Fleur-de-Lis Tummy Tuck or Traditional: What You Should Know

After pregnancy or a significant amount of weight loss, a tummy tuck can give you the shape you’ve worked so hard to achieve.

There’s just one question: Should you go with a traditional approach, or are you a candidate for a fleur-de-lis tummy tuck?

“It’s important to know your options when it comes to tummy tuck surgery,” says Dr. Heidi Harrington, a board-certified, fellowship-trained plastic surgeon at Beaufort Memorial Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics. “By working with a board-certified plastic surgeon, you can choose the tummy tuck technique that serves you well today and for the foreseeable future.”

What Is a Traditional Tummy Tuck?

Also called a standard tummy tuck or traditional abdominoplasty, this procedure removes excess skin and fat. Before the surgery, you receive anesthesia. Your plastic surgeon then does the following:

• Makes a horizontal incision between the belly button and pubic hair line. If appropriate, a second incision near the belly button allows for the removal of additional amounts of excess skin.
• Lifts the abdominal skin to access and repair weakened abdominal muscles.
• Trims away excess skin.
• Places the belly button in its proper position.
• Connects the remaining flap of skin to the bottom of the incision and sutures the two together.

This common cosmetic surgery option may help if you have loose, excess abdominal skin after pregnancy or substantial weight loss or have always had a protruding belly. For best results, the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery recommends that your weight be stable, that you don’t smoke and that you’re in good overall health.

By removing excess skin and tightening weakened abdominal muscles, a tummy tuck helps you regain confidence with a slimmer abdominal profile. As an added perk, many who undergo abdominoplasty lose an additional 10 pounds within five years of the procedure, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Read More: Mommy Makeover: Reclaiming Your Confidence

Understanding the Fleur-de-Lis Technique

While a traditional abdominoplasty helps those with a moderate amount of excess skin, a fleur-de-lis tummy tuck serves those who have undergone significant weight loss, often after bariatric surgery.

“This procedure is more intense than a traditional approach,” Dr. Harrington says. “However, the benefits of a fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty often outweigh any potential downsides for the right person.”

In the operating room, the surgeon follows the same steps as with a traditional tummy tuck, with one exception: the surgeon also makes a vertical incision. This allows the surgeon to address skin laxity (loose skin) in two directions:

• Up and down
• Left to right

By removing skin in two directions, the surgeon provides an improved aesthetic for those who need more skin removal than a traditional tummy tuck allows.

Read More: The Ins and Outs of Body Contouring: What It Can Do and Who It’s For

Key Differences Between Traditional and Fleur-de-Lis Tummy Tucks

When considering a traditional or a fleur-de-lis tummy tuck, it helps to understand the key differences. These include:

• Areas targeted — A traditional tummy tuck addresses extra skin in one direction: up and down. If this doesn’t remove enough loose skin, a fleur-de-lis lets the surgeon remove skin from left to right.
• Incision patterns — The horizontal incisions of a traditional approach are typically easy to hide. With a fleur-de-lis, the additional vertical incision is typically more visible.
• Recovery — “Most tummy tucks are same-day surgical procedures, but you may need to stay in the hospital overnight following a fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty,” Dr. Harrington says. “After surgery, you’ll need to take it easy for a week or so. It can take up to a year for full recovery of any tummy tuck, but you should be back to normal life within a month or two.”

Read More: Breast Reduction Surgery: Is It Right for You?

Making the Tummy Tuck Decision

When it comes to tummy tucks, you have plenty of options. Extended tummy tucks offer a middle ground between traditional and fleur-de-lis tummy tucks, and mini abdominoplasties remove the least amount of skin and fat.

Choosing between them requires knowing your goals and trusting your plastic surgeon.

“Undergoing a tummy tuck of any sort is a very personal choice,” Dr. Harrington says. “Remember that your plastic surgery team is here for you. Work with them to know your options. Ask about the expected outcome of each choice, so you feel empowered to move forward with what will help you feel most comfortable in your own skin.”

The Bottom Line on Traditional and Fleur-de-Lis Tummy Tucks

A traditional abdominoplasty and fleur-de-lis tummy tuck both remove excess skin and fat, helping you feel more confident and comfortable in your own skin. Choosing the right procedure depends on several factors, including how much skin you would like to remove.

1. With a traditional tummy tuck, the plastic surgeon makes an incision between the navel and pubic area. The surgeon then removes excess skin and fat and closes the incision area.
2. A fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty follows the same procedure, but involves a second incision. This vertical incision allows for the removal of more skin and fat. It is a good choice if you have a lot of loose skin after losing an extreme amount of weight.
3. Undergoing any type of tummy tuck is a personal choice. Work with your plastic surgery team to understand the pros and cons of each option, so you can choose what will help you meet your goals.

Call 843-707-8020 or request a plastic surgery consultation online.