Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) in Queensland – Bundaberg, Mackay, Airlie Beach and Surrounding Areas
For most adults, the abdomen is the first place that excess body fat accumulates. Unfortunately, even disciplined diet and exercise often cannot completely solve the problem of excess body fat once it is present. Worse yet, even after losing weight, extra skin will remain that cannot be satisfactorily addressed through normal means. Dr. James Gaffield of Elite Cosmetic Clinic and Pacific Plastic Surgery can perform abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, to remove excess skin and fat for a more toned appearance. Contact our Bundaberg and Mackay, Queensland facilities to learn more about this popular procedure.
Tummy Tuck
Tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, is one of the most popular surgical procedures for patients who have been pregnant. Carrying a child to term stretches the abdominal skin and muscles, and in most cases they remain stretched permanently. Many mothers find that no amount of exercise can restore their abdomens to the condition they enjoyed before pregnancy. Further, some women are affected by prominent C-section scars that make them insecure about their appearance and unduly limit their choice of clothing.
During tummy tuck surgery, Dr. James Gaffield of Pacific Plastic Surgery and Elite Cosmetic Clinic can simultaneously tighten stretched abdominal muscles, remove excess abdominal skin, and eliminate disfiguring C-section scarring. After a tummy tuck, patients enjoy a flatter, tauter abdomen as well as cleaner surgical scars that can be concealed more easily with a wider variety of clothing. In many cases a tummy tuck alone is enough to revolutionize many mothers' self-images, instilling lasting confidence and genuine pride so they can focus on enjoying all the positive aspects of motherhood.
Abdominoplasty Procedure
To perform a tummy tuck, Dr. Gaffield makes an incision across the abdomen, located below the waistline. This incision varies in length depending on the amount of tissue to be removed: in less severe cases the incision may run only across the front of the abdomen, while in more severe cases it may extend around the hips. He makes a secondary incision around the navel to separate the navel from the abdominal skin.
At the point of the main abdominoplasty incision, Dr. Gaffield separates the skin from the tissue beneath. He may use liposuction to remove some fatty tissue if appropriate. Dr. Gaffield will then tighten the abdominal muscles with sutures to correct for any stretching that may have occurred over time. Finally, he will stretch the abdominal skin downward, creating a new opening for the navel and removing the excess before suturing the remaining skin in place for healing. Abdominoplasty generally takes about two hours to perform under general anesthesia.
Abdominoplasty Recovery
The amount of time required for healing from a tummy tuck varies, but most of our abdominoplasty patients from Bundaberg, Mackay, Airlie Beach, Gladstone, and other Queensland communities should plan to miss about two weeks of work. Normally, tummy tuck patients spend the first night after surgery in the hospital under medical supervision. After returning home, it is a good idea to plan for a few days of bed rest as your body recovers.
Within a week, recovering tummy tuck patients return to our office to have their stitches removed. From this point on, patients should wear a compression garment to help reduce post-surgical swelling. Some light walking is advisable as soon as it is comfortable; mild exercise will speed the tummy tuck healing process and prevent complications such as blood clots. However, patients should avoid all strenuous exercise, heavy lifting, and similar activities for at least six weeks.
Contact Our Tummy Tuck Surgeon
Excess fat and sagging skin in the midsection that simply won't respond to rigorous exercise and a healthy diet can disappear with a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) from our Bundaberg and Mackay, Queensland-area plastic surgeon. For more information on this popular body contouring procedure, or to schedule a consultation, please contact James Gaffield, M.D.