Tulsa, Oklahoma (OK) Liposuction, Abdominoplasty & Tummy Tuck by
Plastic Surgery Associates
Dr. David Craig, Dr. Palmer Ramey (Retired), Dr. Stephen Paulsen Board Certified Plastic Surgeons

Plastic Surgery Associates, Plastic Surgeons in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Our qualified, professional staff maintains the highest level of personal service and care. We emphasize continuity in the attention given each patient, who is assisted by the same skilled personnel throughout the treatment, from initial consultation through post-operative recovery.

Our staff is committed to helping you with your special needs. Whether it is processing insurance documents, making hotel accommodations or arranging for transportation or private nursing care, you are assured confidentiality and conscientious individual attention. Our experience and specialization in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery means patients can take advantage of the benefits of quality surgical attention at efficient and reasonable fees.

Liposuction is a method of body sculpting, body contouring or "spot-reduction" involving removal of excess, unsightly fat from specific areas of the body. Liposuction can be done in abdomen, hips, buttocks, back, thighs, knees, calves, ankles, upper arms, jowls, cheeks and neck.

These localized fat deposits may sometimes be inherited and typically do not respond to dieting or exercise. Liposuction is often the only way to improve them.

Liposuction can be done alone or with other plastic surgery procedures such as breast reduction or tummy tuck (abdominoplasty). In addition, liposuction can be performed on several areas of the body at once.

Other names for liposuction are lipoplasty, suction-assisted lipectomy, ultrasound-assisted liposuction or lipoplasty, laser-assisted liposuction or lipoplasty and power-assisted liposuction or lipoplasty.

The Tummy Tuck Procedure
Abdominoplasty is often performed with general anesthesia. It can also be done using a local anesthetic with a sedative. There may be some discomfort with local anesthesia. The tummy tuck surgery takes about two to five hours.

A tummy tuck usually begins with a relatively long incision across the abdomen, from hip bone to hip bone. The shape of the incision is like a smile, with a flat bottom. The flat part of the smile occurs at the bottom point of the abdomen immediately above the pubic area. The sides of the smile form a gentle curve along the pelvis up to the top of the hip bone. A second incision is made around the belly button to free it from the abdominal tissue.

The skin is separated from the abdominal wall, up to the ribs, exposing the vertical abdominal muscles (rectus muscles). These muscles have usually been stretched apart by previous pregnancies. The rectus muscles are then stitched into a new position, tightening the muscles and reducing the waistline. After the muscles have been repositioned and tightened, the excess skin is stretched and removed.

The remaining skin is redraped over the abdominal area and sutured in place. The belly button is then brought out through the overlying skin in its new location.