A regular standard abdominoplasty requires a lower abdominal wall incision that extends through the pubic area to the LEFT and RIGHT in a curvilinear fashion from your LEFT hip to RIGHT hip. Depending on how much soft tissue needs to be removed and how much skin needs to be removed. The abdominal wall skin is then lifted off the musculature and brought downward pulled tight, and then a portion of the skin is removed to tighten your abdominal wall. The muscle is then tightened from the LEFT and RIGHT, as well across the middle, to give your muscle a much tighter appearance as well. Sometimes the belly button must be transposed. The belly button is not removed, but as you might imagine, when the skin is pulled downward the belly button gets pulled down as well. As a result, the belly button is separated from the overlying skin and then popped through the new area of skin higher on the abdominal wall, after the skin is pulled snugly downward by Dr. Jacobsen. The belly button at the conclusion of the operation will be in the same place it was prior to the operation. The abdominal wall is always then recontoured very nicely for you to give you a great look. Drains are usually placed. You will need a binder for at least 2 weeks and minimize your activity with lifting no more than 10 pounds for 3-4 weeks. Patients do very well with this. The complications a very minimal. This is not a painful operation. If you follow Dr. Jacobsen’s instructions, you will come along very quickly. Patients that take the time to recover are the ones that return to their normal activity the quickest.

This operation can come in the form of a mini abdominoplasty or a total abdominoplasty. Both procedures are intended to help women of various degrees of redundancy of the lower abdominal wall. The mini abdominoplasty has and does not disturb the umbilicus. The standard abdominoplasty requires a longer incision in order to remove as much vertical redundant skin as possible. The total abdominoplasty requires an upside down T incision with a vertical incision in the midline above the umbilicus to remove as much skin as possible from top to bottom, but also from left to right. This is most commonly required for ladies that have had redundant skin that has developed in the central part of the abdomen around the umbilicus or if lost a great deal of weight. Usually, women do not wish to have the additional vertical incision however I have never had a woman regret this decision as this additional incision allows reduction of the redundant skin left to right and gives a better waistline for the patient. This is something that can be discussed with Dr. Jacobsen at the time of your consultation. If you are considering an abdominoplasty in Phoenix please feel free to contact us with any questions or to schedule a consultation.

Every woman’s body requires a slightly different form of the abdominoplasty.

Total abdominoplasty: The skin is removed from the bottom of the abdominal wall left to right and also from top to bottom with an upside down “T” incision. The belly button or the umbilicus is moved to give a more favorable position and appearance to the belly button.

Mini abdominoplasty: The skin is removed from a small incision low through the pubic area to remove just a small amount of skin and tighten the muscle just slightly.

Standard abdominoplasty: A longer incision than the mini abdominoplasty but still only a single incision left to right and no vertical incision. Often the belly button is moved to make it more favorable in its position and appearance.

Panniculectomy: This is the only form of a dominant all reconstructive operation that is covered by the insurance. This is not a sophisticated operation as met only to amputate the lower part of the abdominal wall extra skin generally in patients that have lost a great deal of weight but does nothing to recontour in a sophisticated fashion the entire abdominal wall. It is a great service to some women however that have a great deal of extra skin at the bottom of their abdomen that hangs over their pubic area and upper thighs. But this is not intended to be a cosmetic operation but is intended to remove the skin ensuing infections can be averted.