By now, you are probably aware that Miami Plastic Surgeons recommend the tummy tuck (aka abdominoplasty) as one of the  most effective cosmetic procedure for achieving a flat, firm stomach. What you may be less familiar with is the specific details of what occurs during the surgery.

What Does a Tummy Tuck Include?

Tummy tuck has three core components; Liposuction to remove unwanted body fat. Skin tightening to pull back drooping skin, and Muscle repair to rejoin and tighten sagging abdominal muscle. For some patients, your belly button may need to be moved to accommodate your new skin..

In this blog post, Dr. Christopher Craft, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Miami, shares the specifics of these components so prospective patients know what to expect during surgery

What is Liposuction?

Liposuction also know as Lipoplasty or Body Contouring, removes unwanted fat from your abdomen. As you age, fat clings more stubbornly to your abdomen. To make matter worse, as you get older  you may also  find it   harder  to restrict your calories and see stomach flab disappear. But Liposuction can help!

For most patients, Dr. Craft performs liposuction as part of the tummy tuck procedure to remove unwanted pockets of fat. To do so, he makes small incisions near the fat and inserts a cannula that can suction out the excess fat cells,  leaving you with a slim figure.

What is Skin Tightening?

Skin tightening helps pull back loose  skin.  As your skin ages, it becomes less elastic, which leads to drooping and the appearance of a “pooch.” To counteract this, Dr. Craft removes the loose skin along the belly.

When this is complete, he pulls the remaining skin tight and sutures it into place to create a flatter tummy. Liposuction alone does nothing to address loose skin, which is why the skin tightening process is so essential to achieving nicer contours.

What is Muscle Repair?

Muscle repair helps pull back together separated abdomen muscle and Fascia,  a tissue that connects the muscles that surround your abdominal wall.

Weight gain or pregnancy can stretch and separate these muscles and the fascia. Although muscles more easily return to their former position, the fascia (which is notoriously inelastic) does not. This leaves the abdominal wall less firm and attractive. By suturing the abdominal muscles together again, Dr. Craft can repair muscle separation and create the structure necessary to have a firm, flat stomach.

What Happens to Your Old Belly Button After Tummy Tuck?

This last component does not apply to everyone, and usually depends on how much skin is removed during the procedure. If Dr. Craft excises enough skin, pulling the remaining skin taut can minimize or sometimes outright vanish the belly button.

To fix this, Dr. Craft will make an incision that creates a new, pleasant-looking belly button in its place. He uses careful technique to make sure it looks natural on the new proportions of the abdomen.

Schedule Your Tummy Tuck in Miami Today

Known for his devoted patient care, Dr. Craft is happy to discuss all the particulars of any procedure you may be considering. I

f you would like to ask questions and see before-and-after photos of Dr. Craft’s other tummy tuck patients, please schedule an appointment at our Miami office by calling (305) 596-9700.