Vero Beach Tummy Tuck doctors

	David J. Levens, MD Coral Springs Plastic Surgeon 1725 University Drive Suite 300, Coral Springs		28 answers
	Ralph M. Rosato, MD Vero Beach Plastic Surgeon 3790 7th Terrace Ste 101, Vero Beach		1 answer
	Justin Yovino, MD Fort Lauderdale Plastic Surgeon 910 NE 26th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale
	Robert N. Cooper, MD Vero Beach Plastic Surgeon 201 S.E. Osceola Street, Stuart
	Daniel Holley, M.D. Vero Beach Plastic Surgeon Stuart

Recent Answers

Did I Pop a Stitch on my Abdominoplasty? (photo) I had an abdominoplasty without lipo 4 days ago. On day 2 I stretched forward without thinking to catch a glass that my son had dropped. I felt a sharp twinge but didn't hear a pop. I didn't think anything of it but my upper abdomen is swollen and has a bruise 2 inches from the midline. Is it likely that I popped a suture? Also, is swelling normal given that I had no lipo?

A: It is possible

During your abdominoplasty typically sutures (stitches) would have been used to narrow the separation of your rectus muscles (diastasis recti). If you had a full abdominoplasty, they would have been placed all the way up to your rib cage, if a "mini", only part way to around the level of your belly button (unbilicus).

It is certainly possible that a suture may have loosened with a sudden movement, but it does not mean that you will loose the full repair. Swelling and bruising is of course normal early postop but it may be worsened by a new minor tissue trauma.

You should contact your surgeon and will probably be seeing him/her in the next few days anyway to discuss your concerns. A compression binder should be worn early on as it is comfortable and helpful for support of the repair as well as to help control the swelling

Good luck. You should be ok and your experience is not uncommon.

David J. Levens, MD

Coral Springs Plastic Surgeon

Which is First? TT or Lipo? I am what is called "barrel-chested" and much of the bulk is fat around my upper rib cage. Can lipo + TT help?

A: Liposuction would be best

For localized fat in the area of the upper abdomen or rib cage, liposuction would be the most direct approach for improvement as long as the skin tone is fairly good. "TT" (abdominoplasty) is most beneficial for the lower abdomen.

David J. Levens, MD

Coral Springs Plastic Surgeon

It's Been Almost 1 Year Since my Full Tt. I Am Seeing New Stretch Marks. What Causes These? I have been exercising but not until recently. Being diabetic, the recovery from the tt and lipo has been slow and long.

A: Stretch marks may simply appear different

Typically, all of the stretch marks below the belly button are removed as part of a tummy tuck. However, if you had stretch marks above, they would still be present but may just appear different, usually better.

New stretch marks could occur with major weight gain. One other explanation, although not likely, is that in the process of stretching your skin at surgery, some stretch marks could have been caused, but you would expect them to have appeared much earlier.

Hopefully you are overall pleased with your outcome. Unfortunately, despite many claims, there is no definitive treatment for stretch marks.

David J. Levens, MD

Coral Springs Plastic Surgeon