| Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)
Surgery in Indianapolis, Indiana
Abdominoplasty procedures may vary and depend
on the individual patient’s skin quality and fat deposition.
Frequently, Abdominoplasty is combined with liposuction to give
results that surpass those obtained by either procedure alone.
High Lateral Tension Abdominoplasty
The Abdominoplasty procedure (Tummy Tuck) was
developed by plastic surgeons in order to treat skin looseness
and stretch marks that developed with age, after pregnancy,
and with weight fluctuation. Typically, the procedure involved
removal of loose lower abdominal skin up to and above the level
of the umbilicus (belly button) and tightening of the abdominal
muscles in the midline.
A small surgical incision was created in the
upper abdominal skin when it is pulled down to the level of
the umbilical stalk. In order to remove the lower abdominal
skin to the level of the belly button, surgeons elevated the
upper abdominal skin and fat off the muscle fascia up to the
level of the lower costal (rib) margins.
Because older abdominoplasty techniques emphasized
removing the largest amount of lower abdominal skin in the midline,
and removing the skin that surrounded the (umbilicus) belly
button, these procedures often produced an unnatural appearing
abdomen with scars that were too close to the umbilicus. Insistence
on complete removal of the abdominal skin around the umbilicus
is often a cosmetic error, which produced unnaturally high abdominal
scars. Older techniques of abdominoplasty also produced wide
scars with depressions that resulted because the deep tissue
of the surgical incision was closed with absorbable sutures.
The High Lateral Tension Abdominoplasty was
developed by plastic surgeon Dr. Ted Lockwood to create a more
natural and aesthetically pleasing abdominal appearance as a
result of abdominoplasty surgery.
The High Lateral Tension Abdominoplasty
is noted or the following features:
1) Emphasis on lateral lower abdominal skin
excess excision and post surgical skin tension
2) Reliance on the strength of the superficial
fascial system for incision closure and optimization of scar.
3) Limited undermining of upper abdominal skin/soft
tissue flaps, which preserves abdominal flap blood supply and
allows for liposuction of the abdominal region without compromising
skin viability.
4) De-emphasis on removing all skin up to,
around, and above the umbilicus.
5) Liposuction to treat upper and lateral abdominal
and flank fat deposits.
Because abdominal skin and tissue laxity are
greater on the sides of the abdomen, and away from the midline,
treatment of laxity in these regions is paramount to obtaining
better results with abdominoplasty. With the High Lateral Tension
Abdominoplasty, lateral tension is emphasized because tissue
laxity increases from the midline to the sides of the trunk
with age and/or with weight fluctuation Therefore, the emphasis
of skin removal and tightening is shifted from the midline to
the sides of the lower abdominal skin and soft tissue.
The Superficial Facial System (SFS) is a connective
tissue layer interlaced with the subcutaneous fat that lies
between the deep dermis and abdominal fascia. Closure of the
deep layers of fat with permanent braided nylon sutures integrates
the strength of the (SFS) in the resulting abdominoplasty incision.
The permanent stitches, which secure the deep layers of fat
surrounded by the SFS, create a durable narrow scar and prevent
a "ledge" effect that occurs when absorbable stitches
are used on the deep fat layers. The muscles of the abdominal
wall are sutured to treat muscle laxity and create an internal
corset. The belly button position is transposed.
Liposuction is performed with the High Lateral
Tension Abdominoplasty for additional abdominal contour improvement
in appropriately selected patients. The combination of liposuction
and HLT abdominoplasty gives results that surpass those obtained
by either procedure alone. Liposuction of the upper and lateral
abdomen improves appearance and often allows the contour of
the upper abdomen to show definition where it did not exist
before. Not only is the abdomen tightened with this technique,
but the anterior thigh is also lifted as well. These features
are unique to the High Lateral Tension abdominoplasty technique,
and are not as readily achieved (if at all) with traditional
abdominoplasty techniques.
High Lateral Tension Abdominoplasty may be performed
with liposuction of the back and flank regions. In these cases,
the operation becomes one of Total Truncal Rejuvenation as the
contour of the entire torso addressed in one operation.
David Sterling Slatton, MD
Contact
Dr David Slatton Today to Schedule Your Consultation
Indiana Plastic Surgeon Dr David Slatton MD
serves the Indianapolis Indiana areas and offers the full spectrum
of Plastic Surgery including Breast
Augmentation in Indiana, Abdominoplasty
(Tummy tuck), Liposuction,
Blepharoplasty(eye
lid surgery) and more. Contact this Indiana
Plastic Surgeon today to learn more about plastic surgery
in Indiana. |
