Abdominoplasty/Tummy Tuck with Liposuction, pre-baby body, Sierra Vista, AZ*

This is a 38 year-old woman from Sierra Vista that came to Rao Plastic Surgery in Tucson, AZ to discuss options to improve the appearance of her abdomen. She had lost 80 pounds through diet and exercise and she had developed excess abdominal skin. On physical exam she did not have any hernias, but she did have a prior C-section incision and prior incision from a tubal ligation. She did have a rectus diastasis, which is the separation of the rectus abdominis muscles. As the uterus grows during pregnancy, the rectus abdominis muscles get pushed laterally to accommodate the enlarging uterus. Based on her physical exam and combined with her aesthetic goals I recommended a tummy tuck with 360 degree liposuction. Her surgery was performed at a surgery center in Tucson, AZ. I started her surgery by performing circumferential liposuction of her back, flanks, and abdomen. After the liposuction, I turned my attention to performing her tummy tuck. I was able to excise all of her excess skin above her umbilicus and plicated her abdominal muscles. Plicating her muscles narrowed her waistline and gave her abdomen a firmer and flatter appearance. At the time of her surgery I injected Exparel, a long acting local anesthetic, into her muscle which provided good pain relief for the first 72 hours. She had a smooth postoperative course. She is now a year out from her tummy tuck and liposuction and loves that she got her pre-baby body back.