Abdominal Contouring (Tummy Tuck, Abdominoplasty)

For women, one of the most significant changes of self image that occurs a result of a child bearing is the loss of the smooth and sexy abdominal contour of youth. As the gravid uterus enlarges during pregnancy, the abdominal muscles stretch and become separated relative to each other. The skin and underlying connective tissue also stretches. The overall result is the characteristic 'pooch' or pannus of skin, connective tissue and fat. Some patients have more fat in the abdominal pannus, and other patients have more skin laxity (stretch marks). Whatever the combination, there is a set of procedures designed to restore a youthful and attractive abdominal contour.

The abdominoplasty comes in many varieties, and each is designed to address a certain problem. Dr. Sattler will work with you, examining you and your pre-operative photographs, and together you'll come up with a customized surgical plan to restore your youthful shape.

It must be emphasized that, like liposuction, an abdominoplasty is not a weight-loss procedure. In fact, surgical results are ideal in women that have maintained some abdominal wall muscular strength and are close to their ideal body weight. Also, if you plan to become pregnant in the future, hold off on this procedure until you have completed bearing children.

Tummy tuck surgery is an outpatient procedure done that is usually done under general anesthesia in our Bellevue WA ambulatory surgery center. Like each procedure Dr. Sattler does, you are asked to resume a light non-weight bearing activity schedule (walking) the day after surgery. This reduces your risk for deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) and speeds your recovery. You will be asked to wear a light compressive garment (like Spandex) post operatively for two weeks. Dr. Sattler places 'drains' in selected patients, and these will be removed in the clinic a few days post-operatively.

Dr. Sattler has experience with a variety of abdominoplasty procedures, and it is a special topic of interest to him. He has an extensive photo album of pre and post-operative patients that he will review with you in clinic.

If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Sattler, use the 'green' online scheduling button at the bottom of this page.