A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is surgery to remove excess fat and skin from your abdomen. The surgery also restores and strengthens muscles that are weak or separated, an important step that creates a smooth, firm abdomen.

Many people who maintain a healthy body weight ultimately develop excess pockets of fat or loose, saggy skin on their abdomen. This can happen due to:

• Aging
• Pregnancy
• Prior surgery
• Weight fluctuations
• Genetics

A tummy tuck requires a horizontal incision in the area between the pubic hairline and belly button. You may also need an incision near the belly button to remove excess skin in the upper abdomen. The placement and length of your incision depends on the extent of your procedure.

Once your Revive Wellness physician has lifted the skin from your abdomen, they remove the fat and repair your muscles. They then pull down the skin from your upper abdomen, remove any excess skin, and stitch up the incision site.

Panniculectomy is the medical name for “apron removal,” or surgical removal of overhanging skin in the lower abdomen. This problem typically develops after pregnancy or major weight loss surgery. In both cases, abdominal skin is so severely stretched that when the cause disappears, the excess skin stays loose and hangs down.

Since panniculectomy only removes the overhanging apron of skin, it may not produce the most aesthetic result. It’s often better to do it together with a tummy tuck.

Even after a quality surgical procedure, tummy tuck scars can become broad and noticeable. It takes 12 weeks or longer for the scar to heal. Until it regains its full strength, it’s susceptible to stretching or widening, a frequent problem due to normal movements that stress muscles in the abdomen.

If you need a scar revision, the team at Revive Wellness Center offers several procedures to improve the scar’s appearance.

Whether you’re ready for a new tummy tuck or need to improve an earlier surgery, you can count on the physicians at Revive Wellness Center to create the look you want. Give them a call or schedule an appointment online to get a tummy that will make you proud.