TYPES OF ABDOMINOPLASTY

Tummy tucks come in all shapes and sizes. Each tummy tuck is designed to treat different needs and anatomical conditions. An extended tummy tuck is the most extensive procedure that treats the largest area. The most commonly performed type of tummy tuck is a standard or full tummy tuck.

Ultimately, a plastic surgeon like Dr. Jonov is the best person to recommend which tummy tuck in Bellevue will best suit your needs. He will craft a surgical plan to meet your individual goals. 

Mini:

A mini tummy tuck uses the most minimal incision possible to remove extra skin and along the lower abdomen. It may also remove some fat. A mini tummy tuck will only focus on the abdomen below the belly button. Therefore, muscle plication is limited and this procedure is usually best performed on patients needing only a moderate skin removal. 

The mini tummy tuck incision can range from no larger than a C-section scar to extending around six inches along the lower abdomen. This depends heavily on the amount of extra skin you have, your anatomy, and your goals.

Standard:

A standard tummy tuck, also known as a full tummy tuck, is the most frequently performed tummy tuck. The procedure uses a hip-to-hip incision to remove extra skin, correct muscle separation, and contour the body through fat removal. 

The procedure may include liposuction, or may not. Muscle plication–the surgical technique that correct diastasis recti–is also part of most Bellevue tummy tucks. A standard tummy tuck will reposition the belly button.

Extended:

An extended tummy tuck follows the same incision along the lower abdomen as a full tummy tuck. However, it extends beyond the hips and around the love handles. This allows Dr. Jonov to remove more skin and contour the hips, love handles, and parts of the lower back. 

This type of tummy tuck is especially prevalent among patients who lost large amounts of weight. It allows for the most skin removal of any abdominoplasty. It can also achieve many of the same benefits as the previous two procedures including correcting diastasis recti and fat removal via liposuction.

Reverse:

A reverse tummy tuck inverts the procedure and places the incision along the bra line and in the inframammary fold of the breasts. The least common of the tummy tuck procedures, a reverse tummy tuck is usually performed on patients who experience extra skin or muscle separation in their upper abdomen only. Occasionally, this procedure is combined with a breast lift or other breast surgery.

BELLEVUE EXTENDED TUMMY TUCK SURGERY

When you come to The Gallery of Cosmetic Surgery for an extended tummy tuck, you will first change and have your vitals taken. Dr. Jonov will then meet with you to review the surgical plan and make pre-operative markings. After you receive clearance for surgery, a licensed anesthesia provider will place you under general anesthesia.

Dr. Jonov will begin the surgery by making an incision along your lower abdomen. He will follow this around each hip. Through this incision, he will perform muscle plication (if necessary) to correct muscle separation. He will then remove unnecessary tissue and fat using liposuction and other techniques. Next, Dr. Jonov will pull the skin taut over your new figure. Removing any extra skin, he will finally close the incision. 

Each extended tummy tuck is customized to each individual. The specific surgical techniques used may differ depending on your anatomy and goals. Dr. Jonov will explain the surgical procedure to you before surgery.

Recovery:

An extended tummy tuck in Bellevue is a major surgery that requires recovery and downtime. Generally, Dr. Jonov will request that you take at least two weeks off for work to heal and stay comfortably. He will prescribe pain medication and antibiotics to manage pain and promote healing. 

You will likely feel groggy and tired after the procedure. It is important to rest, however, you should get up and walk every couple of hours. Dr. Jonov may give instructions to stay hunched for the first week or more of recovery to lessen stress on the incision. You will also wear a compression garment to aid results and for your comfort.

Exercise and more strenuous activities can be resumed on a case-by-case basis. Some low impact activities may begin again as soon as two or three weeks following surgery. Most of the time, patients need at least six weeks off from exercise. On average, patients return to their full routines in around eight weeks.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT EXTENDED TUMMY TUCKS

What Are The Benefits Of An Extended Tummy Tuck?

Extended tummy tucks come with many benefits such as:

• Flatter, more toned abdomen
• Improvement of body contours
• Removal of extra skin
• Addresses stretch marks
• Removes stubborn pockets of fat
• Reveal true contours of the body following weight loss
• May alter the size or shape of the belly button
• Can improve certain conditions such as hernias, posture, and urinary incontinence
• Better fitting clothing
• Well hidden incisions

What Are The Risks?

Like any surgery, an extended tummy tuck does come with some risks. As an experienced plastic surgeon, Dr. Jonov manages risks through patient screening, advanced surgical technique, and careful postoperative care. Among the risks of an extended tummy tuck include:

• Scarring
• Risks and complications of general anesthesia
• Prolonged side effects
• Temporary or permanent numbness
• Unsatisfactory result
• Necrosis
• Fluid collection
• Bleeding   

What Is Muscle Plication And Is It Always Performed?

Muscle plication is a surgical technique that corrects separated abdominal muscles. The muscles may separate from one another–a condition called diastasis recti–for many reasons. The most common reason is pregnancy. Sometimes, this will repair itself after childbirth. Other times, only surgical correction can repair diastasis recti. 

Men, women, and even children can have diastasis recti. While pregnancy is the most common cause, certain exercises, weight loss and gain, aging, some liver conditions, and even genetics can all contribute.

Muscle plication is part of over half of the tummy tucks that Dr. Jonov performs. However, it is not part of every tummy tuck surgery in Bellevue. That said, when it comes to extended tummy tucks, diastasis recti is more likely to be present in patients who undergo an extended tummy tuck. Therefore, it is part of nearly all of the procedures of this type. Dr. Jonov can determine if you require muscle plication for the best result.

Is A Tummy Tuck Painful?

During the tummy tuck surgery itself, you will feel no pain and remain perfectly comfortable. After surgery, pain is to be expected and Dr. Jonov will prescribe pain medications. Pain should be manageable, though you will want to stay in contact with The Gallery of Cosmetic Surgery to promote a comfortable surgery.

Will The Scar Be Visible?

A traditional tummy tuck scar is below the panty line and hidden under even skimpy clothing. When it comes to an extended tummy tuck scar, it is still hidden low on the body, though because it wraps around the hips, may be more visible than other types of tummy tuck scars. Regardless, Dr. Jonov keeps scars as minimal and hidden as possible. 

For many patients, this scar is a welcome trade-off for the new body contour they receive. Dr. Jonov can also discuss the location of the scar and give you a better idea of the extent of your extended tummy tuck scar during a consultation.

Can It Be Combined With Other Procedures?

Yes, if you are a good candidate for other plastic surgeries, Dr. Jonov may be able to perform them during the same surgical session. An extended abdominoplasty is sometimes part of a mommy makeover surgery. It is also frequently combined with a thigh lift.

THE BEST EXTENDED ABDOMINOPLASTY IN BELLEVUE, KIRKLAND, AND LYNNWOOD

Dr. Craig Jonov is a plastic surgeon with decades of experience in cosmetic and plastic surgery. He performs tummy tuck surgeries every week and has experience in every type of abdominoplasty. Dr. Jonov specializes in plastic surgery of the face, breast, and body and offers the best extended tummy tuck Bellevue, Kirkland, and Lynnwood offers. 

The Gallery of Cosmetic Surgery is a top plastic surgery practice in Lynnwood, Washington. Just north of Seattle and only a few minutes from the Eastside, The Gallery of Cosmetic Surgery is conveniently located to serve all your cosmetic needs. Our office is private and there is plenty of free, on-site parking. Additionally, we work to specially accommodate patients traveling from the Vancouver, BC area.

To learn more about extended tummy tucks and schedule a consultation, call us at 425-775-3561. You can also contact us online via our contact forms, chat, and Price Simulator™.

Watch Dr. Jonov answer one of the most common questions concerning tummy tuck surgery: “Can I Have A Baby After A Tummy Tuck?”