As medically-supervised weight management grows and changes, so does plastic surgery. Nearly 125 years ago, we saw the advent of the Tummy Tuck, the original body contouring procedure. Some 75 years later, came Liposuction and since then, a whole new crop of body contouring surgeries, such as the panniculectomy, have come and gone.

Today, weight-loss patients and specialists have a new plastic surgery procedure to consider: the Bra-Line Backlift.

The Bra-Line Backlift was developed by Dr. Joseph Hunstad, with the intention of treating excess back skin following massive weight-loss surgeries like gastric bypass. Following massive weight-loss, fatty tissue is suctioned out, using some light liposuction but the Backlift essentially is an upside down tummy tuck, on your back.

Instead of a horizontal incision across the waistline with a tummy tuck, the doctor makes an incision across the upper-middle back (one of the few detractors for men, given the inability to hide the scar with a bra or bathing suit), tightens the muscles and removes excess accumulations of skin.

Dr. Richard D’Amico, president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons says that he sees this as more of a “completion procedure”, than anything else. A procedure that might conclude a mommy makeover, for example, as opposed to a primary treatment option.

August 20th, 2008. A Martinez, California woman was sentenced to 9 months in prison for identity theft, using another woman’s stolen credit cards to subsidize payment for a Mommy Makeover, consisting of a Breast Lift, Liposuction and Tummy Tuck.

Londie Bowman, 32, is scheduled to surrender to Marin County sheriffs in October, according to her public defender and a spokesperson for the courts. Bowman, scheduled the procedure for February but only had about $12,000, a little over half of the cost for the group of procedures, but it wasn’t until after she had them when her theft caught up with her.

After her procedure, a complimentary get-well bouquet was sent from the plastic surgeon’s office, Plastic Surgery Specialists in Greenbrae to the victim of the identity theft, Maija Lamberts. When Ms. Lamberts started asking questions about why she received the bouquet, the details of the theft came to light. When Bowman contacted the plastic surgeon to inquire about a lingering itch near her navel, local authorities were able to intercept her on a return visit to the surgeon’s office.

By now, most anyone researching abdominoplasty (commonly known as a tummy tuck), knows what its purpose is and how it can benefit a patient looking to tone their mid-section. A new use for the mini-tummy tuck, however, is growing in popularity.

New mothers are using the mini-tummy-tuck after childbrith to tighten up their lower abdomens (the abdominal region most affected by pregnancy) and return their figure to their pre-pregnancy days.

With a mini-abdominoplasty, the incision is made below the waistline, and only about the size of a cessarian incission, so it is well hidden. A mini-tummy tuck differs most from a traditional tummy tuck in that there is no navel incision and only the loose skin is tightened, not the muscle.

Most plastic surgeons say however, that the majority of people who would require having a tummy tuck following weight loss or even childbirth, typically require a tradtional (full) tummy tuck. Many patients also require some amount of liposuction, accompanied with just about any tummy tuck procedure.

In the cases where new mothers do not require a full tummy tuck, the mini-abdominoplasty is a viable and beneficial option. The best way for you to know for sure is to consult a plastic surgeon, preferably certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and one who specializes in abdominal procedures.

When is a tummy tuck not the most effective means of toning and sculpting one’s midsection? Often, following some pregnancies or massive weight loss surgery such as Gastric Bypass, a traditional tummy tuck might not be the most effective or even the safest way to minimize excess skin and fat deposits in the lower abdomen.

This question is what led body contouring surgeons to develop a new type of body shaping surgery known as a Panniculectomy.

A Panniculectomy is very similar to a traditional abdominoplasty, but differs slightly in that muscle tissue is not tightened or removed, due to strain on the patient’s body. Instead, only excess and localized fat deposits are removed from the body. The Panniculectomy targets the excess skin and fat of the lower abdomen, between the navel and pubic bone: the area w/the largest accumulation of excess skin and leftover fat after massive weight loss surgery or pregnancy.

Commonly, after massive weight loss surgery, a fair amount of other health conditions will continue to affect a patient’s health, including back problems, ulcers and skin disorders, such as rashes and skin tissue depletion. These health concerns are what principally contributed to the development of this procedure.

Before having this procedure done, prospective patients (after having other fat-removal procedures) must stabilize their weight for one year, including sticking to a strict diet and exercise regiment. Only a trusted and highly qualified (board certified) plastic surgeon, who specializes in abdominal sculpting procedures should perform the Panniculectomy, given the unique patient circumstances that would necessitate such a procedure.

Its no secret that plastic surgery is expensive. Plastic surgery cost is one of the leading factors amongst prospective patients in determining if someone follows through with having a procedure performed.

Only a prospective patient can decide whats best for themselves and whether or not the cost justifies the procedure. In many cases, body contouring surgery procedures differs from other aesthetic surgical procedures, because a patient’s health plays a major role in determining if the procedure is necessary to maintain an acceptable level of health.

According to The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), which lists the national 2007 average cost of Abdominoplasty at $5,232, that while the tummy tuck procedure is typically not covered by most medical insurance plans, “In some instances, however, a patient may have a hernia and not just a spreading of the abdominal muscles. Insurance reimbursement may be available for that portion of the [tummy tuck] procedure that is not cosmetic.”

With that in mind, we here, at Tummy Tuck Info encourage all prospective patients to examine their own situation with a critical eye and weigh all the factors in deciding on any body contouring procedure.

While there’s nothing wrong with wanting to look good and feel good, know that having the procedure done for purely aesthetic purposes can be expensive. Shop around by scheduling consultations with as many tummy tuck specialists as possible. Weigh the pros and cons of having the procedure done, but never sacrifice personal safety, just to save a few bucks.

For pretty much as long as Plastic Surgery has been around, there have been procedures to help slim and tone the abdominal region of the body.

Tummy Tuck, being one of the oldest body contouring procedures, in recent history has frequently been supplanted by other, more modern procedures, such as liposuction, the mini (or partial) tummy tuck, and lower body lift. Nowadays, a lot of people don’t get Tummy Tucks, unless they’re dealing w/excessive, loose-hanging skin and weakened abdominal muscles. Until now…

Plastic surgeons have found that “Abdominoplasty” (the medical terminology for a tummy tuck) can be used for Stretch Mark Scar removal!

While this isn’t necessarily the safest and most cost effective means of stretch mark scar removal, it is an option and a permanent one at that! Additionally, this presents a new alternative to people who have tried the scar-minimizing creams and ointments to less-than-ideal results or only to discover an allergic reaction, or those who find the multiple Dermabrassion and chemical peel treatments to be too much of a hassle.

As always, no two patients are completely alike and for a lot of patients, surgery isn’t an option.

However, if Stretch Mark scar removal is something you need to look and feel your best, find a qualified (preferably board certified) plastic surgeon and start discussing your tummy tuck options today.

Here’s an informative video, explaining what a tummy tuck is and how it is performed. All too frequently, prospective plastic surgery patients, seeking some kind of body contouring surgery, are not always sure of what procedure(s) they should have performed.

In this video, Plano Texas plastic surgeon, Ronald Friedman, M.D., explains what prospective patients need to know about the tummy tuck procedure. (Unlike most medically-related videos, this one is completely safe to watch at work and easy on the stomach.)

While there are countless resources on the web for finding information, regarding tummy tuck surgery (and we here at Tummy Tuck Info, certainly encourage you to do your homework), there are some questions that just can’t be answered until you’re meeting with your doctor and discussing the circumstances of your individual situation. There are many FAQs out there relating to many surgical procedures, but no two patients or doctors are alike.

With that in mind, here are some questions you can ask your doctor, upon meeting for consultations about your tummy tuck procedure. As the old saying goes, the only stupid question is one that never gets asked…

Tummy Tuck questions, courtesy of PlasticSurgery.com.

1. I would like to reduce my bulging tummy. How do I know if I qualify for a full tummy tuck or a mini tummy tuck surgery?
2. How many abdominoplasty procedures have you performed?
3. Are you board certified? If so, by which board?
4. Many doctors recommend that a female patient delay surgery if she is going to become pregnant. Why is this?
5. Where will my surgery be performed?
6. What type of anesthesia is typically recommended for tummy tuck procedures?
7. Is this considered an outpatient or inpatient procedure?
8. Do you recommend performing liposuction along with the tummy tuck procedure?
9. How long should I expect to be off my feet before returning to work or resuming my workout activities?
10. Will my scar be noticeable?
11. How long must I wear a compression garment?
12. May I see the before and after photos of your previous patients who have had a tummy tuck procedure similar to mine?
13. What would happen if I gained or lost a large amount of weight after the procedure?

After the highly publicized and unexpected death of Kanye West’s mother, Donda West, from an undiagnosed heart condition during tummy tuck surgery and breast reduction, the state of California has imposed stricter regulations for prospective elective surgery patients.

In California, all elective surgery patients will now be required to have a full body physical examination, before being eligible for any kind of elective surgery.

“Many of us are concerned about the quality of care extended to those who receive elective surgery,” says California Democratic State Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas.

With or without these regulations, we encourage prospective tummy tuck patients to learn if they are physically able to have surgical procedures, via pre-surgery medical tests. Also, it never hurts to do a little doctor-screening at the same time.

Ask your physician if you are right for the procedure you’d like to have. Find out what qualifications and the doctor has and make sure that there are no potential health issues that can affect the outcome of the surgery. Ask your doctor if he or she specializes in the procedure you’re interested in, or simply performs a wide array of procedures, and doesn’t have extensive experience with a particular procedure or body region. If tests reveal potential complications or issues, but you’re doctor seems un-phased and determined to perform the procedure, get a second or even a third opinion.

Its probably fair to say that while the number of plastic surgery procedures being performed every year is consistently on the rise in America, a lot of people are in the dark about new procedures or even a little unsure about what more common (albeit similar) procedures are intended for.

Just because most of us have heard of several related or similar procedures, such as Liposuction, Tummy Tuck surgery (“Abdominoplasty”), Body Contouring and even a newer one: Mommy Makeover, doesn’t mean that its common knowledge what these procedures are intended for. Hopefully, this post will help shed at least a little bit of light on the matter…

Liposuction is a procedure where surgical devices are inserted into the skin and are used to “suck” the excess fat cells out of the body. There are many different techniques for this procedure, some relying on laser technology and some that almost or do qualify as “minimally invasive”.

Tummy Tuck is the process of tightening (in some cases removing) excess, hanging skin after weight loss. As is the case with Liposuction, there are a variety of Tummy Tuck techniques, ranging from invasive to minimally-invasive, and some relying on cutting-edge technological advancements.

Body Contouring is actually a combination of procedures that typically can include Liposuction, Tummy Tuck, Gastric Bypass (usually in extreme cases), and even sometimes buttocks augmentation. Body Contouring is also sometimes referred to as a Body Lift and during its inception was used mainly as a treatment for massive weight loss, such as Gastric Bypass.

The Mommy Makeover is a recent development in the world of aesthetic and plastic surgery. This is similar to Body Contouring in that it usually consists of several procedures, performed at one time, but are specifically custom-tailored to new mothers who have trouble returning to their pre-pregnancy figure through natural means alone. Mommy Makeovers frequently include either a breast lift or sometimes augmentation, in conjunction with the above-mentioned procedures.

…Now that we know a little about Body refining plastic surgery procedures, its a good idea, to research further, learn all the pros and cons of every procedure and speak with a plastic surgeon, preferably a board certified surgeon, and ask questions and view their before and after photos, in order to best evaluate their work.