The surgical procedure called abdominoplasty, or “tummy tuck”,  is good for patients that have one or more of the following conditions:

1. Excess or sagging abdominal skin.
2. Abdominal muscles that have been separated (diastasis) or weakened due to pregnancy.
3. Excess fatty tissue that is concentrated in the abdominal skin.

This cosmetic procedure is usually performed under general anesthesia.  A horizontal incision is placed just within or above the pubic hair area.  The length of the incision depends upon the amount of skin to be removed.  The contour of this incision will also vary depending upon the structure of your abdomen. To tighten the abdominal wall, the surgeon brings loose underlying tissue and muscle together with sutures.  Skin over the lower abdomen with stretch marks can be removed as well.   Often, the operation includes  liposuction of adjacent areas like the flanks or back. During the consultation, potential complications will be discussed.  These include bleeding, infection, healing problems or fluid collections under the skin, and reactions to anesthesia. To reduce healing problems and fluid collections, Dr. Salomon usually lives drains in place under the skin for about a week.  Fortunately, significant complications from abdominoplasty are infrequent.  Every year, many thousands of people undergo successful cosmetic surgery of the abdomen and enjoy a flatter, revitalized and tighter stomach with improved body contour.