Plastic Surgery Consultants, P. C. | Dr. Frank Letard
| 10265 Kingston Pike Knoxville, TN 37923 | P: 865.693.4150
Tummy Tucks (Full and Mini)
If you are considering an abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck, you are not alone. This is one of our most popular procedures. Dr. LeTard frequently performs tummy tucks in conjunction with other body contouring procedures such as liposuction and breast surgeries. Many people are surprised to learn that Dr. LeTard also performs abdominoplasties on men.

Most abdominoplasty patients tell us that they have been self conscious about their stomachs for a long time. Some have excess or loose sagging abdominal skin. Some have abdomens that protrude out of proportion to the rest of their body because their abdominal muscles have been stretched by pregnancy. Some have lost weight and have excess tissue that won't go away on it's own.

Almost all have tried dieting and exercising and are discouraged by the lack of results. In fact, patients find that if they lose weight the skin becomes looser and looks even worse!

A tummy tuck corrects two main areas of concern:
First, there are often stretch marks and a stretching of the abdominal muscles after pregnancy that no amount of sit-ups and crunches can fix. During a tummy tuck Dr. LeTard repairs these muscles by bringing them back together; the way they were prior to pregnancies.

Before & After Shots of Tummy Tuck
 
 

Dr. LeTard removes the areas of excess skin and fat. The amount of excess skin and fat determines which abdominoplasty procedure.

Following significant weight loss, pregnancy, or just the passage of time, it is common for the skin of the abdomen not to return to its normal contour and quality. Stretch marks may be present. When a significant amount of hanging skin results, this is called a pannis, or apron. Such a pannis can interfere with many of the normal activities of daily living, make exercise difficult and even become a hygiene problem. When an abdominoplasty involves removing a large amount of excess skin, it is referred to as a panniculectomy.

An abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) can produce a significant improvement in body contour. The surgery usually takes 2 to 3 hours and is performed under anesthesia. Following surgery there are two drains in a place which require some care and are usually removed during the first week after surgery. Patients usually take 1 to 2 weeks off from work depending upon the extent of surgery and their occupation. Patients can gradually return to their normal level of activity and can usually resume exercise 4 to 6 weeks after surgery. Following an abdominoplasty there is always a scar from the incision and this fades with time.

Types of Abdominoplasty

Dr. LeTard sees each tummy tuck as a unique opportunity to help his patients achieve their desired improvement. It is with this philosophy in mind that he tailors the procedure to the individual patient's anatomy and needs. In general, threre are 2 types of abdominoplasty procedures.

Mini-Abdominoplasty

The Mini-Abdominoplasty is the procedure of choice for women whose primary concern is a lower abdominal bulge but do not have much, if any, redundant skin. For such women whose bulge is due to laxity of underlying muscles and tissue, the Mini-Abdominoplasty is the procedure of choice. During this procedure a short incision is made at the level of the pubic hair and the abdominal muscles below the belly button are tightened creating a very flat appearance to the area.

Abdominoplasty

Dr. LeTard's technique for abdominoplasty is called a "High Lateral Tension Abdominoplasty". This procedure works very well for patients who have laxity over much of the abdomen, particularly the lower half. An incision is made across the lower abdomen within the bikini line and around the belly button. Dr. LeTard's preference is for theis incision to be placed as inconspicuously as possible. This allows Dr. LeTard to essentially rejuvenate the abdominal area by narrowing the waist, tightening the muscles, and removing redundant tissue.

Recovery

The recovery following an abdominoplasty varies from patient to patient ad upon the type of procedure. Patients should rest and relax during the first week after surgery. During the second week they can begin to resume activities. Depending upon their occupation and the type of procedure they have, some patients will return to work at this time. During the third week after surgery patients resume their normal, non-exertional activities. Exercise can be resumed 4 to 6 weeks following surgery.

Results

While patients are generally able to see changes in their appearance shortly after surgery, the results become even more apparent as the swelling subsides. This typically takes several weeks. The results of abdominoplasty surgery are permanent. However excessive weight gain or pregnancies can jeopardize the final results.

Complications

As with any surgery, complications can occur following an abdominoplasty. These include bleeding, infection, fluid collections and wound healing problems. Dr. LeTard will discuss these with you in detail.

Follow Up

Following an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), Dr. LeTard requests frequent follow up visits to ensure a healthy recovery and monitors his patients' progress for an extended period. Dr. LeTard and his staff are committed to the well being of each patient and are able to provide assistance following an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck).

To arrange for a personal consultation, please contact our office by email, or by phone at 865.693.4150.

For driving directions to our office which is easily accessible from Kingston Pike, please visit our Location Page.

Call us to schedule your consultation 865.693.4150