Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)

Dr. Howard Sutkin performs tummy tuck surgery for men and women who desire a thinner, firmer, and shapelier stomach. The abdominal region is one of the most difficult areas on the body to sculpt and contour, even for those who eat healthy foods and exercise regularly. At his plastic surgery offices in San Jose and Los Gatos, California, Dr. Howard Sutkin has helped many Bay Area tummy tuck patients achieved trim, toned abdominal contours.

To be considered good candidates for the tummy tuck procedure, patients need to have tried dieting and exercise first. They also must not be too far over their ideal body weight. If you meet these two requirements, then the tummy tuck is an ideal solution for a smoother, flatter abdomen.

Tummy Tuck Surgery

Tummy tuck surgery is a complex procedure that can take several hours to complete. Usually general anesthesia is administered so that the patient is put to sleep for the duration or the procedure. In some cases where the patient requires less extensive surgery, local anesthesia may be the more appropriate choice.

The incisions that are made during tummy tuck surgery are carefully planned beforehand. Although scarring after abdominoplasty is inevitable, a skilled surgeon like Dr. Sutkin is able to place incisions so that the resulting scarring will be as discrete as possible. The main incision is usually located along the bikini line and another incision is made around the belly button. This is done so that the belly button can be relocated to a natural-looking position on the body once all of the excess skin has been removed.

Once the incisions have been made, Dr. Sutkin will tighten the abdominal muscles that have become lax and are causing the stomach to protrude. These muscles are pulled taut and stitched with permanent sutures to give the stomach a more sculpted appearance and also reduce the size of the patient’s waistline. One of the reasons that general anesthesia is typically used during abdominoplasty is that the stomach muscles remain relaxed while the patient is asleep, thus allowing the plastic surgeon to tighten the stomach muscles more quickly and effectively.

After muscle laxity has been addressed, Dr. Sutkin will remove all of the excess skin in the abdominal region. He will then pull the remaining skin downwards so that it becomes taut and smooth and the new stomach contours will be clearly visible. In some cases liposuction is performed in conjunction with abdominoplasty to remove excess fat deposits from the stomach and further enhance the results of the procedure. Once the naval has been reattached and the incisions closed, the tummy tuck procedure is complete.

Our tummy tuck patients have been extremely pleased with the results of their treatment. For information on how abdominoplasty can help you achieve the stomach of your dreams, please contact our plastic surgery practice today and schedule a personal consultation.