Tummy Tuck for Body Contouring

Tummy tuck is the fundamental building block of body contouring of the torso. It is a cosmetic surgery procedure used to treat bulging of the belly, remove excess skin and some fat. These deformities arise frequently after pregnancy or massive weight loss. Tummy tuck by itself is not a weight loss procedure. The number of tummy tucks performed  in our Caribbean and International plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery practice at Trinidad Institute of Plastic Surgery, Trinidad and Tobago, has increased steadily over the years. Clients from all over the Caribbean – Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana, Venezuela, St. Vincent or Bahamas ask for it every day. Tummy tuck is second only to liposuction in the total number of body contouring procedures performed by our surgeons.

Tummy Tuck Tailor Made for You

Tummy tuck surgery has undergone significant evolution since Pitanguy’s hallmark publication of removal of excess skin and fat in the belly in 1967. The most important developments were the addition of muscle tightening and liposuction. Today the most comprehensive tummy tuck procedures incorporate both steps more or less routinely.

However, no two clients in cosmetic surgery are the same. Thus we select from a variety of tummy tuck procedures the most appropriate one. This reflects another fundamental principle board certified plastic surgeons apply to their cosmetic surgery practice. The solution is adapted to the problem. A lesser problem is satisfactorily treated with a less extensive procedure. More significant deformities of the abdominal wall require more extensive tummy tuck procedures to achieve complete and excellent results.

Tummy Tuck Options

Depending on the assessment of the client’s problem during consultation we frequently perform the following variants of the tummy tuck procedure:

• mini abdominoplasty – shortest incision of all tummy tuck variants; muscle tightening between belly button and pubic bone; small amount of skin removed above pubic hair; can be combined with liposuction of belly, waists and lower back;
• full abdominoplasty – muscle tightening from rib cage to pubic bone in front part of belly; ellipse of skin removed between belly button and pubic bone, mons lifted; belly button moved into a more lifted and youthful position; longer incision;
• lipoabdominoplasty – full abdominoplasty with liposuction of belly, waists and lower back
• structural abdominoplasty – full abdominoplasty with additional tightening of muscles in the waist;
• hybrid abdominoplasty – skin removal like mini abdominoplasty, muscle tightening like full abdominoplasty, incision longer than mini abdominoplasty, belly button remains in same position, less lifting effect on mons; can be combined with liposuction of belly, waists and lower back
• extended abdominoplasty – muscle tightening like full abdominoplasty, skin excision into waists, longest scar of all tummy tuck variants, used after significant weight loss and considerable excess skin;

Tummy Tuck – Is It for You ?

• You have experienced loss of flatness of the belly, have excess skin possibly with stretch marks between your belly button and pubic bone and a moderate amount of excess fat in the upper belly, waists and lower back
• You desire improved body image, femininity and self confidence
• You have no significant medical problems, are close to your normal body weight and your family planning is complete
• You have realistic expectations, accept the C-section type scar in the bikini line and can afford the procedure

then you are close to an ideal candidate for a tummy tuck.

During the consultation process you will work with our board certified plastic surgeons to determine which tummy tuck procedure is right for your body and expectations. In consultation with your plastic surgeon you will view tummy tuck before and after pictures of the type of procedure selected.

Tummy Tuck – What Are the Specifics ?

Tummy tuck is performed in accredited hospitals under general anesthesia. The more extensive procedures (lipoabdominoplasty, full / extended abdominoplasty) require and overnight stay, the less extensive ones (mini abdominoplasty / hybrid abdominoplasty) are performed as outpatient procedures.

The recovery period depends on the type of procedure. It ranges in length from a weekend (mini abdominoplasty) to about ten days (extended abdominoplasty). Regular follow up appointments with your plastic surgeon ensure that everything is on track. For six weeks a compression garment or abdominal binder are worn and physical labor and heavy lifting must be avoided to allow the muscle tightening to heal.

Postoperative pain ranges from minimal to moderate and is easily controlled by oral pain medications for three to five days. Common sense measures are sufficient to avoid stress on the incision line. By about three weeks after the procedure swelling and bruising decrease significantly and scar treatment with silicon gel sheets is begun. At that you and your environment will start to appreciate the benefits of the procedure and your new look !

Trinidad Institute of Plastic Surgery – the superior choice for tummy tuck in the Caribbean, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, Miami, New York, Toronto, London