Tummy Tuck
a. Poor scars
The most common problem after a tummy tuck or “abdominoplasty” procedure is poor scarring. Next to your genetic makeup, the most important factor behind scar formation is tension. The best results are obtained with skin edges which are perfectly aligned and “kissing” without any tension pulling them apart. In such cases, each skin edge produces just enough scar tissue to hold the wound together under no tension pulling the wound apart. The worst results occur under circumstances in which the wound edges are being pulled apart by tension and the skin edges are barely touching prior to the final sutures being placed. In these cases, the wound edges will have to produce lots of scar tissue to hold the wound together under the stress of always being pulled apart for various reasons.
Tummy-tuck procedures, along with other types of lifts or tucks, involve pulling tissue which was in one location to another new and more beautiful position. However, unless done perfectly, there is typically some tension pulling the wounds apart leading to imperfect scars. Once the scar forms at the lower abdomen from a prior tummy-tuck, a scar revision is necessary to correct the problem. Using techniques to minimize tension on the skin to zero, we close the wound in multiple layers to obtain the best scars possible. The location of the scar is as important as the quality of the scar. In cases where the scar is too high on the abdomen, we are able to successfully refine the scar while moving it lower on the abdomen to enable you to cover the scar with a bikini or underwear.
Poor body contour
As with liposuction, the ability to sculpt the body is extremely important in any body contouring procedure. Often women are left with a flay abdomen after a tummy-tuck, yet their body looks resembles a rectangle with no curves or definition. Liposculpture to sculpt the fat either before or after a tummy-tuck is extremely important in achieving the best figure. Tummy-tucks techniques have also been revised recently to obtain the best results while minimizing risks. If you have a rectangular figure with no definition, liposuction using small cannullae is the perfect option in refining your results and giving you the narrow waist, sculpted inguinal region, depressed vertical line at the center of the abdomen, and a small round collection of fat around the belly-button which define an attractive figure. Residual excess fat
Probably the simplest problem to correct after an abdominoplasty, residual excess fat can be addressed with liposuction. We pay particular attention to sculpting your figure and not simply making it smaller. When necessary, a scar revision can be performed at the abdomen simultaneous to the liposuction procedure. Residual abdominal bulge
To understand the bulge on your tummy which has not improved entirely after a tummy-tuck or has even returned after several years, it’s important to understand the cause for the bulge. During every pregnancy, the abdominal muscles which make-up the “six-pack” have to stretch to make room for the baby. The female hormones which are secreted during pregnancy make all of your tissues so elastic that the stretching of the muscles of the abdomen occurs quite easily. After pregnancy, the muscle do not retract back to the “normal” position they held prior to pregnancy. As with roman columns which have no strength if they are curved to one side, the abdominal muscle, which usually run straight up and down, are just not as powerful as prior to pregnancy due to their now curved anatomy. This weakness causes the abdominal contents to bulge outward giving the appearance of a persistent pregnancy.
The second factor which leads to an abdominal bulge is fat accumulation around the intestines. As we gain weight, some fat is stored around the intestines. As the intestines increase in girth, they constitute so much pressure that the abdominal muscles are no longer able to hold them in leading to a bulge. This is particularly the case in men and is typically called a “beer belly.” Though more rare in women, it can occur in those who have had prior liposuction, tummy-tuck or another body contouring procedure.
With these facts in mind, a persistent or a bulge that has returned long after a tummy-tuck can have two causes: (1) loose muscles, (2) fat accumulation around the intestines. If your particular case involves only loose muscles, the solution is simple and involves a revision tummy-tuck by which your muscles are tightened once again. You may even choose to have a liposculpture at the same time to improve your general contour. If your bulge involves both loose muscles and fat gain around your intestines, the solution is a bit more complicated. You have to begin with weight loss in this case. Once you have tried your best through diet and exercise and your weight has reached its plateau, we can undertake the revision surgery. You must realize that the fatter you are able to lose from your intestines, the less volume we have to push into your abdomen by the revision tummy-tuck. During your revision, the muscles are again tightened effectively and the abdomen is made as flat as possible. The results are dependent on your weight loss and the surgical technique in such cases.
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