Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
By Plastic Surgery Center of Naples
Abdominoplasty is the recontouring and removal of skin and fat from the abdomen while also recontouring the deeper tissues and muscle layers. Abdominal liposuction only removes the fat under the skin and no skin is removed. Liposuction only involves small, tiny puncture wounds. Panniculectomy is the removal of a significant hanging “skin apron” done for the purpose of hygiene. This procedure does not hide the scar in as low of a position as the abdominoplasty.
The first abdominoplasty was done in 1890 in France. This did not, however, become a common procedure until the late 1900’s. Techniques advanced to hide the incision in the bikini area and recreating the belly button became standard.
Now we have many different versions of tummy tucks and refinements from full abdominoplasties to mini tucks. A full abdominoplasty is done under anesthesia in a surgery center. Today over 250,000 abdominoplasties are done every year. They always involve a longer incision as skin is removed and the procedure involves re-contouring the skin, fat, and abdominal wall, as well as hiding the scar in the bikini location. The belly button is repositioned, and a scar is formed around it. This often involves surgery done in the surgery center setting and sometimes in a hospital. Drains are commonly used, and the post operative compression garments are needed for 4to 6 weeks (about 1 and a half months). The recovery is more significant the more surgery is done, particularly if the deeper layers are tightened.
Abdominal liposuction is the procedure at which time you remove some of the fat by suction aspiration rather than cutting it out. This by itself will not remove any of the extra skin, and therefore it is not equivalent to abdominoplasty. Liposuction does not recontour the deeper facia and deeper tissues, only the fat under the skin, however, some of the newer techniques that we use, can tighten the skin by several different modalities. One of these is called J-plasma (also known as Renuvion). This used a plasma helium bean under the skin, induing progressive skin tightening over the next six months. Skin is reduced without the need for removal and no incisions, but rather small puncture wounds. Drains are not used but post-surgical garments should be worn for at least 4 to 6 mo. This procedure can be done under local tumescence in an office setting without significant anesthesia and the patient is awake. It is not uncomfortable and it’s extremely popular. The Fat removed can sometimes be grafted elsewhere. Most commonly buttocks or breast.
The ultimate determination which procedure would be best for you is based on the amount of skin and tissue that would need to be removed. Surgical risks and recovery should also be considered. A tummy tuck, (abdominoplasty,) has higher surgical risk than liposuction with J-plasma. These procedures are considered cosmetic. Only a panniculectomy can be considered potentially medical, in which case insurance would cover the cost.
I perform many of these procedures and I always want patients to know, while it’s not a weight-loss procedure, it will improve a man or woman’s physique. Patients are offered to go on our weight loss program, which is a series of shots given once a week for a few months to assist for larger amounts of general over-all weight loss. This has been a successful program that allows patients to feel their best before or after a procedure.
The Plastic Surgery Center of Naples
860 111th Ave., N., Suite #6, Naples Florida, 34108
866-416-SKIN | www.SwedishDr.com
