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Following an extraordinary period of weight loss there is often a great deal of loose skin left in the stomach region. To remove this loose skin, there is a plastic surgery option called an abdominoplasty. This article covers the basics of this procedure. A relatively new field of medical procedures, falling under the category of bariatric surgery, has made extraordinary weight loss possible for morbidly obese patients. Designed mostly to help individuals who are dangerously overweight, bariatric procedures such as gastric banding and gastric bypass surgery can cause the patient to feel full sooner and thus lose a tremendous amount of weight. However, following an extraordinary period of weight loss—especially when it happens in a short time period such as what usually follows bariatric surgery—there is often a great deal of loose skin left in the stomach region. To remove this loose skin, there is a plastic surgery option called an abdominoplasty. You may know it by its layman name—the tummy tuck. An abdominoplasty is performed in such a way that the doctor makes and incision from hip bone to hip bone across the belly. In many cases, the surgeon will make the incision in such a way that it will be hidden by even a brief bikini bottom. At this point, the doctor will complete the incision by removing the loose skin from the lower abdomen, usually by cutting above the belly button. Some more limited forms of the procedure bring the incision around below the navel, but this is very uncommon with extreme weight loss patients. The circular scar above the newly constructed belly button will be somewhat visible. The abdominoplasty isn’t only about removing the loose skin, however. In most cases, the doctor will also sew the abdominal muscles more tightly together. This helps to create a flatter stomach and a stronger core for the patient. In many patients who were formerly very obese, the fascia covering the abdominal wall will be somewhat loosened due to the pressure of visceral fat. Not always, though, which is why this part of the procedure is not performed in every tummy tuck. Following the procedure, the doctor will fit the patient with drainage tubes to drain excess fluid from the incision points. On average, the patient will keep these tubes for around two weeks before having them removed by the doctor. Recovery time for the surgery varies, but it is one of the most demanding plastic surgeries performed on a regular basis. Patients should expect to be out of commission and out of work for at least two weeks following the procedure and possibly as long as a month. Those who were more active and fit before the surgery can usually expect to have a quicker recovery time. If you're interested in a Maryland abdominoplasty, make sure to find a well-qualified doctor. For more information, visit http://plasticsurgeryservices.net.
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