Tummy Tucks - The Endoscopic Way

Tucking in your tummy (Credit: livercake)

Endoscopic tummy tucks or abdinoplasty is for patients who have weakened muscles of the lower abdomen, but still have relatively tight abdominal skin. Endoscopic abdinoplasty will tighten the abdominal muscles and can be combined with liposuction to remove excess fat. But it’s important to remember that endoscopic abdinoplasty will not be able to tighten the loose skin in the abdominal region.

Some studies show that endoscopic abdinoplasty is more beneficial for male patients, in addressing the muscle laxity. Though, endoscopic abdinoplasty can make can make a difference for patients of both sexes, as long as the skin has retained a certain amount of elasticity.

An endoscopic abdinoplasty is performed using a small camera, called an endoscope, which is attached to small surgical instruments. This way surgery can be performed using very small incisions that are easily concealed. The incisions used in endoscopic abdinoplasty are usually placed above the pubis or inside the navel and the muscles are tightened and sutured through the incision. Liposuction performed during the endoscopic abdominoplasty removes fat and a drain is placed to prevent fluid build-up, before closing the incision.

Recovery is quicker because of the minimally invasive nature of endoscopic surgery. Most patients will be able to return to their normal daily activities within a week or two of surgery, though they will need to put off heavy exercise and strenuous activity until they recover completely.