Abdominoplasty Fort Worth
Abdominoplasty is a surgical procedure to remove excess skin and fatty tissue from the middle and lower abdomen and to tighten the muscles of the abdominal wall. At New Leaf Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery in Fort Worth, abdominoplasty is a popular treatment among mothers who are unable to restore a firm, shapely midsection through diet and exercise, as well as among adults who have undergone considerable weight loss.
What Is Abdominoplasty?
An abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, is a cosmetic procedure that involves excising loose skin and tissue to slim the waistline. Abdominoplasty is not a weight loss treatment. Overweight individuals who intend to lose weight should postpone all forms of body contouring surgery until they have reached a stable weight for at least six months.
Types of Tummy Tucks
There are different variations of abdominoplasty that can be performed. The mini abdominoplasty utilizes a short incision in the lower abdominal area. The mini tuck can involve tightening the muscles of the lower abdomen along with removing loose skin. Some liposuction may be done for additional contouring. The mini tummy tuck can be good for patients with minimal excess skin and minor muscle laxity in the lower abdomen.
A traditional tummy tuck removes excess skin from the belly button down. This requires a larger incision that usually runs hip to hip. The belly button is brought out through a new hole, and the muscles of the upper and lower abdomen are tightened along with some liposuction as well. A traditional tummy tuck is good for patients who have excess skin of the upper and lower abdomen with laxity of the upper and lower abdominal wall.
There is also an abdominoplasty that is done as part of a circumferential lower body lift. This is done in patients who have lost a significant amount of weight and have skin laxity in the upper and lower abdomen, laxity of the muscles of the upper and lower abdomen, and excess skin in the areas of the flanks and back as well.
A circumferential lower body lift eliminates excess skin from the belly button down, along with excess skin of the flanks and back. The muscles of the upper and lower abdomen can be tightened, and the belly button can be repositioned to complement your new shape.
Dr. Lovelace will perform a personal consultation with you to determine which type of abdominoplasty is right for you. The consultation is held at our office in Fort Worth which is conveniently located to serve Southlake, Keller, Argyle, and Mansfield.
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Dr. Lovelace is the most exceptional surgeon. I had weight loss surgery 2 years ago and needed several skin removal and breast surgeries, came to Dr. Lovelace for 3 separate surgeries so far, thigh lift, full tummy tuck, and breast augmentation/lift. Face lift next on the list. She has even called me on a weekend to check on me which most physicians/surgeons never do. Her and her staff are just incredible, all are very knowledgeable, friendly, and very supportive in your endeavor she takes her time with every patient never makes you feel pushed out the door, all questions are answered. Her office is clean, cheerful, and very easy to find and access. I feel like family/close friend to her and her staff over the year long processes I have been through with her. Her work she did is exceptional, she helped me in every way possible and made me feel whole again and l absolutely would recommend her to anyone having any type of work done. She is an amazing surgeon, love her and her skills. Dr. Lovelace came highly recommended to me, and she will be highly recommended by me as well. You will never go wrong with Dr. Lovelace
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What are the other names for this procedure?Tummy Tuck
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How much pain will I have?Moderate
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What will it cost?
A price quote detailing the fees for the facility, anesthesia, any postoperative garments, and surgeon will be given at the consultation in our Fort Worth office. Prices will vary depending on the time that is needed to do the procedure, and the complexity of the procedure. Dr. Lovelace will perform a personal consultation to determine what the right procedure is for you.
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What is the hospital/surgery center time?
Surgery will be approximately 2-5 hours as determined on a case by case basis. Typically this is done as an outpatient procedure, but an overnight stay may be necessary and will be determined by the surgeon.
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What is the recovery?
Sutures that are placed are usually dissolvable and will not need to be removed. You will likely have drains that will stay in place for 1-2 weeks. These drains help prevent hematomas and seromas.
You will be placed in a compression garment after your surgery, and told to wear this at all times for 8 weeks, and then only at night as long as tolerated. You will be expected to start walking immediately after surgery to help reduce the risk of blood clots.
On average patients return to light duty work a week after surgery. You will be able to return to non-strenuous activity approximately 1-2 weeks after surgery. Approximately 8 weeks after surgery, strenuous activity will be allowed without restrictions. Scars will flatten and fade between 3 months and 2 years after surgery.
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What medications should I take or avoid taking with my surgery?
You should not take any blood thinners or anti-inflammatory medications for a week before your procedure, and you should hold all over the counter supplements a week before surgery. This will help reduce the risk of bleeding intraoperatively, and help reduce the risk of post-operative hematoma (collection of blood). If blood thinners are prescribed for you by your cardiologist or primary care physician, you should get clearance from them to hold these medications before they are discontinued.
You should hold all hormones 6 weeks before surgery. Birth control pills should be held 6 weeks before surgery as well. Of course you should make sure to use alternative forms of birth control during and after this time. Hormones and birth control pills put you at a higher risk of blood clots. These clots can go to your lungs and cause serious illness or even death. We call this a pulmonary embolus.
Steroids should be weaned off at least a month before your surgery, and this weaning process should be set up and cleared by your prescribing physician. Dr. Lovelace and the staff at their Fort Worth office will go through your list of medications, and let you know what exactly you need to do with those medications pre-operatively.
Make sure that you bring all of your medications with you to your consultation. You will usually be given your prescriptions for your post-operative medication on your pre-operative visit so that they can be filled and at your house when you get home from surgery.
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Will I need clearances from any other physicians?
Depending on your age and medical issues, Dr. Lovelace and her staff will set you up with your primary care physician, cardiologist, etc. for clearance prior to your surgery. At that time any necessary labs, EKGs, or chest x-rays will be done. If any hernias are suspected, she may want to get a CT scan preoperatively as well.
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What are the risks of an Abdominoplasty?
The risks of a tummy tuck include bleeding, infection, scarring, hematoma, seroma, need for drains, asymmetry, poor cosmesis, need for further surgery, dog ears, contour irregularities, fat necrosis, dehiscence, intra-abdominal/intrathoracic injury, bowel injury, laxity of skin over time, umbilical/skin necrosis, umbilical malposition, numbness/hypersensation, nerve/vessel/muscle injury, persistent edema, cardiac/pulmonary/stroke/DVT/PE events, death, etc.
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What are the risks?
The risks of a tummy tuck include bleeding, infection, scarring, hematoma, seroma, need for drains, asymmetry, poor cosmesis, need for further surgery, dog ears, contour irregularities, fat necrosis, dehiscence, intra-abdominal/intrathoracic injury, bowel injury, laxity of skin over time, umbilical/skin necrosis, umbilical malposition, numbness/hypersensation, nerve/vessel/muscle injury, persistent edema, cardiac/pulmonary/stroke/DVT/PE events, death, etc.
Contact Our Office
If you want to learn more about your options for an abdominoplasty in Fort Worth, please contact us to schedule a consultation. Our office is conveniently located to serve Southlake, Keller, Argyle and Mansfield.