This patient in her 40s had a full tummy tuck with liposuction contouring of the upper abdomen and love handles, plus umbilical hernia repair. She was 5’6” tall and weighed 149 pounds (BMI 24) preoperatively. We removed 1800cc of fat-containing fluid called lipoaspirate during the liposuction procedure, plus another 2574g (approximately 6 pounds) of excess fat and skin from abdomen. The rectus muscle plication resulted in a much flatter contour of the abdomen, but a mild bulge persisted. Abdominoplasty surgery does not remove fatty tissue deep to the muscles (visceral fat) so sometimes a completely flat result cannot be achieved. However, care was taken to debulk the tissue that is draped over the pelvic bones (iliac crests) to minimize the appearance of a “muffin top” of bulging tissue at the sides of the abdomen. We also closed the wound with a drainless technique called sequential tension closure (or quilting sutures). This technique simplifies postoperative care and eliminates the risk of drain site infections. Studies have shown that routine use of drains in a variety of different operations does not decrease the risk of complications, so they are not commonly used in Dr. Andrade’s practice.
Disclaimer: Similar results cannot be guaranteed since outcomes vary among patients.
