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Home | Cosmetic Surgery | Body Contouring | Tummy Tuck

Chicago Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

One of the most common procedures Dr. Paul Steinwald performs for his patients from the areas around Chicago, a tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, is a safe procedure that dramatically re-contours the abdomen and waist, especially for patients who have had (and are finished having) children or have lost a significant amount of weight.

Patients who are the best candidates for a tummy tuck generally fall into three main categories:

• People with natural abdominal tissue fullness or skin redundancy that does not respond to diet/exercise
• People who have experienced significant stretching of the abdominal wall and overlying soft tissues/skin due to pregnancy
• People who have undergone significant weight loss, but are left with lax or even hanging abdominal skin

Your Abdominoplasty Procedure

There are several degrees of abdominoplasty, depending on the severity of a patient's tissue laxity/redundancy. A "limited abdominoplasty" is best for patients who have a small amount of lower abdominal skin redundancy (or "pooch") and a fairly tight upper abdomen. This usually consists of excising redundant tissue through a smaller ellipse of the lower abdominal skin, detaching the belly-button at its base, and then reattaching it several centimeters lower on the abdominal wall. If a patient has more fatty tissue fullness, and fairly tight skin, they may be a candidate for abdominal wall liposuction only.

Patients with more extreme skin and soft tissue redundancy usually require a "formal abdominoplasty" with excision of a larger ellipse of skin/tissue, usually starting above the belly button. The upper abdominal tissues are elevated and re-draped more tautly, and the belly-button is delivered at its native position though a small hole created in the skin that "lands" on top of it (a "neoumbilicoplasty").

An "extended abdominoplasty" (also known as a "fleur-de-lis" incision with a vertical component) may be necessary for patients who have undergone massive weight loss, and have a severe excess of skin in several dimensions.

More about Tummy Tucks in Chicago

All of these procedures include tightening of the abdominal wall musculature with sutures, and therefore require general anesthesia. For somewhat thinner patients, Dr. Steinwald is one of the few surgeons in Chicago offering "drain-free abdominoplasty". It is also usually recommended that patients stay overnight for monitoring and pain management. Generally patients need 1-2 weeks of true "downtime" thereafter, and need to wear a binder or other form of compression for several more weeks, to control swelling and optimize re-contouring.

Abdominoplasty is the most common cosmetic procedure that Dr. Steinwald performs, and is a central component to the Mommy Makeover procedures he performs (which usually also involve some variant of rejuvenating breast surgery). If a patient is scheduled to undergo an otherwise medically necessary GYN or abdominal procedure, an abdominoplasty often can be "added on," at a greatly reduced extra hospital/anesthesia fee (not to mention the benefits of a single recovery period).

Most patients who have a tummy tuck cannot believe the difference it makes, and how much easier the recovery period is from what they were expecting. They also can't wait to go out and try on and buy new, better-fitting and ultimately more flattering clothing.

Your Next Step

It's easy to learn more about abdominoplasty. Simply request a consultation online with Dr. Steinwald and save $50 off the regular consultation fee. Or, call the Lake Forest Plastic Surgery office at (847) 234-9464 to schedule your visit. Dr. Steinwald looks forward to helping you achieve your ideal appearance.