Different Types of Tummy Tucks

    CHICAGO, IL, September 04, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Cosmetic surgeons perform tummy tuck procedures, also called abdominoplasty, on patients who wish to have excess fat and skin removed from the abdominal area. A variety of healthy individuals can benefit from this process, including:

• Women who have had their stomach muscles stretched and/or have excess abdominal fat or skin due to one or more pregnancies
• Men or women who have lost significant amounts of weight and are left with sagging abdominal skin and weak abdominal muscles
• Men or women whose abdominal areas have become less taut due to the natural process of aging
• Healthy individuals who try unsuccessfully to flatten their abdominal areas with proper diet and exercise due to genetics or other factors

Surgeons can create a sleeker abdominal contour with firmer abdominal muscles on patients who meet the criteria for tummy tucks.

Tummy tuck surgery is not a "one-size-fits-all" type of cosmetic surgery procedure. There are different methods that can be utilized in this procedure to produce the desired results. The type of method implemented depends on each patient's own unique body type, physical characteristics and expectations.

Full Tummy Tuck

A traditional, or full tummy tuck, is reserved for patients who have a significant amount of excess skin to be removed as well as weak abdominal muscles. In this procedure, a long incision is made along the bikini line that stretches from hip to hip. From this incision, excess fat is removed and the abdominal muscles are tightened. It is sometimes necessary to make an additional incision in the navel area during this procedure. Any excess skin is then stretched downward and removed before the incision area is stitched closed. This procedure usually requires that the surgeon reposition the navel so it is in the proper location on the abdominal region. This is the most invasive tummy tuck procedure, but it can produce jaw-dropping results.

Mini-Tummy Tuck

The mini-tummy tuck targets the area below the patient's navel. The incision line is shorter than with a full tummy tuck and excess fat and skin are removed from the abdominal area below the navel. The abdominal muscles can also be tightened during this procedure. The navel does not generally need to be repositioned. This is a less invasive procedure that typically has a quicker recovery time and results in a shorter scar.

Endoscopic Tummy Tuck

Even less invasive than the mini-tummy tuck, the endoscopic tummy tuck requires only small incisions through which an endoscope can be inserted to tighten abdominal muscles. Excess abdominal fat can also be removed via these small incisions. No abdominal skin is removed during this procedure, so it is not utilized on patients with loose skin in this area.

Vertical Scar Tummy Tuck

Patients who have experienced extreme amounts of weight loss will be left with an overabundance of excess skin and even fat that make it difficult to be happy with their newfound weight loss. A vertical scar tummy tuck is designed for these types of individuals. In this procedure, both horizontal and vertical incisions are made to allow the surgeon to remove larger amounts of excess skin and fat and tighten the waist area.

If you are interested in learning more about the different types of tummy tucks available, please visit the website of Chicago cosmetic surgeon Otto Placik, M.D. His office offers free tummy tuck consultations for people considering this popular surgical procedure.

Website: http://www.chicagotummytuck.com

# # #