All Tummy Tucks are not created equal. Today we focus on Heavy Weight Tummy Tucks. These Abdominoplasties are not only rewarding, but also life changing when performed for my most successful weight loss and bariatric surgery patients.
Tummy Tucks – Weight Loss Champ #1
Our first contender has done extremely well with her weight loss. Both pregnancy and weight gain stretch the abdominal wall in two ways. First, the skin stretches and grows to cover the belly when it expands. Second, the muscles get stretched from expansion within the abdominal cavity.
Heavy Weight Tummy Tuck #1 – This patient has successfully lost over 100 pounds. As these abdominoplasty before and after pictures show, a Tummy Tuck completes her journey by tightening the abdominal muscles and removing the excessive skin.
In the before picture above you can see that despite weight loss, the abdominal wall is not flat. The excess skin is stretched, bulky and hangs over her pubic region. The muscle damage is apparent above the skin excess. The bulge in the upper abdomen is caused by the weakness in the overstretched muscle fascia. The results of tightening the abdominal muscles and removing the excess skin and fat are seen in the Abdominoplasty after photo. What you cannot see is the smile on my patient’s face.
Tummy Tucks – Weight Loss Champ #2
Our second contender, like patient number one above, has also lost over 100 pounds. In her case, the skin is more redundant, especially in the upper abdomen, but her abdominal wall muscles have held up better.
Heavy Weight Tummy Tuck #2 – This patient’s weight loss went extremely well. As seen in her abdominoplasty before and pictures, draping extra skin hid her figure and made clothes selection difficult. The problem was eliminated with a Tummy Tuck.
For the patient above, skin tightening was job one. The before photo shows excess skin above and below the belly button with a third fold visible between the ribs and the umbilicus. An Extended Tummy Tuck was performed to remove the skin excess and to give my patient the flat belly she desired, and earned. The underlying muscle was also tightened to provide the optimal foundation for her new tummy, as seen in her after photo.
Tummy Tucks – Weight Loss Champ #3
Our third contender, presented with a unique problem. Not only did her abdominal skin hang down, it also was loose from side to side. Additionally, she had a long midline scar from previous surgery. This is Advanced Tummy Tucking and is best evaluated and performed by an experienced Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, who is familiar with Post Bariatric Plastic Surgery like members of the ASBPS.
Heavy Weight Tummy Tuck #3 – This patient also lost a large amount of weight. Unfortunately, she was left with a large amount of excess skin on her abdomen. As seen in her fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty before and after pictures, her skin was tightened in two directions for maximal results.
The amount of excess lower abdominal skin is apparent, even through her underwear. The redundant bulge made finding well-fitting clothes very difficult. The skin fold beneath the panus is not only uncomfortable, but also a frequent source of rashes and recurrent infections.
In this case, a Fleur-de-Lis Tummy Tuck was performed to remove the excess skin in two directions. The lower abdominal skin was removed vertically, as in a standard Tummy Tuck. In addition, the preexisting midline vertical scar was opened and additional skin was removed horizontally to enhance the tone of the upper abdominal skin.
Tummy Tuck Consultations
All our patients above are champions. They have all successfully lost a significant percentage of their body weight, and capped it off with a skin and muscle tightening procedure that really shows off their hard work.
If you are considering Abdominoplasty, be certain to consult with an experienced, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. Whether you need a light weight or a heavy weight tummy tuck, for the best results, find a surgeon specializing in cosmetic plastic surgery and one familiar with all the tools available for tummy tightening. In the San Francisco Bay Area, call (925) 943-6353 and schedule your private consultation appointment.
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