B.M. (Age 28) - Registered Nurse

Comments: This 28 year-old nurse had two children, ages three and six months old, both delivered by cesarean section. She was not planning to have any more children. Her pregnancies had distended her abdomen and she wanted to have this corrected. She would not wear shorts because of her thick calves. Liposuction was performed simultaneously. She had a breast reduction four years previously and requested small implants. The reduction was revised to provide more tightening and correct a mild bottoming-out deformity. By two months after surgery she had dropped from a size 8 to a size 4 and was comfortable wearing shorts. This sequence of photographs shows the gradual improvement in appearance of the abdominoplasty scar, which is kept low, within the bikini line.

S.R. (Age 32) - Auto Assembly

Comments: This patient had a very physical job, so she took a month off work. When asked if she was glad that she had the surgery, her response was, “absolutely.” She said she dropped form a size 5/6 to a size 4.

C.B. (Age 32) - Systems Analyst

Comments: This patient had a severe abdominal deformity after three pregnancies. Liposuction was not done simultaneously. She returned for liposuction later. She used to be a competitive sprinter in college. She said her back pain disappeared after the tummy tuck.

N.T. (Age 32) - Auto Sales Office Worker

Comments: This patient was a full-blooded Seminole Indian. Her abdominal deformity was so severe, that she needed to lift up her tummy so I could mark her before surgery. It was less painful that she had imagined. She and her husband were excited when I took the dressing off her abdomen the day after surgery and she was able to see the change in her abdomen. She also said her back pain cleared up after surgery.

L.F. (Age 34) - Technical Skills Consultant

Testimonial: "I always had a stomach, even before having five kids. I did thousands of crunches, leg raises, and used an exercise machine. I could feel that I had good muscles underneath, but you couldn't tell because my muscles were hidden under my pouch. I would wear clothes to hide my stomach, like pleated pants. It was affecting my self-esteem. I researched my options thoroughly before deciding to have surgery. I love my results. It's beyond what I thought it would accomplish. Now I have a flat stomach and almost all my stretch marks are gone. My abdominal muscles are no longer hidden. I put more into my workouts. I have a whole new wardrobe. It's awesome! I'm even wearing half-tops. My daughter told me to cover up - she thought I was showing too much. But she doesn't know how happy I am that I don't have to hide anything anymore."

A.D. (Age 35) - Hair Stylist

Comments: This patient had an ugly scar from an emergency cesarean section. This scar was removed along with the extra skin of the lower abdomen, between the belly button and the pubic area. She had a breast reduction three years after her procedure (two years before the “after” pictures). This patient’s new belly button was oriented vertically. The orientation is a matter of personal preference. Presently, the horizontal orientation is preferred by most patients.

P.B. (Age 35) - Supervisor

Comments: This patient’s skin has responded well after liposuction. The skin tone of her thighs appears better in the “after” pictures, despite the fact that over four years have elapsed since her procedure. Shortly after surgery, she told me she bought a bathing suit for the first time in 12 years.

L.S. (Age 37) - Medical Sales

Comments: This patient said that the result exceeded her expectations. She also had lower blepharoplasties, an endoscopic forehead lift, a submental lipectomy, and laser treatment of facial veins. She is contemplating having a breast augmentation and lift. She said “once you do one thing, you feel like doing others.”

R.I. (Age 39) - Office Manager

Comments: This patient admitted that she stood in front of the mirror for two hours admiring herself in front of her mirror and had to call in late for work! She thanked me for her “new body.”

M.U. (Age 42) - Secretary

Testimonial: "I have four children and had three C-sections. With each pregnancy, I began to develop a pouch that would never quite go back to what it used to be. When I was in high school, I weighed 98 pounds. With my first pregnancy, in my ninth month, I was over 170 pounds. Between children, I dieted and did everything I could, but I never lost that pouch. I wanted to look good but I never could. I would wear a girdle and deprive myself trying to look better, but I never could. So after my fourth child, I decided that I needed something else. We moved to this area and I began looking into what could be done. I told my two sisters about Dr. Swanson and my older sister decided to have it done. She had it first and I took care of her. Then she took care of me. Since I’d had three C-sections, I knew what it was like to have trouble bending over and moving around for the first few days after surgery. The staff was very supportive during my recovery so it was fine. I’m glad I did it. When I stand up, it’s a straight line. I look better, therefore I feel better. Because I feel better about myself, I look better. It’s a circle. My husband loves how I look. He loves it when I buy a dress that fits my body instead of me trying to cover up a flaw. It’s just been great. My husband got excited helping me buy a dress. One size fits all my body. I dropped from a size 16 to a 10.I think patients should be given a worst case scenario and then it won’t be that bad. I knew what abdominal surgery was like, but for someone who’d never had it, you’re going to feel some pain - though not much - and you’re going to need help getting up and getting to the bathroom the first couple of days. You’re going to have to take time to let your body heal. You’ll see an improvement every day until you can stand up straight again. For awhile you’ll be hunched over. Try not to laugh or it will hurt. It’s uncomfortable, but not that bad. Not as bad as those three C-sections. Take it easy, be nice to yourself, rest, and within a few weeks you’ll be fine."

R.K. (Age 44) - Teacher

Comments: This patient was 5’0” and weighed only 119 pounds, but her typical post-pregnancy deformity contributes to an unflattering body shape that makes her look overweight. This is corrected with a simultaneous abdominoplasty and liposuction. In the after picture, she weighs 113 pounds. This is the weight loss expected - 4.25 pounds due to the tummy tuck and another 3 pounds from liposuction (about 2 pounds per 1000 cc.). She probably still has at least a pound of swelling at this point.

A.S. (Age 44) - Hair Stylist

Comments: This patient has a more flattering “hourglass figure.” The effect of the muscle repair is visible on her frontal photographs. Her buttocks appear more rounded on the posterior photographs, a favorable illusion created by liposuction of the flanks. Her leg veins were treated subsequently, accounting for the bruising of her thighs.

N.M. (Age 50) - Business Owner

Testimonial: “I had five children, who really did a number on my abdomen. I’d also lost volume in my breasts. I’d been working out and never really had a problem controlling my weight. It seemed the more I worked out the worse I looked. I knew I needed a little help. I decided to have a tummy tuck and a breast augmentation. I feel like a new person.”

C.S. (Age 53) - Teacher

Comments: This patient had her body contouring surgery first and then followed with facial rejuvenation. She wondered what more could be done to improve the skin laxity of her flanks. I explained that this skin laxity is due to aging, with progressive loss of skin tone, and will not be corrected by liposuction. It was not so severe as to require a thigh lift procedure.

C.B. (Age 54) - Manager

Comments: This patient, of mixed Hispanic and white ancestry, was a competitive bodybuilder at age 54. However, her abdominal deformity was a limitation for her and proved difficult to conceal. The abdominoplasty scar was placed in such a way as to be hidden within her bikini.

L.P. (Age 58) - CEO

Comments: This patient had an ugly old vertical cesarean section scar, and a well-healed old scar from having her gall bladder removed, before this was done using the laparoscope. She returned to all of her usual activities and work two weeks after surgery. By one month after surgery, she had dropped two sizes.

J.G. (Age 63) - Retired

Comments: She told me she felt more comfortable meeting people for the first time, she felt more confident, and she had not felt this way since before having her children (her oldest was 42). She bought some “hip hugger” jeans for the first time, no longer wore a long T-shirt to cover her tummy, was tucking in her tops, and did not mind showing her belly button.

C.M. (Age 20) - Student

Comments: This patient had significant skin laxity of the lower abdomen and conspicuous love handles. He had the surgery before starting college and successfully kept the extra weight off.

K.K. (Age 37) - Nurse

Comments: This patient had and abdominoplasty as part of his “lower body lift” after losing 70 pounds (see “Lower Body Lift”). A “lower body lift” was performed, using an incision that ran almost all the way around his trunk, elevating the buttocks, and removing the excess skin of the abdomen. Liposuction was performed simultaneously. Note the improvement of his love handles. The scar is still red at this point, but will fade to white in time. He has some skin markings from the binder he was wearing when these pictures were taken.

W.A. (Age 49) - Federal Agent

Comments: This patient had previous liposuction after losing about 30 pounds. His skin tone was poor. He drove himself to his appointment four days after surgery (to have the drain removed) and was walking already in a fully upright position. He said the result was better than he had hoped for.