TUMMY TUCK
Sometimes all the exercise and dieting in the world can't get rid of the tummy pouch that results from a lifetime of weight fluctuations or pregnancy. The body changes that a woman experiences to her midsection with one pregnancy, much less multiple pregnancies, can cause a lot of damage—sagging skin, stretch marks and even muscle separation in the abdominal area. But a tummy tuck is not only for postpartum women, or just women, for that matter. The procedure can improve the appearance of excess abdominal fat, skin and tissue in any healthy adult. Individual conditions of the abdomen vary, and for that reason there are different tummy-tucking techniques to help you achieve a flatter, trim waistline.

A complete tummy tuck involves making an incision near the pubic hairline, from hipbone to hipbone, yet the incision is placed low so it is hidden by a bikini. If necessary, sagging or separated vertical muscles in the abdomen are tightened with permanent, internal sutures. Abdominal fat is reduced using liposuction or excision and then the skin and tissue are pulled down so that excess skin can be removed. Liposuction in the upper abdomen can further improve shape overall. If needed, a new hole is created in the skin for the navel. In many patients, depending on the amount of excess skin, a modified tummy tuck with a smaller incision and without an incision around the navel may be possible. Dramatic results are often seen with a tummy tuck since it narrows the waist, tightens the tummy and removes excess skin and fat.

A full abdominoplasty is a major operation, which can take two to five hours. It should be performed only by a board-certified plastic surgeon and will likely require an overnight stay in the hospital or recovery center. Recovery time is seven to 10 days and complications are infrequent; the most extreme and very rare complication associated with a tummy tuck is blood clotting that may further develop into a pulmonary embolism. Expect to wait three to four weeks before getting back to your exercise routine.

A nonsurgical tummy tuck?
A new form of light-based energy called Titan uses laser heat to tighten excess skin of the abdomen and other body zones. This is not, however, a tummy tuck. Titan addresses only mild to moderately sagging skin and does not address even minor fat pockets. Like most nonsurgical technologies, Titan may be an alternative for some, but the results do not duplicate what a true tummy tuck can achieve. As with any new device or treatment, only time will tell what most patients can expect in outcomes and safety.