The tummy tuck procedure can give you a more youthful appearance in your abdominal region, but many people do not like the fact that there is visible scarring on the front of the thighs and the pubis. This is especially evident when wearing a bathing suit. Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) surgery has come a long way since its inception and continues to evolve. Dr. Linderman , a board-certified cosmetic surgeon, uses the high lateral tension abdominoplasty procedure developed by Dr. Ted Lockwood.
The high lateral tension abdominoplasty procedure has been described as the cosmetic surgery version of “fine tailoring.” One of the drawbacks of previous tummy tuck procedures were that the scar located near the pubic region was not only highly visible, but left a “ledge” look. What happened was that if the absorbable sutures were not secured well, a depression both thick and wide, was common.
With the high lateral tension abdominoplasty technique, scarring is reduced and contours of the abdomen are more pronounced giving you a shapelier waistline, as well as sculpting the region between the breast and thigh. This procedure is most effective when combined with liposuction on the flanks and region of the back. This improves the whole torso and the way you fit into your clothes.
Procedure
To achieve less scarring, the high lateral tension abdominoplasty procedure secures the deep layers of fat with permanent stitches by suturing the tissue surrounding the muscles of the abdomen. These sutures are placed so close together that you cannot get a finger through them. This tightens the entire abdominal region which gives it a more youthful appearance. The position of the belly button is transposed and the anterior thigh area is lifted as well.
By placing tension laterally rather than vertically, the blood supply to the lower abdomen is protected. As we age or go through weight fluctuations, slackness of the tissue in this area increases. This technique eliminates this laxity by tightening and thinning the abdominal area.
While there is still a scar in the pubic region, it is slanted toward the waist at a 45 degree angle to better hide it. Previous abdominoplasty procedures put this scar in a downward slant. The length of the scar depends on the amount of tissue and skin that needs to be excised or moved. Placing minimal tension in the pubic region leads to better circulation which keeps skin thickness aesthetically desirable.
Liposuction of the lateral and upper abdomen in conjunction with the high lateral tension abdominoplasty improves the contours and appearance of this area. In turn, this improves definition of the upper abdomen.
One minor disadvantage of this procedure is that increased swelling of the lower abdomen is present until lymphatic drainage to the umbilical and groin area regrows.
