Abdominoplasty

The best candidates for abdominoplasty are women or men in good physical condition with excess fat or loose skin, in abdominal region, who did not respond well to diet and exercise. We can also help the elderly, slightly over-weight people whose skin has lost its natural elasticity. Abdominal surgery can also be useful to women with damaged skin and muscles due to pregnancy. The effects of abdominoplasty are likely to be weakened if women become pregnant again. In this case, we suggest that they delay this surgery. Furthermore, we recommend to patients who intend to lose a lot of weight, to wait before undergoing an abdominoplasty surgery. The skin in the abdominal area usually relaxes after significant weight loss.

The doctor dedicates time during each preoperative consultation to find out what each patient wants to achieve with this surgery, both for the body and for her/his self-confidence. We discuss with our patients to realize their needs and to provide them with a fully tailored Tummy Tack treatment according to their needs.

Abdominal (Tummy Tuck) surgery usually lasts about two to three hours, under general anesthesia. Dr. Sotirios Ioannidis starts with two small incisions: the first one is between the two strong muscles near the sagittal area and the second incision is around the navel. Then he separates the skin from the abdominal muscles, which are then pulled and sewn in place for a tighter abdomen and narrower waist. Then, he performs liposuction on the skin flap and lateral areas to achieve a smoother waistline. It will then stretch the skin flap down and over the new tight muscles, remove excess skin and reposition the navel in a natural position. Finally, Dr. Ioannidis closes the incisions and applies surgical bandages on the sutures.

A temporary tube is put in to drain the excess fluid from the surgical site. The recovery time ranges from two weeks to a few months.

Abdominal – Tummy Tuck surgery will leave a scar between the two forces in the lower abdomen. We are very careful making the cut low enough that even a bikini could easily hide it. Following a balanced diet and regular exercise, the results could become long lasting.

Any postoperative complications from abdominoplasty- Tummy tuck Surgery are extremely rare but possible. They can include infection, blood clots and poor healing, which may require a follow-up surgery. Those patients who have had previous abdominal surgery should be aware that their old scars may increase, stretch or become noticeable again after the procedure. The re-examination of the scar some time after the abdominoplasty may minimize the chances of the appearance of an unpleasant scar.