Tummy Tuck in Miami/Kendall Dr.Christopher Craft

Looking for a flatter more healthy and youthful tummy?
Many people complain of having abdomen and trunk contours that are unaesthetic in appearance. The tummy is the most important contributor to one physique and curves. Unfortunately it is also the area that excess fat is stored and where excess skin is left following weight loss or pregnancy. Many women also are left after pregnancy with unsightly stretch marks that make them appear older and less fit, this too can be addressed and corrected with Abdominoplasty.

The most important step in achieving an enhanced body contour is determining what is the cause of the undesired shape and tailoring the surgical approach to address the underlying problem.  Most of these patients have some degree of laxity in their abdominal wall and frequently have loose saggy and hanging skin. Excess skin caused by pregnancy, significant weight loss, and change in skin elasticity cause the abdomen to have a very unsightly appearance and frequently causes someone to appear overweight and be very self-conscious about how they look and what they can wear. Unfortunately true skin excess is extremely difficult if not impossible to remove with diet and exercise alone. In these clients some degree of skin excision is necessary to tighten and flatten the abdomen and to achieve a more desirable abdominal contour. Another common cause of a round protruding abdomen is a progressive weakening that occurs in the abdominal wall and a separation of the central muscles of the abdomen. A dramatically flattened and tightened silhouette is created by suturing the muscles along the front of the abdominal wall.

Depending on the amount of fat present on the client's tummy, liposuction is performed along with the Miami tummy tuck surgery to carve out a more attractive waist and an improved figure.

Proper candidates for abdominoplasy /tummy tuck procedures have: excess abdominal skin, frequently protruding abdomen due to a weakened and stretched abdominal wall and muscle separation, may have excess residual abdominal fat, and are at or near their ideal body weight. Abdominoplasty can be performed through a variety of techniques depending on each patient’s concerns and individual anatomy.

Standard Abdominoplasty:

Appropriate for the majority of women, it removes flaccid abdominal skin and residual fat and tightens muscles that have been separated and weakened by pregnancy or weight gain. This procedure is most effective in women who are finished having children. Liposuction may be performed at the same time to create a nice contour, although this decision is up to the individual surgeon and patient.  The length of the incision needed in abdominoplasy surgery is determined by the amount of excess skin present on the abdomen. Muscle tightening is usually performed to help tighten the abdominal profile and to sculpt a more flat and fit tummy with better waist contours.  In a standard tummy tuck procedure the belly button is reconnected in the more attractive skin that was stretched downward giving it a more youthful appearance. Drains are used to remove the excess fluid that would otherwise accumulate and are usually removed one week after surgery. A compressive garment is also placed after surgery and continued during the postoperative period to help the skin contract into the tightest most beautiful silhouette.

There are some other types of abdominoplasty that may apply for a small number of patients with specific concerns and needs:

Partial Abdominoplasty (Mini Tummy Tuck) /Short Scar Tummy Tuck

This technique is used when the amount of loose skin is minimal and concentrated primarily in the lower abdomen. In this procedure, liposuction can be performed to rid the stubborn abdominal fat and the excess skin is removed. In special candidates, his procedure can be combined with tightening of the muscles along the midline to flatten the tummy further. This procedure results in many of the benefits of a full abdominoplasy with a smaller incision and without the telltale incision around the bellybutton.

Tummy Tuck Surgical Overview:

Duration: dependent on degree of deformity

Anesthesia: General or Local depending on complexity/ Outpatient

Risks: standard surgical risks include infection, bleeding, scarring and wound complications, blood clots, and anesthesia related risks; procedure specific risks include asymmetry in breast or areolar size or position, loss of sensation or lactation, skin loss and wound complications.

Recovery: shower in 72 hours, return to work typically in 1 week, breast contact is delayed 3-4 weeks, strenuous exercise after one month, full scar maturation 1 year usually fading to a discreet scar line.

To learn more about the tummy tuck procedure and to see how we can help transform you to the look you desire, take the next step toward a younger, sexier, more confident you by scheduling a complimentary consultation with Board Certified Miami Plastic Surgeon Dr. Chris Craft.

We are currently providing cosmetic surgery services to Miami, Ft Lauderdale, and all of South Florida.

To learn more about body procedures, and see if you are a candidate please visit the following pages Liposuction, Buttock Augmentation.

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