CASE #1

This patient wanted to lift and remove the sagging skin around her belly.

CASE #3

This 32 year old man lost 125 pounds through dieting and exercise which resulted in a great deal of flabby, lax skin of the lower abdomen and hips. He underwent an abdominoplasty with liposuction of the hip or love handle area and his postoperative result is shown six months after the surgery.

Abdominoplasty Surgery (tummy tuck) – Many patients who have had children notice a change in the soft tissues of the abdomen. The changes that can occur as a consequence of pregnancy include stretch marks (striae gravidarum), laxity of the skin and weakening of the underlying abdominal muscles. This can cause the abdomen to take on an unsightly appearance. Fortunately, techniques are available to correct all of these problems. The operation that usually is recommended is an “abdominoplasty,” also known as a “tummy tuck.”

Abdominoplasty is performed by making an incision around the umbilicus and then a long transverse incision across the lower abdomen and carefully elevating all of the soft tissues off the underlying muscles and fascia. The surgeon has direct access to the musculature of the abdomen and is able to place sutures to tighten the weakened, stretched out muscles and fascia. After this has been completed, the redundant skin is pulled inferiorly and trimmed, and then the incision is closed and a new opening is made for protrusion of the bellybutton.

Abdominoplasty is typically performed on an outpatient basis. The surgery is done under general anesthesia administered by a board certified physician-anesthesiologist. Patient satisfaction after abdominoplasty is extremely high. As with all operations, there is a risk of complications and side effects from abdominoplasty. Some of the complications that may occur include infections, hematomas or seromas (an accumulation of fluid beneath the skin flap), numbness of the skin of the abdomen and unsatisfactory scarring. All of these complications can be treated successfully but may require additional surgical intervention.

Tummy Tuck Surgery / Abdominoplasty is performed in Beverly Hills by world-renowned cosmetic plastic surgeon, Dr. Neal Handel.