Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) Procedure in Norwalk, Connecticut
Dr. Laurence Kirwan is one of the most experienced Board Certified Plastic Surgeons in Norwalk, Connecticut, and in the entire country. He is a recognized international leader in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. He offers a superior level of knowledge, care and understanding to help you achieve the youthful, vibrant and contoured look you desire.
Few things are as disheartening as doing stomach crunches, exercising and dieting only to realize your tummy still looks flabby and out-of-shape. Diet and exercise-resistant fat, loose skin, stretch marks and loss of muscle tone are common after pregnancy, childbirth and weight loss. Abdominoplasty or tummy tuck is the gold-standard for recreating a youthful abdomen.
A pot-belly results from stretching of a ligament called the linea alba between the two-vertical rectus abdominis muscles. These muscles extend the full height of the tummy from the base of sternum (xiphoid process) between the breasts, to the pubic bone. When the linea alba widens significantly, stomach crunches and sit ups cannot restore a flat, toned, pre-pregnancy tummy. Even worse, stretching of the linea alba also results in poor posture and rounding of the back. Aging, menopause and loss of bone density, aggravate these changes, causing vertebral collapse and permanent changes in the spine. A tummy tuck or abdominoplasty helps to prevent these ‘knock-on’ effects. Tightening the abdominal muscles increases core strength, improves posture and narrows the waist, recreating a youthful ‘S’ curve of your pre-pregnancy body. Reshaping the belly-button recreates a youthful vertical shape. The mons or pubic area above the vagina is also lifted, resulting in an attractive triangular rather than a rectangular shape which occurs after pregnancy and childbirth. Previous C-section, lower abdominal scars and stretch marks, can also be removed. Full abdominoplasty and liposuction are not recommended if your BMI is over 35. For these patients, weight loss is recommended prior to surgery. It is also important to maintain an ideal weight after surgery. Smoking must be discontinued for 4 weeks before and after surgery.
The key to a tighter, firmer and more toned belly is to remove the sagging, extra skin and fat and to repair the stretched muscles. To do that, you should consider a tummy-tuck procedure.
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Tummy Tucks for a Flatter Belly
Tummy-Tucks are performed after pregnancy, childbirth and massive weight loss (MWL). The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that nearly 123,000 people had tummy tucks in 2019.
What makes them so popular? Simply this: They can provide great results and functional improvement in core strength and posture. In fact, about nine out of 10 patients who underwent a tummy tuck reported being very satisfied with the end results, and when the procedure is combined with liposuction to create a smoother profile in the thighs and other areas, the satisfaction rate soared even higher, to 99 percent.
What does a tummy tuck “do”?
A tummy tuck removes excess skin and fat and repairs stretched ligamentous tissue beneath the skin and recreates a youthful appearing umbilicus. Repairing the stretched muscles creates a natural internal “girdle” that restores a youthful shape. Repairing deeper tissues and removing excess skin and fat ensures that the tummy will stay supported and flatter after surgery. Liposuction is combined with a tummy-tuck to redefine the muscles and to contour the waist. Tummy-tucks can also be combined with breast surgery as part of a Mommy Makeover surgery.
Age: usually 18 years-of-age and older, either after pregnancy or Massive Weight Loss (MWL). Caesarean-section or other abdominal scars with skin folds and irregularities as well as stretched stomach muscles, are additional reasons for surgery. A tummy tuck should be done at least six months after pregnancy and when no further pregnancies are planned.
Every Patient is a VIP
From your first consultation through your last follow-up visit, you will see Dr. Kirwan himself at every single appointment. He will be available to you before, during and after your procedure.
Tummy Tuck Technique
- An incision is made below the upper panty line. The umbilicus is left in its original position, shaped like an inverted heart-shape to camouflage the scar around the circumference of the belly button.
- The vertical rectus abdominis muscles are sewn together, repairing the gap in the linea alba.
- Extra skin and fat below the belly button, is removed.
- Skin from the navel to the rib cage is re-draped so that it now reaches the lower incision below the panty line.
- A new navel or neo-umbilicus, is fashioned from the old one and an upside-down, vertical heart-shaped hole, is created for the newly shaped belly button.
- Liposuction is done to contour the abdomen and the flanks.
- Liposuction, lifting and reshaping of the mons area are also part of tummy tuck surgery.
- Liposuction of the hips and thighs may also be done to improve overall shape and contour from all angles, front and back. This is done before the tummy tuck part of the surgery.
- Deep absorbable stitches (Progressive Tension Sutures) are placed beneath the skin to reduce the dead-space and advance the abdominal skin flap. These sutures avoid the necessity for drains, expedite the healing process and reduce the risk of seromas after surgery.
A. Incisions are made below the upper bikini or panty line and around the belly button.
B. Muscles are tightened and sutured together.
C. Abdominal skin and fat are stretched downward, the excess is removed, and a new opening is made for the belly button. After surgery, the scar is easily hidden in underwear or a bikini bottom.
Philosophy
A thin scar hidden in the bikini bottom. A natural looking vertical belly button and a flat tummy. After significant weight loss with laxity of the outer thighs and buttocks, the scar may extend further to the sides (extended tummy tuck) to lift the front and sides of the upper thigh. If a lower body lift(circumferential tummy tuck) is done to lift the buttocks as well, the incision will curve in the bikini line, above the top of the buttocks, all the way to the center of the back.
Surgical time and recovery
Surgery takes approximately three hours and is performed on an ambulatory basis as a day case. Internal sutures (Progressive Tension Sutures) are used to improve the final contour and reduce the possibility of fluid collecting, thereby eliminating the need for drains. Wounds are usually healed at 2 weeks but will continue to mature for six to eighteen months after surgery. Strenuous sports are limited for 6 months, until the muscles repair is strong. Back to work in 14 days. An abdominal binder is worn for four to six weeks after surgery. The garment immediately after surgery is a simple binder which is adjustable. This is replaced with a zippered corset after one week. The corset usually starts in the upper thigh and extends up to the breast depending on what other procedures are done with the tummy-tuck. It is important to make sure that you have help at home for the first week and longer if you have small children.
Related cosmetic procedures
Liposculpture of the hips and thighs are the most common additional procedures. If the Tummy Tuck is part of a Mommy Makeover, then additional surgeries will be performed such as a breast lift, breast enlargement and a labiaplasty. Depending on the number of procedures, these may be performed at the same time or separately. Surgical time is limited to six hours.
Dr. Kirwan has extensive experience in abdominoplasty and body-lifting techniques designed to address each patient’s individual needs and objectives.
To learn more about abdominoplasty including questions about tummy tuck cost and whether the procedure is right for you, call the office to schedule your personalized consultation appointment today.
Conveniently Located
Our Norwalk, CT location is conveniently located in between Manhattan, New York and New Haven, Connecticut. Patients regularly visit from across Connecticut (Stamford, Greenwich, Fairfield, Westport, Bridgeport, Darien, New Canaan, Trumbull), New York City and Westchester County (Manhattan, Larchmont, Mamaroneck, New Rochelle, Harrison, Rye, Armonk, Bedford, Pound Ridge), New Jersey and other neighboring cities/towns for their plastic surgery procedures. Our office is close to all New York Airports for patients who are coming from out-of-state or other countries.