“Abdominoplasty,” or more commonly known as tummy tuck surgery, is one of the most sought-after plastic surgery procedures today. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), there were 144,929 tummy tucks performed in 2010, making it the fourth most common cosmetic surgery procedure of the year.

Tummy tuck surgery is especially popular amongst women following childbirth and those who have lost significant amounts of weight. The procedure tightens the abdominal muscles and removes excess fat and skin. Although a very popular procedure, a tummy tuck often requires post-surgical care to drain the fluids accumulated during the process.

However, a groundbreaking adhesive product to aid recovery from tummy tucks has been cleared for use in Europe and its use in the United States may not be far behind. Cohera Medical’s TissuGlu, a nontoxic and resorbable surgical adhesive, received CE Mark Approval this month. The approval bodes well for the future of TissuGlu elsewhere as Cohera Medical continues to actively pursue U.S. FDA approval.

TissuGlu benefits those undergoing large flap surgeries, such as a tummy tuck surgery, by forming internal bonds between tissue layers. TissuGlu works as an adhesive between tissue flaps and underlying tissues to reduce accumulating fluids during surgery. It promotes natural healing and allows patients’ drains to be removed faster, hastening their recovery time.

If you would like further information regarding Frisco tummy tuck surgery and your options with this body contouring procedure, you may wish to contact Dr. Natan Yaker. A qualified cosmetic plastic surgeon, Dr. Yaker can help you achieve a more slender midsection contour.

Women who experience pregnancy or massive weight loss tend to have stubborn fatty deposits in the abdominal region, as well as loose, excess skin. No matter how much they may exercise or diet, this area can be difficult to sculpt, which is why many turn to cosmetic plastic surgery. Tummy tuck surgery (“abdominoplasty”) can help patients regain a more slender midsection.

At the practice of Dr. David R. Luethcke, Westside Plastic Surgery in Houston, tummy tuck surgery is a commonly requested procedure. Typically, full abdominoplasty is performed through an incision made along the lower abdomen from hipbone to hipbone. Dr. Luethcke then separates the skin from the underlying muscles in order to tighten them for a flatter appearance. The skin is then pulled back down to remove the excess. In addition, a new opening for the belly button is made to provide a more youthful-looking abdomen. After the procedure, some swelling, bruising, and pain may be present but will fade as the weeks pass.

Patients may anticipate their final results about six to eight weeks after their procedure. Results can be long-lasting when a healthy lifestyle is adopted. Also, in order for the patient to maintain optimal results, it is best that she is done having kids before undergoing a tummy tuck.

Women who would like to achieve a better-contoured abdomen with tummy tuck surgery may contact Dr. Luethcke at his practice near Houston.

Most men and women desire a flat, contoured abdominal section, which is why many of those who struggle to achieve this with diet and exercise often turn to cosmetic plastic surgery. A bulging stomach may be a result of stretched muscles and excess fat and skin; this is frequently caused by pregnancy and/or massive weight loss. When consulting with a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon regarding a solution to this undesirable feature, most recommend tummy tuck surgery (“abdominoplasty”). However, not all patients fully understand what this procedure entails.

During an initial consultation at the practice of Dr. Leonard M. Hochstein near Ft. Lauderdale, some of the tummy tuck questions to ask may include:

• What is a tummy tuck?
• Am I an ideal candidate for this surgery?
• What is the difference between a traditional abdominoplasty and a mini tummy tuck?
• How long does this procedure take?
• What type of anesthesia is used?
• Where will the procedure be performed?
• Will I be required to stay overnight after my surgery?
• How long is the recovery period?
• Will there be scarring or other side effects?

Can I view before and after photos of your previous patients?

Once you have gained the necessary information regarding the procedure, you may feel more at ease and comfortable with your surgeon. It is also important to research his/her credentials and training in this particular surgery.

You may schedule an appointment with Dr. Hochstein regarding tummy tuck surgery by visiting his website.

When men and women lose a massive amount of weight, they are almost always left with excess skin around the abdomen. In most cases, no amount of additional training or toning can eliminate this unsightly fold of skin.

This can be extremely frustrating, particularly after surmounting the achievement of 50, 75, or 100 pounds of weight loss. One increasingly popular solution to removing that excess skin is a tummy tuck.

San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Stuart Kincaid has performed numerous tummy tuck (“abdominoplasty”) operations and mini-tummy tucks for patients who have lost a massive amount of weight and want to look as great as they feel. But one question that often arises is whether it’s best to get a tummy tuck before or after the patient’s ideal weight has been reached. Many men and women set certain goals for themselves and come very close to meeting them. However, the last 15 to 30 pounds are often the most difficult to shed. Because many doctors recommend that patients reach a stable weight before having a tummy tuck in order to avoid the need for touch-up operations, these patients end up delaying the reward of a smoother, tighter stomach while they continue to work towards those last few pounds.

On the other hand, some doctors suggest that patients go ahead with the operation, especially if they’ve reached a plateau in their weight loss regimen. Those last couple of pounds can be removed via liposuction at the same time as the tummy tuck operation. Or, as is more common, the patient feels so reinvigorated after their tummy tuck that they resume their exercise routine with renewed confidence, which helps them meet their weight loss goals.

If you are within 15 to 30 pounds of your weight loss goals, you may wish to speak with a board certified plastic surgeon in order to explore your options. Depending on your circumstance, additional weight loss after your tummy tuck may not require a follow-up surgery. Talking to a plastic surgeon face to face will help you understand how a tummy tuck can play a role in your weight loss goals.

Another story regarding patient safety and the importance of conducting extensive pre-surgical doctor screenings has come out, down under, in New Zealand.

New Zealand Health and Disability Commissioner Ron Paterson has asked their national Medical Council to review a surgeon’s competence after a female patient complained about the services he provided.

The surgeon, known in the commissioner’s report only as “Dr. B” is a general surgeon who had trained in cosmetic surgery and worked at an outpatient cosmetic surgery practice.

In March 2006, the patient had abdominoplasty surgery – a procedure to get rid of the large amount of excess skin on her lower abdomen that was leftover after a previous liposuction treatment.

A couple of months after the surgery the woman developed a hematoma in her lower abdomen and ended up needing more liposuction treatments to remove the excess fluid and then further surgery to eliminate the hematoma.

In a post-surgery consultation with the surgeon in February 2007, the patient expressed dissatisfaction with the results of the tummy tuck surgery to the doctor. The doctor replied, saying that the excess skin was normal and in no way due to hematomas.

Independent advisers to the commissioner discovered that the surgeon did not provide appropriate standards of care which could be expected of a doctor who was a general surgeon who practiced cosmetic surgery exclusively. The commissioner recommended the cosmetic surgeon be referred to the Medical Council for a competency review.

According to Patterson, once the surgeon’s competency review is complete, a copy of the commissioner’s report will be sent to the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and be available on the Health and Disability Commissioner website.

Do you live in or near the Dallas and Fort Worth areas? If so, and you’re reading this, you’re probably interested in having a tummy tuck or some form of body contouring surgery performed. We reccomend Dallas plastic surgeon, Dr. Robert Schwartz, M.D.

Dr. Schwartz is a nationally recognized plastic surgeon, who frequently contributes to the medical community, via his “Plastic Surgery Today,” radio show and podcasts, authoring numerous plastic surgery articles and frequent medical journal contributions. Dr Schwartz has been serving the Dallas area for over 10 years, performing well over 1000 procedures and setting the standard for tummy tuck surgery in Dallas. Dr Schwartz is double board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) and the American Board of Surgery (ABS).

As most of our readership already knows, tummy tuck surgery is a major surgical procedure, designed to remove excess skin and fat from the abdomen and tighten the muscles of the abdominal wall. The procedure can dramatically reduce the appearance of a protruding or sagging abdomen.

Dr. Schwartz realizes that the tummy tuck isn’t a one-size-fits-all procedure. He customizes each abdominoplasty to suit the indivdual patient’s body and their cosmetic goals. As a Dallas tummy tuck surgeon, Dr. Schwartz is known for his attention to detail, bestowing effort on the little things — from creating a beautiful belly button to hiding the incision.

If you’re considering abdominoplasty, contact Dallas and Fort Worth tummy tuck surgeon, Dr. Robert Scwartz, today to find out what he can do for you and your figure.