A tummy tuck—or abdominoplasty—is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen while tightening the abdominal muscles. If you’re unhappy with the appearance of your stomach due to excess abdominal skin that won’t go away with exercise or a healthy diet, you may be considering this procedure… but not all tummy tucks are created equal. There are many methods that your surgeon may recommend for achieving the best results, one of which is called the Fleur-De-Lis tummy tuck.
What is a Fleur-De-Lis tummy tuck?
A Fleur-De-Lis tummy tuck—so named because the shape of the incision pattern mirrors the three-pronged Fleur-De-Lis symbol—uses both a horizontal incision (similar to a traditional tummy tuck) as well as a vertical incision that runs up the middle of the abdomen. This allows your surgeon greater access to the abdominal muscles, and the ability to remove a far more substantial amount of skin and fatty tissue from the upper and lower abdominal region, ultimately resulting in a tighter waistline. This technique also allows for both horizontal and vertical skin tightening, and often produces dramatic and life-changing results.
The Fleur-De-Lis tummy tuck can be performed alone, or in combination with a breast procedure, depending on your areas of concern.
What is the difference between a Fleur-De-Lis tummy tuck and a body lift?
A Fleur-De-Lis tummy tuck and a body lift are similar in that they remove large amounts of excess skin, however a body lift addresses sagging skin that spans the abdomen, flanks, back, and buttocks, while the Fleur-De-Lis technique addresses the abdomen specifically. Many patients with extensive loose skin could be a candidate for either procedure. The decision between the two will depend on several factors, the most important being the area in which the patient would like to focus their contour. The Fleur de Lis will provide excellent contour to the front of the abdomen and trunk, really focusing on the front and the waistline from the level of the breasts down to the hip. The back is not addressed with this procedure alone. The body lift, on the other hand, will leave some laxity in the front but will allow for removal of excess skin and greater tightening of the ‘side body’ and back.
Before Fleur de Lis tummy tuck
After Fleur de Lis tummy tuck
Who is a Fleur-De-Lis tummy tuck right for?
For the right patient, the Fleur-De-Lis tummy tuck is a powerful technique with transformative results. It’s a good fit for men and women with a significant amount of abdominal skin—often as a result of massive weight loss or bariatric surgery—that cannot be fully addressed with a standard tummy tuck.
As with any surgery we perform, patients should be in good health and at a stable weight. Our team will always go through a very detailed health and nutrition history to ensure that any modifiable risk factors such as smoking, additional weight loss, nutrition imbalances, and other medical conditions are optimized prior to surgery.
Will this procedure result in a larger scar?
Many patients are worried about additional scarring with the Fleur-De-Lis technique. As with any surgery, some scarring is inevitable, and this procedure does involve a longer scar due to the additional vertical incision. However, our surgeons Dr. Somogyi and Dr. Jalil are both very experienced in abdominoplasty procedures and post-operative care, and take great care to ensure proper healing and minimal scarring. Most patients report the scar is worth it when compared to the incredible results achieved with this technique!
If you’re wondering whether this procedure may be right for you, contact us to schedule a consultation today.
