A newsletter from David J. Levens, MD, FACS
Board-certified plastic surgeon
Please contact me for a free consultation with Dr. Levens.
Case Study: Tummy Tuck
“When I was pregnant with my daughter, I went from 118 to 178 lbs. So afterwards, I had an excessive amount of excess skin,” says Felicia, 39, of Coral Springs. “I waited to have a tummy tuck until I was sure I wasn’t going to have more children.”
Then she did her homework: “I made a list of 40 plastic surgeons to consider,” she says. “Dr. Levens was the first one I saw. I told him I had a list of 20 questions and he was very patient and straightforward with his answers.”
She delayed her decision for three years, then returned to Dr. Levens. “He had really made an impression on me” she says. “Besides his medical credentials, I like that he makes the medical missions to Ecuador and is involved with other charities. That says a lot about someone’s character.“
The results: “Dr. Levens removed two pounds of excess skin—Kate Gosselin had only 1 1/2 pounds removed after carrying sextuplets!,” says Felicia. “The difference is amazing. A few friends actually asked if I’d had breast augmentation because my breasts look larger now that my stomach is flat.”
The Procedure: Dr. Levens places incisions low on the abdomen for concealment purposes. The length of the incision depends on the degree of looseness in the skin and how much will need to be removed. An 8-10” incision is typical. Skin and fat are first lifted off the underlying musculature of the abdomen. If the fascia tissue connecting the muscles is stretched, it is tightened by placing multiple sutures. In essence, the underlying framework of the abdomen is reshaped.
The skin and fat are then pulled downward; excess skin and fat are removed. Due to the amount of skin that generally must be removed, it is usually necessary to make an incision around the umbilicus (belly button), leaving a barely perceptible scar inside the umbilicus.
Incisions are closed with sutures placed beneath the skin. Patients can usually shower or bathe 3-5 days after surgery but are asked to wear an elastic garment for two weeks or more after surgery to support the tightened abdominal muscles, minimize fluid collection and swelling, and increase comfort. A long-acting local anesthetic is administered via tiny catheters under the skin that results in markedly less discomfort in the first few days – a technique often utilized for this and other surgeries. Small plastic drainage tubes are used to prevent accumulation of fluid under the skin; they are removed in the office 1 week after surgery. In most cases, patients return to work and social activities within 10-14 days.