Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Blog | Dr. Linderman

Carmel and Indianapolis, Indiana

Thursday, May 28, 2009

How long is the scar in tummy tuck surgery?

The length of the scar in tummy tuck surgery will be shorter for a mini tummy tuck as opposed to a full tummy tuck. In a mini tummy tuck the umbilicus is not repositioned and a smaller amount of skin will be removed. The scar can be concealed in a bikini and is about as long as a C-section incision. In a full tummy tuck, a much greater amount of excess skin is removed and therefore the incision is longer and will extend from hip to hip or longer. Dr. Linderman will ask you to bring a two-piece bathing suit to surgery. He will then mark the outlines of your suit and then carefully place your surgical incisions so they are concealed in your bathing suit lines.

posted by Mandy W. at 3:51 PM

Do the results of tummy tuck last indefinitely?

All of us age and as we get older our skin may lose elasticity and we tend to gain a few pounds. The results of a tummy tuck are permanent but there may be some loss of tightness over the years. Full tummy tucks are rarely repeated, but further pregnancies and large changes in weight can have an adverse effect on the overall result. The initial scar tends to be red but over the next 12-18 months, flattening and fading tend to occur.

posted by Mandy W. at 3:47 PM

Thursday, May 21, 2009

What are the risks from injectable fillers?

Risks are very minimal with injectable fillers such as Restylane. Minor risks include bruising, swelling, asymmetry. Contour irregularities are possible but can be corrected with additional filler or removal of filler material. The effects of Botox are temporary and last an average of four to six months.

posted by Mandy W. at 10:44 AM

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Can I have children after tummy tuck surgery?

Tummy tuck surgery is done to improve the cosmetic appearance of the abdomen. Most patients have had previous pregnancies and may have stretch marks, loose skin, fat or a poorly healed scar from a C-section. All of these problems can be improved or eliminated with tummy tuck surgery. Additionally lose muscles may be tighten. Nothing is done during a tummy tuck that prevents another pregnancy but many of the improvements obtained with be decreased or lost. For economic reasons it is therefore advisable to avoid further pregnancies.

posted by Mandy W. at 4:22 PM

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Mini Tuck Anyone?

While most of us have heard of a tummy tuck (medically referred to as abdominoplasty), you may not have heard of a variation on this surgery known as a "mini-tummy tuck." To restore a flat stomach with a mini tuck, one incision is made in the pubic area, ranging from a few inches to across the abdomen. Through this incision, Dr. Linderman will remove excess skin, tighten slack muscle, and maybe use liposuction to further contour the area.

Surgery can involve more extensive sculpture of the abdominal muscle wall. To get to the upper muscle wall from below, the belly button connection to the muscle wall needs to be elevated. It can be replaced to the same position or moved down as shown below. When the bellybutton is lowered, upper abdominal skin can be tightened.

The ideal candidate for a mini-tummy tuck has most of his/her issues below the belly button and is usually recommended for patients who have always been in pretty good shape but their results from diet and exercise alone have plateaued.

To learn more about abdominal surgery to remove excess skin, please contact Dr. Linderman at the Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Center of Indiana today to schedule your initial consultation.

posted by Mandy W. at 12:54 PM

Monday, May 11, 2009

Does ethnicity affect cosmetic surgery results?

Skin color and the way a person forms scars can have an effect on cosmetic surgery results. African Americans have a higher incidence of keloid formation, which are thickened enlarged scars. Patients who develop keloids of the ear lobes after piercing are at risk for having problems with other surgical scars. An evaluation of previous scars by your plastic surgeon can provide valuable input into results of your plastic surgery.

posted by Mandy W. at 11:45 AM

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Can I exercise immediately after breast lift surgery?

It is Dr. Linderman's policy for his patients to limit weight lifting to less than 10 pounds for the first week after having breast lift surgery. High impact exercise may elevate blood pressure increasing the chance of postoperative bleeding. Light walking and treadmill exercise may be resumed within one week. Stretching exercises with my 24 Hour Recovery Routine are encouraged.

posted by Mandy W. at 2:45 PM

Monday, May 4, 2009

Scaring after Tummy Tuck Surgery

The scar length will be different for a mini tummy tuck than for a full tummy tuck. The more skin removal as with a full tummy tuck, the longer the scar. In addition with a full tummy tuck, there is greater tension placed on the scar closure. This can affect the ultimate quality of the scar. The important thing that all body contouring patients must understand, is that all scars are permanent and that almost all scars improve in appearance with time. It will usually take from 12 to 18 months for a full tummy tuck scar to mature. This includes flattening of the scar, fading and loss of redness. Patients must be patient to allow this changes to occur

posted by Mandy W. at 3:10 PM