Dr James Hoffman is one of the surgeons performing cosmetic or plastic Tummy Tuck surgery in the Minneapolis/Minnesota area.

Tummy Tuck or Abdominoplasty is a procedure to remove excess skin and fat, tighten the muscles, and remove stretch marks from the abdomen. Women who have had multiple pregnancies are frequently good candidates for this operation. In other instances, substantial weight loss may cause the abdominal skin to become flacid. Significant stretch marks in the abdominal skin are a telltale sign that the skin has stretched beyond it's capacity to retract. In these cases, liposuction alone will not treat the problem. The excess skin and fat must be surgically removed.

Abdominoplasty can also tighten the abdominal muscles that have been separated or weakened by pregnancy; thereby narrowing the waistline. Tummy Tuck is frequently combined with liposuction to improve the overall sculpted appearance of the abdomen.


	This woman is a 34-year-old mother of three boys. She had gained weight with each of her three children. For the past two years, she has been enrolled in weight watchers and has lost the weight. She exercises regularly, lifts weights, and runs three times a week. She is an ideal candidate for abdominoplasty combined with liposuction. She underwent a tummy tuck and liposuction of her back, hips, flanks, and inner thighs. Her operation was performed with an overnight hospital stay. She achieved a fantastic result following abdominoplasty and liposuction.
As a plastic surgeon, I am most proud of this young woman and the results that she achieved through body contour surgery. And by this, I mean I am proud of her. She did everything right. She diets and exercises as a part of the lifestyle change. The surgery was a success and I am glad I could help her to achieve her goals, but her results are even better than the surgery can produce. She has made the results superb by her continued healthy eating habits and exercise.

The patient is a 38-year-old mother with four children who had been bothered by her “tummy” since having her children. She is attractive, and exercises regularly. She underwent a Tummy Tuck (abdominoplasty) combined with Liposuction of her hips and outer thighs. She has a beautiful waistline and thigh contour following surgery.


	This patient gained weight following each of her three pregnancies. Following her last pregnancy she lost 35 pounds, yet she needed some assistance to help her stretched tummy recover from the stress of multiple pregnancies. A combination of Tummy Tuck and Liposuction to the flanks gave the optimal abdominal contour.


	This patient, who gave birth to two big boys, longed to get back into a two piece bathing suit. Through a combination of Tummy Tuck and Liposuction she realized her goal.

This 48-year-old women patient was bothered by fullness and stretch marks in her tummy. She also had a tendency to accumulate fat in her hips. A combination of tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) and liposuction of her hips and thighs has restored her girlish figure. In planning her surgery, it was important for her to bring her bathing suit to clinic to plan her incisions. Even in a revealing bikini, her tummy tuck incision is hidden beautifully.

YOUR INITIAL VISIT

On the day of your personal consultation, Dr. Hoffman will discuss with you the indications for a tummy tuck. Pre and post-operative photographs of patients with similar body contours are shown with reference to your own shape. You are then examined to ensure that this procedure would be of benefit versus other alternatives such as liposuction. Once the decision is made to have the surgery, you are given instruction sheets outlining how to prepare for surgery, what to expect the day of surgery, and what to expect as you recover.

YOUR TUMMY TUCK PROCEDURE:

In Dr. Hoffman’s procedure, redundant skin is removed and the muscles are actually tightened to give the patient a shapely waist. A dramatic reduction in waist size and a more desirable figure is obtained immediately after surgery. The width of the bikini scar is dependent on the amount of skin removed. Frequently, liposuction is added to the procedure. This removes fat from the hip areas and can reduce the length of the incision. Tummy tuck can be combined with other procedures such as breast lift, breast augmentation, and liposuction of other areas such as the thighs and the back.

Am I a good candidate for Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)?
You may be a good candidate for abdominoplasty if you have one or more of the following conditions:
		Excess or sagging abdominal skin
		Significant stretch marks in the abdominal skin
		An abdomen that protrudes and is out of proportion to the rest of your body
		Abdominal muscles that have been separated and weakened (common following pregnancy)
		Excess fatty tissue concentrated in your abdomen

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