Panniculectomy San Diego

Tummy tuck vs. panniculectomy

Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) and panniculectomy are the two most effective surgeries to remove excess skin from the lower abdomen. Both of them are suitable for patients who have excessively sagging skin due to age, pregnancy, or sudden weight fluctuations. However, while the procedures might seem superficially similar, they have nuanced differences in results, objectives, and procedure details. Below, we compare tummy tuck and panniculectomy according to their ideal candidates, side effects, procedure length, recovery period, and results.

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Tummy Tuck Before & Afters

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Overview

Tummy Tuck

A tummy tuck is a cosmetic surgical procedure that removes excess skin tissues and tightens the underlying abdominal muscles. Tightening the skin and underlying muscles increases the visibility of your existing abdominal muscles. Depending on the technique, the surgeon might make a small 4” incision or a large incision from hip to hip to trim away the excess skin and tighten the underlying muscles. The procedure might offer mild relief from back pain, but that’s not the primary goal.

Panniculectomy

Panniculectomy is a surgical procedure with significant medical benefits. This procedure is primarily meant for patients with large amounts of sagging skin tissues after undergoing sudden weight loss, especially after bariatric surgeries. The sagging skin often leads to ulcers, rashes, and infections, necessitating their removal. During a panniculectomy San Diego plastic surgeons will make incisions on the abdominal wall to remove the excess skin tissues and suture the two ends together.

Candidates

Tummy Tuck

You’re a suitable candidate for a tummy tuck if you:

Want to remove the “belly pooch.”
Can’t eliminate the excess skin and fat from your abdomen despite regular exercise.
Are in generally good health.

Panniculectomy

You’re a suitable candidate for a panniculectomy if you:

Have recently undergone a significant weight loss, leading to large masses of hanging skin.
Have hygiene issues due to the sagging skin.
Suffer from frequent infections, ulcers, and other medical problems because of the excess skin.
Have recently undergone bariatric surgery.

Procedure Length

Tummy Tuck

The tummy tuck procedure usually takes one to four hours, depending on the type of surgical technique used.

Panniculectomy

The panniculectomy procedure usually takes two to five hours, depending on the amount of excess skin tissues.

Recovery Time

Tummy Tuck

Patients can usually return to work and most of their normal activities in two weeks, but the complete recovery process takes around six weeks.

Recovery Time

Panniculectomy

It takes around eight weeks or more to recover completely from a panniculectomy. Furthermore, La Jolla and San Diego panniculectomy patients may have trouble standing up for the first two weeks.

Side Effects

Tummy Tuck

A tummy tuck may cause mild swelling, pain, bruising, and numbness for a few days. However, the risk of major side effects, like infections and excessive bleeding, is negligible.

Panniculectomy

A panniculectomy may cause numbness for several weeks, in addition to redness, bruising, and other side effects common to all surgeries. You may also have drains attached to your skin to minimize fluid retention. The risk of major side effects, like infections and excessive bleeding, is negligible.

Results

Tummy Tuck

A tummy tuck gives you a smooth and contoured abdomen. The results are permanent, but you have to maintain a healthy lifestyle to avoid gaining weight and undoing the results.

Panniculectomy

The results from panniculectomy are permanent, even though they take longer to manifest. Without the excessive folds of sagging skin, your stomach will look flat and contoured. However, you must maintain a healthy lifestyle to avoid drastic weight fluctuations.

Additional Reading

There’s considerable overlap between a tummy tuck and a panniculectomy. In some cases, patients can opt for a tummy tuck after a panniculectomy to improve the aesthetic results. Please schedule a consultation with San Diego plastic surgeon, Dr. Sadrian, to discuss which procedure is right for you.

CONSIDERING PLASTIC SURGERY IN SAN DIEGO?

The decision to undergo a cosmetic procedure is extremely personal. If you are considering an enhancement, you want to be confident that your results will appear fresh and natural – and like you. Dr. Sadrian is among the finest plastic surgeons practicing in the San Diego area and has achieved acclaim for consistently achieving natural-looking results. Schedule an appointment to learn more.

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Tummy Tuck Before & Afters

Overview

Tummy Tuck

Panniculectomy

Candidates

Tummy Tuck

Panniculectomy

Procedure Length

Tummy Tuck

Panniculectomy

Recovery Time

Tummy Tuck

Panniculectomy

Side Effects

Tummy Tuck

Panniculectomy

Results

Tummy Tuck

Panniculectomy

Additional Reading

CONSIDERING PLASTIC SURGERY IN SAN DIEGO?

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