The traditional abdominoplasty procedures (full tummy tuck, mini-tummy tuck and dermolipectomy) are associated with a relatively high complication rate because of the required large undermining of the anterior abdominal flap that involves extensive trauma and compromise to the blood supply of the abdominal flap. General anesthesia or heavy twilight sedation is frequently required to complete the surgery because of the extensive tissue dissection and manipulation.

Dr. Helliwell has adopted a revolutionary minimally invasive approach to tummy tuck that can be safely and effectively performed as an office procedure totally under local tumescent anesthesia. The technique called Abdominolipoplasty combines two procedures: liposuction of the abdomen and the tummy tuck. By avoiding the use of general anesthesia or heavy sedation (and complications associated with this type of anesthesia) this new procedure offers an improved postoperative recovery.

In the past, traditional teaching held that performing abdominal liposuction at the same time of tummy tuck would further disrupt the blood supply, creating a significantly greater risk of necrosis of the inferior end of the flap.

Recent studies have clearly demonstrated that such a belief was erroneous. It is well established now that when one performs limited liposuction, the blood vessels remain intact and functional even though the fat is removed. The removal of the fat by liposuction leaves essentially an empty space eliminating the need to undermine. Because the skin overlying this empty space remains extremely mobile, we can remove as much skin, or more, as with a standard tummy tuck without the danger of losing blood supply.

The management of the belly button is identical in both procedures. The skin incisions and the amount of skin removed are also similar. The tightening of the muscles can also be performed with either procedure. However, with the technique used by Dr. Helliwell, the amount of fat one can remove is greater, improving abdominal contour by thinning the fat layer considerably more than one can with the traditional tummy tuck while decreasing the risks of skin necrosis because the blood supply remains intact. Dr. Helliwell's approach doesn't require the routine use of suction drains - a standard requirement in traditional tummy tuck.

Performing the procedure totally under local tumescent anesthesia adds additional benefits over the traditional tummy tuck including:

-Minimal bleeding thanks to the vasoconstriction created by the tumescent anesthesia
Traditional tummy tuck can be associated with profuse bleeding and even the need for blood transfusions and requires meticulous hemostasis throughout the procedure using electrocautery (Which by itself causes vessel and tissue heat damage). This also significantly reduces the operating time because no bleeding is involved.

-The patient can be wide awake and can ambulate, eat and drink during the surgery
This is virtually unheard of with the standard tummy tuck. The patient is able to stand up from the operating table, ambulate and dress herself/himself at the end of the procedure. This recovery is virtually unheard of with a standard tummy tuck under general anesthesia or heavy sedation. Due to its long lasting effects, tumescent anesthesia offers a minimum of 12 hours pain control following the surgery.

In Dr. Helliwell's hands the abdominoplasty totally under local tumescent anesthesia without undermining results in a shorter a more aesthetic looking scar when compared with the scar from traditional tummy tuck.

This new approach creates a more youthful abdominal silhouette and more harmonious results while avoiding complications and the prolonged recovery time associated with the traditional tummy tuck.