Achieving a smooth, toned abdomen can be challenging, even with a strict diet and fitness routine. Whether due to pregnancy, weight fluctuations, or aging, stubborn fat and excess skin can persist, leaving you self-conscious.
At Solomon Plastic Surgery, led by Dr. Matthias Solomon, a highly skilled and triple board-certified plastic surgeon, we offer tummy tuck surgery (abdominoplasty) to boost your confidence and give you the figure you desire. This body procedure can help you on your journey toward a more sculpted silhouette.
Can you spot Dr. Solomon's patient among these models?
Click on the photographs to see the answers!
Solomon 3D tummy tuck technique
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Solomon 3D tummy tuck technique
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Solomon 3D tummy tuck technique
Solomon 3D tummy tuck technique
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Backgrounds have been homogenized, and visible moles removed for comparison purposes, but surgical results are unaltered. All of Dr. Solomon’s patients above are also featured untouched on our before and after gallery.
What Should A Good Tummy Tuck Look Like?
To answer that, one needs to know the features of an attractive abdomen. As a plastic surgeon, Dr. Solomon's goal is to create natural contours that highlight your beauty.
Features of an attractive abdomen include:
- Â A youthful and attractive abdomen has a flat contour when viewed from the sides because the rectus muscles have a good tone.
- There are individual variations, but typically, the outline of the rectus muscle is visible.
- There is a vertical central depression between the inner edges of the rectus muscles, starting just above the belly button and going up to the lower portion of the sternum. This vertical strip depression does NOT exist below the level of the belly button.
- A mild fullness around the bellow button as there is slightly more fat in this area.
- There is no excess skin around the belly button; it is well-defined, vertical, and centered.
- There is a slight depression just below the rib cage as it transitions from the chest to the abdomen.
- The fat pad in the pubic area blends into the lower abdomen without being too prominent.
In other words, an attractive abdomen is a three-dimensional structure with highlights and valleys.
Every woman is different, and all these features may not be present in any given person. But these are general guidelines Dr. Solomon aims to achieve when performing a tummy tuck.
Traditional Tummy Tuck and Its Limitations
Typically, a low incision is made from hip to hip and the entire skin and fat is lifted off the abdominal muscles all the way to the lower ribs. This significantly decreases the blood flow to the skin but is still adequate to keep it alive. There are two systems of blood flowing to the skin – the deep and the superficial. The deep system has multiple vertical blood vessels coming out from the abdominal wall muscle into the skin and fat. The superficial system consists of blood vessels under the skin's surface.
With a traditional tummy tuck, the skin and fat are lifted off the muscle from the incision in the pubic area to the rib margin in the upper belly. This completely cuts off all the blood flow through the deep system because it is impossible to lift the skin and fat off the muscle without cutting and cauterizing these blood vessels. Although the blood flow is compromised, the superficial system is typically enough to keep the skin alive. However, if liposuction is added, there is a good chance that the superficial system is also compromised, resulting in dead skin and major complications. This is why many surgeons do not perform extensive liposuction of the abdominal wall when performing a tummy tuck.
With the traditional tummy tuck, although the after result looks better than before, it does not look natural as it is one-dimensional and flat without any contours.
The only way to get the three-dimensional contours described earlier in an ideal abdomen is to liposuction first before proceeding with a tummy tuck. Liposuction sculpts the abdomen to give a three-dimensional contour, and the tummy tuck tightens the muscle and removes excess skin.
Solomon 3D Tummy Tuck Technique
Dr. Solomon has perfected a modified tummy tuck technique that preserves most of the deep blood flow to the skin. This allows him to liposuction freely without any limitations and create the three-dimensional contours that are present in a natural and attractive abdomen.
A low incision is made to hide the scar even under very low-cut bikini briefs. Then, the skin and fat are lifted only about 1 inch on either side of the midline. This allows for muscle tightening but preserves all the deep blood flow channels. The additional advantage of the Solomon 3D Tummy Tuck Technique is the elimination of post-operative fluid collection – a common complication that occurs in 10-15% of patients undergoing a traditional tummy tuck.
The other telltale sign of a tummy tuck is a prominent circular scar around the belly button. Once a tummy tuck is performed this way, it is very hard to revise it. Part of the Solomon 3D Tummy Tuck Technique involves a modification that first anchors the belly button to the underlying rectus muscle and, second, places the circular scar along the inner edge of the belly button so that it is not visible. This creates a very natural umbilicus.
Ideal Tummy Tuck Candidates
A good candidate for a tummy tuck is someone who:
- Has Excess Abdominal Skin or Fat: Individuals with loose or sagging skin, stubborn fat deposits, or separated abdominal muscles that do not improve with diet or exercise are ideal candidates for this procedure.
- Is in Good Health: Candidates should be physically healthy without serious medical conditions that could impair healing or increase surgical risks. This includes blood clotting disorders, uncontrolled diabetes, and congestive heart failure.
- Is at or Near Their Ideal Weight: A tummy tuck is not a weight-loss procedure. It's best for individuals who are at a stable, healthy weight and not planning significant weight changes.
- Has Realistic Expectations: Understanding what a tummy tuck can and cannot achieve is crucial. Candidates should aim for improvement, not perfection. They should also recognize that scars and recovery time are part of the process.
- Is a Non-Smoker: Smoking can interfere with healing and increase surgical risks. Non-smokers or those willing to stop smoking well before and after surgery are better suited for the procedure.
- Is Finished with Childbearing: It is generally recommended for women to wait until after they've completed their family. Pregnancy can reverse the surgery's results.
- Is Emotionally Ready for Surgery: Candidates should have good mental and emotional health. This will help them handle the physical and psychological aspects of surgery and recovery.
