Plastic surgeons|Dermatologists

Poorly Positioned Belly Button: 

Plastic surgeons and Occasionally, the belly button may be placed too high, too low, or off to the side. 

This is usually due to an error in surgical duet o an error in surgical judgment.  Fortunately, it can easily be relocated with a minor procedure under local anesthetic.   

Hematoma: Blood may collect under the skin of the abdomen, and is characterized by a sudden increase in swelling, pain and tightness of the area. 

The drainage tubes which are put in place after surgery are used primarily to relieve small collections of blood or fluid.  Large hematomas must be surgically drained.

Seroma:  Plastic surgeons and a persistent accumulation of fluid underneath the lower abdomen called a seroma may develop. 

In most instances, the seroma gradually subsides on its own, although in some cases surgical drainage may be required.

Contour Irregularities:  Skin care products and Small puckers of bulging skin may occur on the hip side of the incisions. 

The obese are more prone to this problem because excess skin and fat have been removed from the abdomen, but nothing has been done to the hips.

This is easily remedied with liposuction to feather, sculpt, and contour the area, eliminating these irregularities. 

Skin Slough:  Skin care products and the skin which was stretched over the lower abdomen may, in rare cases, die due to an inadequate blood supply. 

This occurs most frequently in smokers and in people who are older, obese, or have other medical problems, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. 

An untreated hematoma or an infection can also cause skin sloughing.  When this happens, the dead tissue is removed and the area is allowed to heal, although the healing process often takes up to 3 months and leaves an unsightly scar. 

A scar revision procedure if often necessary once healing is complete.

Infections:  infections rarely occur, but, when they do, they are usually managed with antibiotics.  Surgical drainage is rarely required.

Scars:  Scars usually fade to a white line and in women are hidden by most bikinis. 

If excessive scarring occurs, it can be flattened with a laser or injected with cortisone to make it less obvious.  Given enough time, these scars eventually fade.

Who performs the surgery and how much does it cost?

Dermatologists and plastic surgeons trained in tumescent liposuction are qualified to perform the procedure.  Tummy tucks are usually performed by plastic surgeons. 

The cost varies from $2,000 to $6,000, depending on whether the tummy tuck and liposuction are done alone or in combination.

Special Case:  Skin care products Obese people who have a large apron of abdominal fat and skin may experience abdominal pain and skin problems from stretching and traction of this fatty apron that hangs down over the public hair and sometimes onto the thighs. 

In these patients, the procedure to remove this fatty apron may be diagnosed as a functional and reconstructive problem and may, therefore, be covered by some insurance plans.

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