How is abdominoplasty performed?
Abdominoplasty is performed most commonly under General Anesthesia or Light Sleep IV Sedation. Local anesthesia is then used to numb the abdomen. The operation is performed by making an incision in the lower abdomen just above the pubis. The incision may go from hip to hip. It is placed in the bikini line so that it is well hidden. The skin and fat is dissected off of the abdominal muscles all the way up to the bottom of the rib cage. The belly button is separated from the skin and most frequently all the skin and fat below the belly button is removed. Sometimes, sutures are placed on the muscles of the abdominal wall to tighten one side of the abdomen to the other and thereby flatten the abdomen remarkably. The skin above the belly button is drawn down to the pubis and sutured into position. A new hole is placed in the skin and the belly button is positioned in about the same spot that it existed before surgery. Your new tummy is then sutured into position. One or two drains are place
The incision for abdominoplasty is located just above the pubic area running from hipbone to hipbone, and a second smaller incision is made around the navel. Working through the incisions, the abdominal muscles are tightened, excess skin and fat are removed, and the skin is pulled tight. The navel has a new hole cut for it and is stitched into place. For a partial abdominoplasty, a smaller incision is made and the second incision around the navel may not be necessary.
