What is a fleur-de-lis tummy tuck?
A fleur-de-lis tummy tuck, also known as fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty or extended abdominoplasty, is a surgical procedure designed to remove large areas of excess skin in your abdominal area. This procedure is particularly indicated for patients who have lost a great amount of weight and would like to remove any excess loose skin and achieve improved body contouring.
Fleur de lis means ‘lily flower’ and this surgical procedure gets its name from the incisions made during surgery, which resemble the fleur de lis symbol.
What is the difference between a traditional tummy tuck and a fleur-de-lis tummy tuck?
Traditional tummy tuck and fleur-de-lis tummy tuck differ in many ways but the main difference between the two surgeries is the incision.
During a traditional tummy tuck, your surgeon will make a horizontal incision from hip bone to hip bone. A fleur-de-lis procedure also includes a vertical incision from the bottom of the ribs until the pubic area. Here is where the two incisions intersect.
The additional incision allows your surgeon to remove loose skin on the sides of your abdomen, as well as removing excess skin left and right of the first incision and not just above and below it. This way, a greater amount of excess skin is removed during a fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty compared to the traditional one.
What does a fleur-de-lis tummy tuck procedure involve?
Before planning your surgery, you will have a thorough consultation with one of our doctors. You will discuss your medical history, if you are currently under any medication, and what your expectations are from the procedure. Your doctor might also prescribe a few medical tests for you to take before undergoing surgery.
Once you and the surgeon have agreed on a fleur-de-lis procedure, you will be given preoperative guidelines. It is very important that you follow them carefully to ensure a successful surgery. These include no smoking and alcohol a few days before surgery and no food 6 hours before the procedure.
A fleur-de-lis tummy tuck typically takes 3 to 5 hours and involves the following steps:
1. Anaesthesia
The first step of a fleur-de-lis tummy tuck procedure is anaesthesia. General anaesthesia is the preferred method for tummy tuck procedures. This means you will sleep throughout the surgery.
2. Incisions
Once anaesthesia has been administered, your surgeon will start the procedure by making the first incision from hip bone to hip bone. This is the standard, horizontal incision for tummy tuck procedures. Secondly, your surgeon will make an additional, vertical incision from the bottom of your ribs until the pubic area, where the two incisions will intersect
3. Skin removal
At this point, your surgeon will start removing the excess skin left, right, above, and below the incisions. The incision in the center of the abdomen allows the surgeon to tighten your skin from the sides, visibly improving the look of your tummy. Depending on what you discussed during the consultation, your surgeon might also perform a muscle correction and/or liposuction (removal of fat deposits) to achieve the desired look.
4. Incisions are closed
At this point, your surgeon will close the incisions and join the remaining skin with dissolvable sutures. A compression garment will be wrapped around the treated area to support the healing process. Surgery is now finished. With time, your tummy will have a new, smooth contour
5. Recovery
It is now time for you to recover from surgery. You will stay at our facility for 2-3 days and will be given postoperative guidelines to follow once you are back home.
How long does recovery take after a fleur-de-lis tummy tuck?
Recovery after a fleur-de-lis tummy tuck depends on how extensive the procedure was, i.e. how much skin was removed or if additional treatments such as liposuction were performed. Each patient recovers at their own pace, but generally speaking, you can expect the following.
You will stay at the hospital for 2-3 days after surgery. There will be swelling and redness in the affected area but they will gradually fade 2-3 weeks after the procedure. In order to keep swelling at a minimum, you will wear special compression garments.
In addition, to ensure that your postoperative wounds heals properly, you will be advised to wear a special elastic corset day and night for 3 months after surgery.
You can start working out again after 6 weeks but make sure you avoid heavy lifting, sauna baths or sunbathing in the first few weeks following the procedure.
Quitting smoking and alcohol is highly recommended to ensure your wounds heal properly. The risk of scarring is also lower.
In general, it is essential that you understand that maintaining a balanced diet and good exercise regime is crucial to ensure that the fleur-de-lis tummy tuck results are long lasting.
Is fleur-de-lis tummy tuck right for me?
Before planning your surgery, you will have a thorough consultation with a surgeon, where you will discuss your expectations and concerns, as well as the procedure that best suits your needs. This will largely depend on the amount of excess skin you need to remove and if liposuction or muscle correction also need to be performed. Feel free to get in touch with us for a first consultation.
In general, you should be in good health without any underlying conditions. This is fundamental to ensure a functional recovery.
A fleur-de-lis tummy tuck is a suitable procedure for people who have lost a massive amount of weight and have loose skin as a result. This extended technique addresses large amounts of skin that reside in the midsection of your abdomen, over the abdominal muscles.
As a plastic surgery procedure, abdominoplasty can help you achieve better body contouring and rejuvenate your abdominal area; however, abdominoplasty is not a weight loss procedure. If you suffer from severe obesity, weight loss surgery might be a suitable option. Always consult with a specialist beforehand.