An abdominoplasty or tummy tuck is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat from your abdomen, combined with tightening the abdominal muscles for a smoother, flatter appearance.
Abdominoplasty is ideal for women who have excess skin and fat around the abdomen due to pregnancy or weight fluctuations.
Procedure Length: 1.5 Hours
Anesthesia: General
Recovery: No lifting, pushing or pulling for 6 weeks. Back to work in 7-10 days.
Abdominoplasty, also known as a Tummy Tuck, is a common operation in plastic surgery designed to tone and flatten loose abdominal skin that is unresponsive to exercise and diet. The procedure tightens loose stomach muscles, removes unwanted fat and trims excess skin. The results are usually quite satisfactory. Removing excess skin and tightening the abdominal muscles improves the shape and figure, letting you more easily acquire properly fitting clothing and be more comfortable engaging in physical activity.
During an Abdominoplasty procedure, excessive skin and fat are removed from the lower part of the tummy. Distended skin will be removed, the abdominal musculature reinforced, and the lower abdomen “rejuvenated.” The appearance and profile of the lower abdomen may be improved by removing skin folds, scarring and stretch marks, restoring a more youthful appearance.
Multiple pregnancies and marked fluctuations in weight are most frequently responsible, as they stretch the abdominal wall tissues. Sometimes the deeper elastic structures of the skin are torn, resulting in stretch marks. These may be more evident because of the laxity of the stretched skin. Proper diet and exercise may help up to a point after weight loss or pregnancy, but no amount of exercise will take away skin laxity and folds as a Tummy Tuck can.
In cases of substantial weight loss, overlapping skin folds with deep grooving of the lower abdominal wall and severe redundancy, more extensive surgery may be required.
Dr. Cluett starts every patient relationship with a one-on-one consult to listen and fully understand your motivations, to prepare an Abdominoplasty procedure plan that makes you feel confident and keeps your safety and wellbeing as the priority. It’s during you consult that you’ll have the opportunity to tell your story and work with Dr. Cluett to take steps towards completing your Abdominoplasty procedural plan.
Mini Abdominoplasty
Procedure Length: 1.5 Hours
Anesthesia: General
Recovery: No lifting, pushing or pulling for 6 weeks. Back to work in 7-10 days.
How is a Mini Tummy Tuck different from a Full Tummy Tuck?
A Mini Abdominoplasty/Tummy Tuck is a less invasive procedure than a full tummy tuck, targeting the area of your stomach under your belly button and flattening the lower abdomen.
A Mini Abdominoplasty is effective for those who are within a recommended weight range but have extra skin or fat that’s difficult to eradicate with diet and exercise alone.
Your belly button won’t be changed with a mini tummy tuck as it would with a full tummy tuck.
For those looking to flatten the entire stomach from the rib cage down, a full tummy tuck is often the recommended choice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Whether you are considering Breast Surgery or Abdominoplasty, your plastic surgery treatment will require that you make important decisions. Dr. Cluett wants to help you feel educated about your choices and has provided a list of frequently asked questions below.
Where Will Your Procedure Take Place?
Your initial consult will take place in Dr. Cluett’s office at 7 Paton Street, The Health Sciences Centre, St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital, or Janeway Children’s Health and Rehabilitation Centre. Your surgical procedure will take place in a fully-equipped and safe surgical facility. These medical centres bring with them a team of specialized health care practitioners with training and experience specific to these types of procedures. Your safety is key to the success of a procedure.
what about Pre-op and aftercare?
Dr. Cluett will work to ensure your path to recovery is as smooth and short as possible. Your recovery will be unique to you, your body, and your surgical procedure, that’s why each patient needs a custom recovery programme. After your procedure, Dr. Cluett will meet with you to review your specific needs and recommended aftercare. Throughout the recovery process, should you have any questions, you can always call Dr. Cluett’s St. John’s office and her team will be able to provide you with answers, or schedule a follow up appointment.
Is a referral required for a consultation with Dr. Cluett?
Some consultations will be covered by MCP if you are referred by another physician. If you wish to avoid obtaining a referral it is possible to see Dr. Cluett. This will involve a one-time consultation fee.
Will my treatment be coverable by MCP?
If the concern you have is considered “cosmetic” by MCP standards, your treatment will not be covered. Unfortunately, the only way to know for sure if your treatment will be covered, is to see Dr. Cluett in consultation. After assessing your concerns, she will advise you as to whether or not MCP will cover your procedure based on your history as well as your physical problems.
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Debit or cash. We are as well associated with Ifinance Medicard which is a company accustomed to financing cosmetic procedures. We will provide you with the necessary contact information so you can further investigate this option if requested.
Why should I choose a Plastic Surgeon for my cosmetic procedure?
A Plastic Surgeon is a surgical specialist who has completed a minimum of 5 years of study and training in plastic surgery after receiving their initial medical degree. This is different from a cosmetic surgeon. Dr. Cluett is the only female plastic surgeon in Newfoundland and Labrador.
