healing: Fully trained plastic surgeons have a number of more precise techniques available to them today, allowing them to tailor every surgery more precisely, ensuring faster healing and quicker recovery than with older and less sophisticated techniques.
- Healthier belly button repositioning: The older, “cut and paste” approach to the belly button not only added to scarring and made results more obvious, it was also less healthy. These days, a skilled surgeon will use a pedicle technique to reposition the belly button without detaching it completely. This minimizes disruption to tissues, reduces your complication risk, and helps ensure your results look right.
- Customized combination procedures: Liposuction around the waist and flanks can often balance and refine results better than a tummy tuck alone. With technologically advanced options like laser- and ultrasonic-assisted liposuction, it’s possible to add on subtle extra steps to help ensure maximum tightening and smoothing in the abdominal area.
From a skilled surgeon, the right tummy tuck can correct many different problems, for example skin laxity and pockets of fat resulting from weight loss or pregnancy. The key to good results is to make sure you are already committed to a healthy diet and lifestyle that will support your results before and after your surgery, and you choose a surgeon who is fellowship-trained and properly certified in plastic and reconstructive surgery.
Dr. David Kaufman earned a bachelor of science degree from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, graduating with distinction, the highest academic honor. As an active duty naval special warfare officer, he served our nation for four years, including duty in Operation Desert Storm. He then attended Harvard Medical School, receiving his medical doctor degree in 1996. From there, he entered and completed postdoctoral surgical training in a combined general and plastic surgery residency at Stanford University Medical Center.
A board-certified plastic surgeon and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Dr. Kaufman’s diverse surgical experience and skill enables him to choose procedures and techniques to best suit each patient. Consider him and his practice, Kaufman Plastic Surgery, if you are looking for a plastic surgeon in the Sacramento area.
