Dr. Kevin Tehrani, board-certified plastic surgeon at Aristocrat Plastic Surgery & MedAesthetics, performing a lateral tension abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) on a 53-year-old female. First, Dr. Tehrani dissects all the skin and fat away from the fascia (covering of the muscle) from the abdomen all the way to the breast bone. Next, Dr. Tehrani disassociates the belly button from the upper epidermis skin layer, then he divides the abdomen skin tissue to be removed later on in the procedure. After dissecting past the belly button and to the breast bone, Dr. Tehrani removes extra tissue and fat from the upper vaginal area (mons pubis). Next, he injects Exparel numbing medication into the abdomen to help the patient with post operative pain. After, Dr. Tehrani plicates the abdomen muscles with sutures to ensure a tight waist line after surgery. Before closing up the patient, Dr. Tehrani performs liposuction to the flanks and love handles to bring the patient's waistline in further. Finally, Dr. Tehrani removes the excess skin tissue and closes the SFS (superficial fascial system) skin layer with sutures. Once the patient's lower abdomen is sutured closed, Dr. Tehrani marks where the patient's new bellybutton will be and reattaches it to the upper skin layer with an inconspicuous hidden scar. With the scarring inside the belly button and below the bikini line, no one will know the patient underwent a tummy tuck operation. |