Variety is the spice of life, and it is the single most important aspect of plastic surgery that makes my job both rewarding and challenging. Abdominal rejuvenation provides a simple example of what I mean.

From tight bodied bikini models looking to remove that last little area of disproportionate fat, to patients who have lost massive amounts of weight and who are left with rolls of redundant skin, patients looking to smooth out their abdomen come in all shapes an sizes. While a little liposuction may be the perfect fix for small areas of disproportionate fat, it will not remove excess skin. Larger problems usually require larger solutions.

When skin is loose and redundant, liposuction, even laser liposuction and ultrasonic liposuction, will not significantly tighten the skin. Small amounts of skin excess, isolated to below the belly button, can be removed with a mini tummy tuck. However, as the skin laxity becomes a problem above the belly button, the full tummy tuck takes over as the procedure of choice. A full tummy tuck allows for removal of excess skin and fat, and also allows for tightening of the abdominal muscles beneath the skin, all along the midline, from the ribs to the pubis.

Left - Before Fleur De Lis Tummy Tuck after massive weight loss. Notice the abdominal skin is wider than the thighs. The excess skin makes is very difficult to find clothes that fit well.
Right - After Fleur De Lis Tummy Tuck with removal of lower and mid abdominal skin excesses, reveals
a smooth, well proportioned abdomen after massive weight loss. The decision
to use a Fleur De Lis Tummy Tuck was simplified by a preexisting vertical scar.

For the most redundant abdominal skin, even a full tummy tuck may not be enough. Enter the Fleur De Lis Tummy Tuck. The Fleur De Lis Tummy Tuck is more than the full tummy tuck. Like a full tummy tuck, the Fleur De Lis Tummy Tuck incorporates removal of skin and fat from the lower abdomen, and tightening of the abdominal muscles. In addition, the Fleur De Lis Tummy Tuck allows for removal of excess skin from the center of the abdominal wall from the ribs to the pubic region.

A Fleur De Lis Tummy Tuck is reserved for patients with massive amounts of abdominal wall skin. Most commonly this is seen in patients who have lost a significant amount of weight, like that seen after bariatric surgery or after remarkable changes in diet and exercise. If you have seen NBC’s the Biggest Loser, you have seen what happens when massive weight is lost, and the excess skin remains. The Fleur De Lis Tummy Tuck’s additional removal of the excess skin centrally, allows for horizontal tightening, and an overall firmer result.

If you are a San Francisco Bay Area Plastic Surgery patient, looking for abdominal rejuvenation from a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon offering the entire range of treatment options, call today, (925) 943-6353, to arrange your private personalized consultation.