Abdominal contouring surgery Abdominoplasty is one of my most frequently performed procedures. It is an effective treatment for localized abdominal fat and abdominal laxity. The procedure involves removing the excess skin and fat from the abdomen and also tightening up the abdominal muscles. Many women who are interested in this procedure have had children and/or pelvic surgery that have left them with some abdominal weakness. A few patients will have "borderline" muscle and skin tone and may be candidates for a "mini" abdominoplasty. For patients who have only some excess fat and have good muscle and skin tone, liposuction can be an effective treatment. I would determine which procedure would be best for you at your initial consultation. I do most of my abdominoplasty procedures Seattle Surgery Center which is conviently located next door to my office building. Most patients stay overnight. I ask patients to wear a special compression garment (girdle) or abdominal binder for 2 weeks postoperatively. Patients have drains for about a week. The drains look scary but are easy to care for and help prevent excess fluid from collecting under the skin. Patients need to avoid heavy lifting for 6 weeks to allow the deeper tissues to heal. Abdominoplasty leaves a hip-to-hip scar. This scar fades with time and can usually be placed to interfere minimally with the selection of swimwear and underwear. Mini-abdominoplasty leaves a smaller scar – like a C-section scar above the pubic area. If patients require only liposuction, those tiny scars can be hidden in the shadow of the navel and the pubic area and sometimes just under the breasts. The results of abdominoplasty are long lasting if patients maintain a healthy weight and do not become pregnant. Pregnancy is possible after abdominoplasty but the surgery may need to be repeated to tighten up stretched out tissues. Insurance rarely pays for abdominoplasty. If a patient has a hernia or a large, sagging abdominal "apron" from massive weight loss, insurance may cover all or part of the procedure. This always requires pre-approval. During the initial consultation, I examine the patient and determine which procedure is the most appropriate. I also show patients before and after photos of previous patients to demonstrate what I can achieve with various body types. A written price quote and additional information is also given. I can also provide the phone numbers of a few previous patients who have agreed to share their abdominoplasty experience. Abdominoplasty is a major operation that leaves a significant scar, but most patient feel the discomfort, cost and recovery are good tradeoffs for the benefits of a strong and flat abdomen.