What to Expect with Abdominoplasty

In Phoenix and Scottsdale, Surprise

Dr. Paul Angelchik, respected member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, has a history of satisfied cosmetic surgery patients in the Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Glendale area. Many of his patients came to him for body contouring. As part of the consultation and evaluation process, they had to decide which procedure(s) would best achieve the look they envisioned.

Mini-abdominoplasty is a modification of the full abdominoplasty, more commonly called a tummy tuck. The primary deciding factor between the mini and full abdominoplasty is based upon the amount of loose skin above the navel. If you have little or no loose skin above the navel, you can expect good results from the mini-tummy tuck. Abdominoplasty is not a substitute for weight loss, but will correct the loose skin that results from weight loss.

The mini-tummy tuck involves only one incision along the bikini line, above the pubic bone and extending outward toward the hips. It is shorter than the full tummy tuck incision, and lacks the vertical incision from pubic bone to, and around the navel. The skin is separated from the muscle. The muscle connective tissue is sutured to pull both halves of the vertical muscle together. Liposuction may or may not be done, depending upon the amount of excess fat present. Finally, the excess skin is pulled down tight, where it will now overlap the incision line. The extra skin is trimmed off, and the incision is sutured closed. The entire procedure takes about two hours, and you can expect to return home that day.

Drains will be inserted to reduce fluid buildup. You will need to wear a tight-fitting garment for a couple weeks post-op. This garment helps hold the skin and muscles in place until there’s enough healing that the extra support isn’t needed. You can resume light activities and return to work within two weeks or less.

Healing is faster after the mini-tummy tuck than the complete abdominoplasty. Other advantages include a lower risk of complications, less scarring, and less pain or discomfort.

If your particular need for body contouring surgery interferes with your health, your insurance may cover the procedure under reconstructive surgery. However, mini-tummy tuck and liposuction are not treatments for obesity. While these ordinarily improve self-image, and how the patient feels about herself, they are, primarily, cosmetic procedures.

For more personalized information about how a mini-abdominoplasty would work for you, contact Dr. Paul Angelchik for a consultation. Dr. Angelchik is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

In addition to tummy tuck, Plastic Surgeon Dr. Angelchik also performs other body contouring procedures in his Phoenix plastic surgery practice. Visit these pages in the website to learn about how Dr. Angelchik treats Phoenix liposuction, body lift, brachioplasty and thigh lift patients. To arrange a consultation to discuss your Surprise Abdominoplasty needs contact our Surprise tummy tuck surgeon Dr. Angelchik today.