Candidates for a Tummy Tuck

A fleur-de-lis pattern refers to a popular highly-specialized abdominoplasty technique,  performed mainly on both male and female patients following substantial weight loss and gastric bypass surgery procedures. Commonly, these patients will have lost over 100 pounds or more who present with massive skin excess of the tummy region. 

Why the "Fleur-de-lis" Technique?

The main goal of the fleur-de-lis technique is to significantly remove both horizontal and vertical excess skin, narrowing the waistline to provide the absolute best result and appearance for the patient.  This technique removes skin both horizontally and vertically, creating two separate scars: one horizontal scar across the lower abdomen and one vertical scar along the midline, resulting with the final scar in an upside down “T" shape.

Traditional VS "Fleur-de-lis"

The fleur-de-lis technique provides several advantages compared to a traditional tummy tuck, which include the use on patients with pre-existing midline abdominal scars from previous surgery. These patients may experience an interruption of the blood supply to the adjacent skin, and so the fleur-de-lis technique will safely remove excess skin that could otherwise be subject to skin ischemia or necrosis if traditional tummy tuck techniques are used. 

Additionally,  it's common  for post-bariatric patients to present with additional skin and soft tissue redundancy to the flanks, back, and buttocks.  In such cases, the fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty technique (either with or without liposuction)  is designed to extend the scar around the body, removing a complete block of tissue in a 360-degree manner.

What's the difference?

A tummy tuck tightens the abdominal muscles and removes excess fat, skin, and tissue.

On the other hand, a panniculectomy is performed to remove a "pannus", which is a large flap of skin  distended over the abdomen, genitals, and thighs following significant weight loss or complications from childbirth. A panniculectomy solely addresses the issues of loose, sagging skin and excess fat of the pannus. It also addresses the mobility issues experienced by those who live with this condition and experience  uncomfortable rubbing and and chafing,  which can sometimes lead to infection.

Tummy Tuck or Panniculectomy?

A tummy tuck ("abdominoplasty") takes one step further than a panniculectomy by repairing layers of abdominal muscle, which may be loose, stretched, or split. Tummy tucks allow further contouring the body to achieve a more sleek and slender figure. Therefore, a tummy tuck is a more extensive procedure compared to a panniculectomy, since it also addresses the muscles to create a slimmer and more toned appearance to contour the abdomen.