The trunk area or midsection is very resistant to exercise and diet. Many people tend to store fat around their abdomen and flanks. Stubborn pouches of fat can ruin overall appearance and reduce self-confidence. What is the solution? The answer may be a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty performed by a top Miami plastic surgeon with extensive experience and dedication to this specialty. A tummy tuck is designed to remove the excess skin and fat that sags over the waistline, while also tightening and repairing any underlying muscle structure and laxity.

Dr. Joshua Lampert advises anyone considering a tummy tuck to be cautious when choosing their surgeon. Although abdominoplasty is one of the most frequently performed cosmetic surgery procedures, it requires a high level of surgical skill to produce that flat, sexy and sculpted bathing-suit-ready midsection. As a board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Lampert offers one the best tummy tucks Miami has to offer.

Tummy Tuck Procedure (Abdominoplasty)

There are three basic degrees of tummy tuck surgery:

• Mini Tummy Tuck
• Standard Tummy Tuck or Full Abdominoplasty
• Extended Tummy Tuck

Mini Tummy Tuck

Dr. Lampert recommends this procedure for his patients that have a very small pouch of excess skin that falls below the navel. Typically, their underlying muscle tension is good and does not require tightening. In this case, the incision is limited to the width of the pubic bone and produces a shorter scar that can become virtually invisible after time.

Once the incision is made, the excess skin is removed and the incision is closed. Recovery from a mini tummy tuck is relatively easier as none of the underlying muscles have been tightened. Dr. Lampert usually performs simultaneous liposuction with all abdominoplasty procedures.

Standard Tummy Tuck or Full Abdominoplasty

Most patients are candidates for a “standard” tummy tuck, as the amount of excess skin and fat is moderate with an average amount of sagging. Most women who have had children have enough skin and abdominal wall muscle laxity that a standard tummy tuck with liposuction will actually produce a much better result. The standard tummy tuck addresses and contours the entire tummy including the upper abdomen above the belly button. Usually, the mini tummy tuck cannot adequately address this upper abdominal area.

With a Standard Tummy Tuck, the incision extends from the hip bone, over the pubic bone and up to the opposite hip. The incision is gently curved and kept very low to ensure panty lines, swimsuit bikini bottoms and other garments can easily conceal and hide the resulting scar. Scars fade and become thinner over time. Patients who want to ensure that their scars will be as invisible as possible can sometimes request additional scar therapy. The vast majority of patients do very well simply following the post operative instructions carefully, until they have fully healed.

Once the incision is made, the excess skin is pulled down tight to create a flat abdomen. The excess skin is then removed. Dr. Lampert routinely performs liposuction of the entire abdomen to help with contour during abdominoplasty. This allows a better shape and improves the midline and flanks. Liposuction also helps create that hourglass shape and further "etches" to define the abdominal wall musculature. Additionally, liposuction helps prevent contour abnormality and a smooth transition between the thick upper abdominal skin and the thin groin skin.

The muscles that have separated from pregnancy or with age are sutured back into place and tightened to ensure that the underlying muscles are strong and flat. The skin is then draped over the muscles and sutured in place. The belly button is brought out through a small opening that is sculpted and shaped to keep it small and sexy.

Extended Tummy Tuck

This procedure takes a standard tummy tuck surgery one step further by treating not only the midsection, but also the excess fat in the flanks and hips. The incision is longer, extending slightly beyond each hip bone—but the resulting scar is still kept very low and well hidden by the patient's panty line and bathing suit.

The extended tummy tuck is indicated for patients with a large pocket of excess fat and skin, which protrudes well over the pubic bone. In this procedure, Dr. Lampert can use liposuction methods to suction fat from the abdomen, hips and flanks to create an overall improved slimmer midsection. As in a standard tummy tuck, excess skin is removed and the underlying muscles are repaired, tightened and sutured back together. The navel is kept small maintains its natural position.

Will a tummy tuck eliminate my belly fat?

A tummy tuck is not intended to replace weight loss—it is a body contouring procedure and any weight loss that occurs is incidental. Liposuction and abdominoplasty combined together can create an excellent contour and flat shapely tummy. For patients who are a healthy weight with stubborn belly fat that isn’t responding to diet and exercise, liposuction and abdominoplasty can help them achieve that figure which they desire.

Candidates

As in most cosmetic plastic surgery, patients must be in good health and have stabilized any other medical condition such as high blood pressure. Dr. Lampert puts the safety of his patients above all else. In this regard, he will ensure that his patients are ready for cosmetic surgery.

Patients should be at a stable weight and women should not be planning for future pregnancy. Pregnancy or significant weight loss after tummy tuck can lead to recurrent skin and muscle laxity. Waiting until the timing is right can help the patient to avoid needing repeat the surgery.

Recovery

Patients will recover at different rates depending on their overall health and the degree of correction they have achieved. Most patients will need to take at least 1-2 weeks off work if they have desk jobs. More strenuous work will require additional weeks off. Dr. Lampert gives tailor-made instructions to each patient so that they can plan their recovery and more importantly, get the best result from their surgery. Dr. Lampert makes himself always available to his patients, any time of the day, in order to afford them a greater degree of security.

Is Tummy Tuck Surgery Right for You?

The best way to decide if a tummy tuck is right for you is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Lampert. He believes in taking his time with each patient to fully understand what they are hoping to achieve through tummy tuck surgery. His goal is to provide the best tummy tuck Miami has available so his patients' image goals are achieved, boosting their self confidence and improving their quality of life.