When patients go in for a tummy tuck procedure, many don’t realize that it is not a procedure that simply consists of removing excess fat and skin- this is a panniculectomy. A tummy tuck, rather, is a combination of this procedure, and a tightening of the abdominal wall.
A panniculectomy is only recommended for certain patients. It can be combined with other surgical procedures, such as hysterectomies or hernias. Candidates for this surgery often have gross amounts of fat that hang below their knees and extend around their sides and back. The fat is often removed from people that have experienced rapid weight loss after pregnancy or an effective dieting plan.
For this process, liposuction is used to remove fat that occurs below the belly button (above would require a full tummy tuck). Often the surgery has to be paired with a body lift to eliminate the folds of skin that hang down once the fat has been removed.
Candidates should stabilize their weight for at least one year before undergoing the operation. This includes any dieting techniques or gastric bypass surgery. To learn more about this procedure, contact your plastic surgeon today!
