Details of a Tummy Tuck Procedure

Consultation

The majority of patients seeking tummy tuck surgery (abdominoplasty) are healthy and physically active but nonetheless they have excess skin and fatty tissue on the lower abdomen. This is a particularly common problem for females after childbirth or for those who have lost a significant amount of weight. Tummy tuck surgery is best performed on people who have a healthy weight or are only modestly overweight. It is not recommended as a weight loss procedure for very overweight patients due to the increased risk of complications.

During your consultation, Dr. Andrade will ask about your specific abdominal concerns, including any past abdominal surgery. The physical examination is very important and will include examining your abdomen for overall skin quality and the amount of excess adipose tissue, location of pre-existing scars, hernias and loose abdominal muscles. Photos will be taken so the preoperative and postoperative appearance can be compared.

Surgical Options

Tummy Tuck Newmarket, Barrie, Markham, Richmond HillPatients seeking abdominoplasty surgery can choose between a “mini tummy tuck” or a full tummy tuck. A typical mini tummy tuck involves removing loose skin from the lower part of the abdomen.  It is commonly performed in combination with focal liposuction contouring of the abdomen around the belly button area.  The most common type of patient seeking this type of operation is a woman who has finished having children, and despite having returned to her normal body weight, still has loose lower abdominal skin. Advantages of a mini tummy tuck include quicker recovery time, a shorter scar and decreased cost. However, it is only recommended for patients who are mainly concerned about the appearance of their lower abdomen.    Some improvement in the appearance of the upper abdomen or flanks can be achieved with liposuction done at the same time.

A full tummy tuck is a more involved operation. The excess skin and adipose tissue on the upper and lower abdomen is removed, and usually the underlying rectus muscles are tightened. Both of these steps help flatten the abdomen and improve its contour.  Dr. Andrade does a “drainless tummy tuck” in most cases.  Advantages of a full tummy tuck include the ability to improve the appearance of the entire abdomen. However, the operation and recovery time are longer than a mini tummy tuck. During your consultation, Dr. Andrade will provide advice which operation is appropriate, depending on your physical characteristics and desired result.  Dr. Andrade’s tummy tuck operation includes multiple steps that are not performed by all surgeons, but in his opinion lead to a superior result:

  • Rectus muscle plication: this is a technique that some people refer to as a “corset suture” to help define the waistline.  Dr. Andrade uses slowly dissolving sutures with tiny barbs (Ethicon Stratafix sutures) that result in very secure repair of the muscles.  These sutures are far more expensive than conventional stitches but their benefits justify the cost, in Dr. Andrade’s opinion.
  • Quilting sutures and progressive tension closure: this step involves carefully suturing the abdominal skin/fat layer back to the underlying muscles near the end of the operation.  This step is time-consuming, but it helps to decrease tension on the lower abdominal incision, and it also seals off the potential space under the skin where blood or other fluids can otherwise collect.
  • Drainless technique:  as mentioned, Dr. Andrade carefully closes off the space under the skin where fluids can potentially collect after surgery.  This means that for most patients, wound drains are not required after surgery.  Patient feedback has been extremely positive, since drains can be cumbersome and messy.  The site where drains exit from the skin can also become irritated or infected, so Dr. Andrade prefers to avoid their routine use.
  • Wound closure technique:  Dr. Andrade uses multiple layers of special hidden dissolving stitches (barbed Stratafix sutures) for his abdominal wound closure.  These sutures cost much more than traditional monofilament sutures, but Dr. Andrade finds that local wound problems like suture extrusion or stitch abscesses are much less common with this advanced wound closure method.  The top layer of the skin is often closed with a very strong, water-resistant layer (called Prineo) that is designed to adhere to the skin for several weeks before falling off.

To view a 3D animation of abdominoplasty surgery on the website of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, click here.

Day of Surgery

Abdominoplasty surgery is performed either at Dr. Andrade’s facility or at Southlake Regional Health Centre, and is done on either an inpatient or outpatient basis:

  • Mini tummy tuck patients most often choose to have their surgery at Dr. Andrade’s facility go home the same day. The operation takes about 2 hours and total time spent in the clinic is 4-5 hours.
  • Full tummy tuck surgery clients can either go home the same day, or stay overnight in hospital for monitoring.  In order to go home, patients must have minimal medical comorbidity, have good support at home, and must feel comfortable recovering outside of the hospital.  If Dr. Andrade or the patient have any reservations about having the procedure on an outpatient basis, they are kept overnight in hospital for monitoring.  All patients who have their full abdominoplasty in Dr. Andrade’s accredited outpatient surgicenter are kept in the clinic until they are able to walk and void independently.

Postoperative Recovery

Most patients are up walking within several hours after surgery, leaning forward slightly to take tension off the abdomen and the incision. The following day patients may perform their own activities of daily living as tolerated.  Most patients are candidates for a “drainless tummy tuck” but if wound drains are inserted, they are often removed within 3-5 days after surgery.  Wound drainage can remain elevated in some patients for a longer period, especially if they are too active following the operation.  A stretchy compression garment called a “binder” is worn on the abdomen for 3 weeks, to decrease fluid accumulation and swelling. Heavy lifting or vigorous exercise involving the abdominal muscles for should be avoided for 4-6 weeks following surgery. A scar reduction program will be recommended by Dr. Andrade.

Benefits and Risks

The majority of patients are very satisfied with the appearance of their abdomen following tummy tuck surgery. While good results are usually achieved and complications are uncommon, it is important to understand the risks associated with surgery. Potential problems in the immediate postoperative period include but are not limited to bleeding that requires a blood transfusion, fluid collections requiring drainage (seroma), infection, wound healing problems, and loss (necrosis) of the abdominal skin. Long-term problems include chronic pain or numbness, contour irregularities or prominent scars. Rarely, life-threatening complications can arise during or after any operation. Dr. Andrade will discuss your specific risks and answer all of your questions during the consultation.  This information is intended to complement the advice of a plastic surgeon obtained during a proper consultation, and it is by no means exhaustive or complete.

Common Questions About Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) Procedures

Is tummy tuck surgery covered under provincial insurance?

Tummy tuck surgery is not an OHIP-covered procedure. Removal of loose skin on the the body is not covered by provincial insurance regardless of the cause (even after massive weight loss or previous surgery for obesity). Another abdominal procedure called “panniculectomy” may be an OHIP-insured procedure in certain patients who have a very large overhang of skin (called a “pannus”) on the lower abdomen.  In order to qualify for surgery, the patient must have evidence that the pannus causes serious problems like recurrent infections requiring prescription antibiotics. Panniculectomy surgery is not the same as tummy tuck surgery because it does not involve tightening the abdominal muscles or improve the appearance of the upper abdomen.  It simply involves removing the overhang of skin.

 

If I lose weight after my tummy tuck, how will my appearance change?

Ideally it is best to be at a steady weight prior to having abdominoplasty surgery.  This ensures that the maximal amount of skin can be removed.  If there is significant weight loss after surgery there can be some recurrent skin laxity, depending on each patient’s skin tone.  Some patients will still have an excellent contour.  This patient had a tummy tuck and was very happy with the appearance, but she was motivated to lose another 30 pounds postoperatively.  After this additional weight loss the abdominal contour was further improved.  The photos below show her appearance at each stage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tummy Tuck Surgery

Full and Mini TT

Wound Drains

MODERN PRIVATE SURGICAL FACILITY
"Yorkville of the North"™

Conveniently located off highway 404 in Newmarket Ontario, The York Plastic Surgery Centre is a cosmetic surgical to facility that meets CPSO regulatory standards of safety, technology and patient care. Dr. Andrade is a trusted member of the healthcare community. Also, all of the medical staff that work at the facility include board certified anaesthesiologists and fully credentialed OR nurses.

Operations performed at the facility are done on an out-patient basis with in home nursing care as needed. Patients requiring more complex surgeries stay overnight at the hospital.

The entire staff  at The York Plastic Surgery Centre work hard to make every patient feel welcome, comfortable and well informed.

Disclaimer: Images and videos on this page are models.  See Dr. Andrade's photo gallery for hundreds of actual patient outcomes.  It is not possible to guarantee a specific result because outcomes vary from patient to patient.

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