Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck Surgery)
Do you dream of a flatter, more defined and toned stomach?
Abdominoplasty, commonly referred to as a tummy tuck, is a procedure that addresses the loose skin, excess fat, and lax muscles that affect many individuals. Often diet and exercise alone will not restore your abdomen to its optimal appearance. The failure to achieve your desired goal is often the result of pregnancy, aging, prior surgery, ones particular genetic makeup and weight gain/loss. In fact, those people who are fortunate enough to have lost a considerable amount of weight may experience the unintended consequence of EXTRA skin. If you have achieved your best possible weight, do not smoke, do not plan any further pregnancies, are otherwise in good health and STILL have a loose or bulging abdomen, you are a great candidate for a tummy tuck.
The benefits of an abdominoplasty are evident almost immediately. Most people generally look and feel better as well as more youthful after this operation. Their clothing fits well again, is more comfortable and, of course, looks better. Many of my patients tell me they are able to exercise more comfortably and are more motivated to stay in shape. Although the procedure will not completely resolve your stretch marks, many of the lower abdominal (below the belly button) stretch marks are removed with this operation. Most often the scars can be hidden under clothing, even when wearing more revealing outfits like shorts, bathing suits, and bikinis.
My Favorite Surgery
Tummy tucks are one of my favorite surgeries to perform. The results are generally excellent, the risks low, and both the patient and myself are frequently very satisfied. Having trained initially in general surgery, I am at home in the abdomen and have tremendous experience spanning 20 years. The procedure can often be peformed on an outpatient basis and we have developed techniques to markedly lessen the discomfort associated with this surgery, including using the OnQ Painbuster to control post operative pain for 3 days.
Be sure to navigate to the links page where you will find sites to learn more about this procedure. Look in my photographic gallery for before/after photographs of tummy tucks and abdominoplasty for those after massive weight loss. I recommend the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) website that has an excellent 3D animation.
Finally, another aspect to consider is having your abdominoplasty at the time of another surgery, most often hysterectomy. This is a safe option that will decrease operative time, cost, recovery time and discomfort. I often operate in conjunction with Dr. Robert Pollard in these situations and highly recommend him for your gynecologic needs. You can find information about Dr. Pollard atwww.clevelandhysterectomy.com.
Abdominoplasty is usually considered a cosmetic surgery. More information about the financial arrangements for cosmetic surgery can be found on the Consultation Page.
I would be happy to provide you with more information or answer any other questions and can be contacted by phone at 1-216-778-2245 or by email at drbramkaufman@case.edu