Patients who choose tummy tuck are seeking to restore a fit profile and tight abdomen, but they don’t want to achieve these benefits at the price of excessive scarring or an unnatural look. Below, experienced Sacramento plastic surgeon Dr. Donald Hause explains what happens during tummy tuck, and how the precision of his advanced surgical technique ensures the most natural-looking result.
New Tummy, Same Belly Button
The main goal of tummy tuck is to improve the integrity and profile of the abdominal region. This is accomplished by removing excess skin and tightening the underlying muscles. A tummy tuck is the best choice for patients who have a loss of skin elasticity with an overhanging skin fold, typically caused by pregnancy or substantial weight loss.
During tummy tuck, the belly button is separated from the surrounding skin through an incision within the inner border of the belly button, then sewn back after muscles and skin are tightened. Dr. Hause creates a new hole in the skin of the belly button, and the scar is hidden within the belly button itself. It’s still the same belly button, natural in appearance and position.
In addition to keeping your belly button, equally good news is that you may also improve stretch marks. If your stretch marks are located in the lower abdomen, a tummy tuck will eliminate them when the skin is surgically removed. Stretch marks on the middle and upper abdomen may be improved but not eliminated, since this skin is pulled down and tightened during the procedure.
Minimizing Scarring
A tummy tuck requires a horizontal incision below the belly and an incision near the belly button. This results in a “U-shaped” or circular scar, depending on patient preference. Dr. Hause will follow your preferences for placement of the incision, and help you explore all of your options, which include placing the incision just below the bikini line.
If scarring is a major concern, options to consider include: liposuction, which uses small incisions, endoscopic abdominoplasty, which leaves a one- to two-inch scar, or a mini-abdominoplasty, which produces a scar about the length of a C-section. Depending on your genetic predisposition, most scars will fade within six to 12 months, and can also be treated with lasers to improve their appearance.
To learn more about tummy tuck, call Sacramento Aesthetic Surgery at (916) 646-6869 or send us an email to schedule a consultation.
