Revision Tummy Tuck

When it comes to revising or repairing plastic surgery that has transformed for the worse over time or was never quite right in the beginning, choosing the right surgeon is paramount.  A tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is performed to improve the waist line after child birth or weight loss. Some of the complications that occur can effect the patients enjoyment of their results and their feelings about their body.  A second surgery can be performed to improve on the original tummy tuck.

“The revision of unsatisfactory plastic surgery brings additional complex challenges to the surgeon beyond primary plastic surgery,” explains Dr. Ryan Tsujimura. Dr. Tsujimura is a plastic surgery revision specialist, trained beyond basic plastic surgery to improve undesirable outcomes of a tummy tuck surgery. Wide or misplaced scars, pinched skin at the incision, inadequate skin or fat removal, persistent muscle laxity, malposition of belly-button are all reasons Dr. Tsujimura’s patients trust him to repair and improve their  tummy tuck.

A revision tummy tuck is suitable for both men and women. The incision usually follows the original incision or can be lowered if needed and may be extended further if required to get the desired result. It is commonly performed on women who have additional pregnancies after their first tummy tuck or who have persistant excess skin or muscle laxity. During this surgery, the incision extends from hipbone to hipbone, which grants access to a greater portion of the deep structures. Liposuction is used to remove fat and the abdominal muscles are pulled and tightly secured. The belly button is repositioned for natural placement, if necessary.

A tummy tuck is performed under monitored anesthesia care (MAC) sedation in our surgical facility and typically takes around 4-5 hours to complete. It is considered an outpatient procedure. After surgery, patients will wear an abdominal binder for four weeks. They should make a concerted effort to move around in order to help promote blood circulation, but should only attempt to initially stand at a 45-degree angle to protect the incision. Pain medication will be provided as well as a pain pump to help with post-operative pain. Clearance to resume exercise is usually given around 4-6 weeks.