An Abdominoplasty or a tummy tuck Is done under general anesthesia and tumescent anesthesia at our AAAHC fully accredited Cosmetic Surgical Center of El Cerrito. The procedure involves the removal of all the excess fat and excess skin below the level of the bellybutton. The entire abdominal wall is usually detached from the underlying fascia which covers the rectus abdominal muscles (Six pack). The remaining abdomen is called the flap because it is usually detached from its vascular supply. The blood supply to the flap is derived from the thoracic and lumbar adjacent blood vessels and any remaining perforator blood vessels ( Arteries that perforate through the fascia to nourish the flap). The umbilicus is usually pulled through an opening in the flap. A rectus muscle plication Is usually done for those patients who are not planning to become pregnant again. The rectus plication consists of bringing these twin muscles together in the midline with permanent sutures. The rectus muscles usually separate during pregnancy in order to allow more space for the baby to grow. This normal separation of the rectus muscles during pregnancy is called a rectus diastases. Sometimes a hernia may be present and it can be repaired at the same time. Simultaneous repair of an umbilical hernia has an increased risk of necrosis (umbilicus skin death) and subsequent infection. Dr. Gabriel Patino usually recommends that any known hernia be repaired before the tummy tuck but if a hernia is incidentally found during the surgery a hernia repair can be done at the same time provided that it can be safely done.
