About Weight Loss Surgery

Abdominoplasty

This type of surgical procedure, also referred to as a "tummy tuck", removes excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen and tightens the muscles of the abdominal wall. A "tummy tuck" reduces the appearance of a protruding abdomen which seems to be a common complaint in both men and women.

Candidates
After pregnancies, women are sometimes left with very loose muscles and skin that even exercise and dieting cannot change. Another reason one might have this type of surgery may be to remove large deposits of fat that are left after a great deal of weight loss. Older people are also common candidates for abdominoplasty because they tend to lose elasticity in their skin and may want to have a firmer looking abdomen.

Partial and Complete Abdominoplasties
There are partial and complete "tummy tucks" that can be used alone or with liposuction to achieve the results you are looking for. A partial abdominoplasty usually takes as little as an hour or two in surgery while a complete abdominoplasty can take up to five hours.

Recovery
Recovery usually does not take very long. This varies for some patients who get back to work within two weeks while others may take as long as one month. Following a good diet and exercising regularly will help you keep your abdomen in great shape.

The risk of complications due to the surgery can be significantly reduced by following your surgeon's instructions before and after the surgery. Follow up care is essential to achieve the best results.