Tummy Tuck and Liposuction in 43 yr-old Chicago area female in Downers Grove, IL*

This patient presented with excess lower abdominal tissue and a muscle bulge after two previous pregnancies. The patient was unable to improve her abdominal contour with diet and exercise and presented for a tummy tuck. We recommended a full drainless tummy tuck with Exparel and liposuction of the waist. The patient had the procedure at our AAAASF accredited, office-based surgery suite under general anesthesia. She had liposuction of the waist with the Microaire power-assisted liposuction machine. Exparel was injected at the time of the tummy tuck in the abdominal wall to provide for better postoperative pain control and decrease the need for narcotics. Barbed sutures were used in a progressive tension quilting suture fashion to eliminate the need for drains. The postoperative photos demonstrate a significant improvement in abdominal contour.