• Loose or sagging abdominal wall skin frequently associated with excessive relaxation of the anterior abdominal wall muscles (often due to multiple pregnancies or prior surgery). This includes stretch marks.
• When there is significant laxity or looseness of the skin, liposuction will usually worsen the appearance and removal of the skin gives the best result.
• Relaxation or looseness of the abdominal wall.  It is often not possible to adequately tighten the muscles of the abdominal wall with exercise alone and the skin itself cannot be tightened with exercise.
• Repair of the diastasis recti, weakness or spreading of the abdominal muscles, usually due to stretching during pregnancy or weight loss.
  

Anticipated Results:

• A smoother, flatter abdomen. Removal of stretch marks and overhanging skin. 
• Improved contour.
• Ability to fit better in clothing.
• Usually the lower abdominal scar can be relatively well-hidden even in a bathing suit.
  
  Typically, the incision begins just above the pubic area and is extended laterally.  These incisions are usually concealed even in a bathing suit.  The abdominal skin is pulled downward, and the excess is removed.  The navel is repositioned with a standard tummy tuck or may remain intact with a mini tummy tuck.  The abdominal wall is tightened with permanent sutures to bring the rectus muscles back together. 
  
  In some cases, staging with liposuction either before or after the tummy tuck procedure may be recommended to give the best results possible with the fewest complications.  For patients, whom have a significant history of smoking, staging may be required.
  
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  Tummy Tuck Examples:
  This patient had a tummy tuck performed in order to remove the excessive stretch marks and repair the significant abdominal wall laxity.  The patient below had a standard tummy tuck and liposuction of the hips bilaterally and is pictured before and after at 6 weeks after surgery.
  

Before		After

Before		After

Before	After
Before	After

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