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Austin Abdominoplasty Procedures
Abdominoplasty surgery, more commonly known as a Tummy Tuck, is a procedure that removes excess fat and skin from the abdominal region and restores weakened or separated stomach muscles to create a smoother, more contoured abdominal profile. Abdominoplasty procedures are typically performed on older individuals who have loose, excess skin around their midsection that no longer responds to diet or exercise.
Loose, hanging skin around the midsection can develop for a variety of different reasons, including pregnancy, weight fluctuation, heredity, prior surgery or simply as a result of the natural aging process. Fat stored in the abdominal region is often the most stubborn type and the most difficult to lose. As we grow older, our propensity to store fat in the stomach area only increases as our metabolisms slow down. For women, after menopause occurs, fat tends to more readily store itself in different places, often focusing in the tummy region. Stress is another factor that can cause us to store excess fat in the abdominal region due to the release of the hormone known as cortisol.
Tummy Tucks in Austin
Many women come to us seeking Austin abdominoplasty surgery after they have had children. During childbearing, a number of women will experience a condition called diastasis recti. This is also known as abdominal separation, which occurs when the right and left side of the rectus abdominus (the six-pack muscles) spread apart at the body's midline. This occurs to make room for the growing baby. Sometimes diastasis will resolve itself and eventually the gap between the muscles will shrink back. In other cases though, especially with multiple pregnancies and significant weight gain, the connective tissue between the rectus abdominis is stretched too far. When the muscles are separated in such a way, the abdominal wall and support system for the organs is weakened, which is why many women cannot get rid of that lower belly pooch, often referred to as the "Mummy Tummy".
Many patients come to us seeking Liposuction to restore their stomach to its pre-pregnancy state, however, liposuction alone is often not sufficient to correct this problem. While liposuction will remove excess fat and reduce stubborn fat deposits, it will not correct the post-pregnancy bulge due to muscle separation or the resulting loose skin. To address your post-pregnancy, protruding tummy, Austin Abdominoplasty surgery is the best option for modifying loose skin and muscle.
Abdominoplasty Surgery in Austin
There are several variations of abdominoplasty surgery and your procedure may differ due to your specific needs. During a typical abdominoplasty surgery, an incision is made below the bikini area. For full abdominoplasty, the surgeon will need to make a longer incision, typically from hipbone to hipbone. In a mini-tummy tuck, the incision will be shorter. Your plastic surgeon will place sutures in the fascia of your abdominal muscles in order to pull them into a tighter position. Once the muscles have been repaired, the doctor will extract excess fat and remove extra skin. The navel is then repositioned and the incisions are closed up.
After the procedure, patients may experience minor bruising and swelling for a week or so and are typically able to return to work within 10 days. Post-surgery, patients are encouraged to avoid strenuous activity, especially lifting.
