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THIS is a continuation of my first piece regarding the tummy-tuck
procedure, which I had the privilege of delving deep into a recent
conference in Dubai.
Pregnancy, weight gain and weight loss have a
devastating impact on a woman’s tummy. And neither exercise nor
dieting can fully restore it or cause the abdominal wall to its flat
desirable shape after the skin and muscles have been stretched to
their limits.
Fortuitously, we are in the century where
Aesthetic Medicine is at its most dynamic. At this point in time,
majority of us are already familiar with aesthetic options such as
liposuction and tummy tuck, being offered in many countries all over
the world.
As a result of medical advances, surgical
techniques are constantly improved and new developments become
available to ensure excellent results while at the same time improve
on patient comfort and safety. Before I discuss on the advances on
the technique of abdominoplasty, let me give you an idea on what the
procedure is all about.
Abdominal wall deformities have three
components, as follows:
a. Wrinkled or loose skin with stretch marks
resulting from pregnancy, aging or excessive weight loss.
b. Excess fat tissue, usually more prominent in
the lower abdomen
c. Separation or diastasis of the Rectus
Abdominis Muscle. Once the muscle relaxes, these separate, bulging
the tummy as the abdominal contents push forward.
Tummy tuck addresses the three defective
components (skin, fat and muscle). And for those who want a flat
stomach and a skin as tight as possible, this procedure may be your
best recourse. Tummy tucking, in combination with liposuction of the
flanks (love handles), can result to a dramatic body contour change.
Tummy tuck can be performed using local anesthesia (tumescent
technique), twilight or general anesthesia.
A continuous long incision (cut) just above the
pubic area is made. Then a second incision around the belly button
follows. The skin and fat as a unit are separated and lifted up the
rib cage exposing the rectus abdominis muscle fascia (the structure
that covers the muscles and functions as an inner girdle). The
fascia and muscle are then sutured together to tighten loose or
stretched out muscles located below the fascia. This creates a
tighter abdominal wall and a thinner waist. The skin is then
stretched down and the excess skin tissues and fats are removed. A
new opening is cut on the skin to reposition the belly button.
Incisions are then closed after drains are inserted to eliminate
fluid and blood buildup.
The ideal candidate for a traditional tummy tuck
procedure has to meet the following criteria before the procedure
can be performed:
a. The potential patient’s excess fat should
be within 30& of his or her ideal body weight.
b. The excess fat/ loose skin has already become
diet and exercise resistant.
c. The patient’s body weight should be stable
for at least six months.
d. The patient should be emotionally stable.
e. The patient understands and accepts the risks
of abdominoplasty surgery and possible scarring.
For comments or suggestions, call 414-5880,
373-1558, (0917) 497-6261 or e-mail at gc_beltran@yahoo.com
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