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Tummy Tuck for Stretch Marks

Plastic Surgery Videos Tummy Tuck for Stretch Marks Videos

Tummy Tuck for Stretch Marks

Tummy tucks - abdominiplasty - is a major surgical procedure that is performed in order to remove extra skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen. Abdominiplasty is also able to tighten the muscles of the abdominal wall. Skin stretched during rapid weight gain or pregnancy can develop stretch marks. These lines start out red and then evolve to a white depressed scar with less flexibility than any other skin area.

The exact cause of stretch marks is unknown, but is thought to be a breaking of collagen which then heals with a scar. Hormones during pregnancy may worsen this process. Simple application of creams during pregnancy does not prevent the scars from forming. In extreme cases tummy tuck may just be the only procedure that can help to remove lare stretch marks. It is important to remember that tummy tuck itself does, however produce a scar that is permanent and can stretch all the way across the belly.

Women who plan to get pregnant again as well as people who intend to loose weight due to dieting should not have tummy tuck performed on them. This is because vertical muscles in the abdomen that are tightened during surgery can separate again during pregnancy or weight loss.

The procedure

During the surgery the physician will make a long cut from hipbone to hipbone, above your pubic area. Next he or she will make a second cut that intends to free the navel from surrounding tissue. The cut is shorter with partial abdominiplasty and the navel may not be moved.

When the cut is made the physician separates the skin from the abdominal wall all the way up to the ribs and lifts a large skin flap to reveal the vertical muscles in your abdomen. After this is done the vertical muscles are tightened. This is done through pulling them close together and stitching them into their new position. This creates a firmer abdominal wall and makes the waistline much narrower.

Because much of the skin below the belly button is removed during a tummy tuck, stretch marks in this area are also erased. If you have stretch marks below your belly button and are also interested in having a tummy tuck, then this operation will remove those stretch marks.

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