What is a Fleur de Lis tummy tuck?
Fleur de Lis tummy tuck, also known as an FDL tummy tuck, is major skin reduction surgery when compared with a traditional abdominoplasty. A traditional tummy tuck is designed to remove excess skin from the lower part of the abdomen. A Fleur de Lis tummy tuck is designed to tighten the skin of the entire abdominal area. A full tummy tuck removes excess skin in a horizontal vector. A Fleur de Lis procedure is ideal for removing excess skin affecting both horizontal and vertical directions. The name ‘Fleur de Lis’ is used to describe the shape of the abdominal region that the surgeon will tighten.
An FDL tummy tuck is an excellent procedure for patients who have developed sagging skin affecting the upper part of the abdomen, which extends into the sides in addition to skin laxity affecting the lower abdomen. A Fleur de Lis tummy tuck is also known as a vertical abdominoplasty and can achieve a sculpted and tighter abdominal appearance compared with traditional tummy tuck surgery.
Am I suitable for Fleur de Lis abdominoplasty?
Patients who may be suitable for an FDL tummy tuck include those who have experienced significant weight loss due to bariatric surgery or natural weight loss with diet and exercise. Women who have given birth multiple times may also require the procedure due to the development of extensive skin laxity affecting the entire abdomen. People who have surgeries on the abdomen for other reasons may also develop sagging skin and require a Fleur de Lis procedure.
Compared with non-invasive and minimally invasive skin tightening treatments, the results achievable with a Fleur de Lis tummy tuck exceed those of less invasive procedures. Diet and exercise alone will not be able to tighten loose skin.
Patients can develop a significant loss of self-confidence due to the presence of sagging skin and loss of abdominal contour.
Patients may find it affects their ability to form intimate relationships due to feeling increasingly self-conscious about how they look. If this is something which you have been experiencing, you may wish to consider a vertical abdominoplasty as the ideal treatment to address your cosmetic concerns.
The best way to determine your suitability for Fleur de Lis abdominoplasty is to have a face-to-face consultation. During the consultation, your surgeon will assess your general state of health, encompassing both your physical and mental health. They will also determine whether an FDL abdominoplasty is the right procedure for you or if another type of body contouring surgery will achieve excellent results without the surgical invasiveness of a Fleur de Lis procedure. Fleur de Lis surgery involves certain risks and potential complications, and these must be understood before making an informed decision for Surgery.
Generally, the best candidates for Fleur de Lis tummy tuck are those who are unhappy with how the abdomen looks and have developed a loss of self-confidence due to the presence of saggy and hanging excess skin. Fleur de Lis surgery is designed to get rid of excess skin in the upper and lower part of the abdomen extending into the sides. Traditional tummy tuck surgery is designed to get rid of loose skin affecting the lower abdomen.
Optimal healing and recovery depend on avoiding certain medicines that could affect your incision site. It is important to have realistic expectations of what an FDL tummy tuck can achieve. Smokers will be encouraged to stop smoking before surgery as smoking increases the risk of wound complications. Once you are familiar with the potential risks and complications of a vertical abdominoplasty, your surgeon will be in a better position to recommend an FDL procedure to achieve your aesthetic goals.
What are the benefits of Fleur de Lis surgery?
Fleur de lis abdominoplasty, also known as a vertical tummy tuck, is designed to improve the contours of the abdomen by getting rid of saggy and loose skin. The desired result is a more contoured and flatter abdomen with tighter skin. This procedure can also tighten the waist and hips in both horizontal and vertical directions. Fleur de Lis surgery is specifically designed to tighten the skin over the entire abdomen and hips.
Many people may be affected by excess loose skin on a daily basis. Saggy skin can cause localised skin irritation which may be a source of discomfort. Patients often wear baggy clothing to conceal any loose skin. Fleur de Lis tummy tuck surgery can permanently get rid of excess skin with relief of disabling symptoms, including skin rashes, infections and discomfort. Patients are free to wear an unrestricted range of clothing, including tight figure-hugging clothes.
Fleur de Lis before and after photos
When you have your face-to-face consultation, your surgeon will be able to show you a range of before and after Flor de lis tummy tuck photos which can give you an idea of the results that can be achieved with FDL surgery. It is important to bear in mind that actual results will vary depending each individual patient
What does a Fleur de Lis tummy tuck involve?
FDL tummy tuck surgery is significantly more invasive compared with a standard tummy tuck. Compared with traditional tummy tuck surgery, an FDL abdominoplasty focuses on removing loose skin in both horizontal and vertical vectors. This means an extra vertical incision is needed to adequately remove excess loose skin.
All types of FDL procedures involve two incisions. The main incision is in the area commonly associated with tummy tuck surgery which runs in a horizontal direction in the lower part of the abdomen. The additional vertical incision runs from the midpoint of the horizontal incision and extends upwards. The length of the vertical incision will vary depending on the amount of skin laxity present. Patients with extensive amounts of saggy and loose skin may require a vertical incision to extend as far upwards as the upper abdomen. The purpose of the vertical incision is to ensure your surgeon can tighten the skin extending outward to the sides as well as the upper and lower part of the abdomen.
Although an FDL tummy tuck results in additional scarring, our skilled Plastic Surgeon are experts in ensuring your resulting scars will fade gradually over time so that they are barely visible six months later. Here at Centre for Surgery, we are renowned for our expertise in store management to ensure your scars look as faint as possible. FDL Surgery allows the removal of extensive amounts of saggy skin and loose tissue situated in the abdomen’s central part, extending both upwards and sideways.
As with any type of surgery, Fleur de Lis abdominoplasty surgery involves certain risks. By choosing Centre for Surgery to perform your FDL surgery, you can be assured of receiving the highest standards of care by fully accredited consultant plastic surgeons to minimise the risk of complications occurring.
Recovery after FDL surgery
Fleur de Lis tummy tuck recovery will vary depending on the extent of surgical correction required to achieve a tighter-looking abdomen. As with any type of excess skin removal surgery, a vertical tummy tuck is customised to the needs of the individual patient.
Every patient will therefore have a different length of recovery. Having said that, most patients can expect to experience mild to moderate degrees of pain and discomfort. These can be easily controlled with painkiller medication prescribed to you by your surgeon. It is normal to experience bruising and swelling for the first few weeks after FDL surgery. You should make sure to wear your compression garment as recommended to accelerate the resolution of swelling and bruising.
Complex FDL Surgery will require you to take it easy for the first few days after surgery. Avoid lifting heavy objects or children for the first few weeks after surgery. FDL tummy tucks are carried out as a day case at Centre for Surgery which means you will be able to go home the same day once you are medically fit for discharge. Full recovery after FDL surgery depends on the extent of the procedure and your body’s ability to heal. This can be improved by eating a healthy and nutritious diet and by keeping well hydrated.
After approximately three weeks, it should be possible to carry out many light activities of daily living. Most patients can return to work after two weeks although you should check with our post-operative nursing team before doing so. Those carry out more strenuous types of work may need a longer period of time off. Strenuous activities including going to the gym should be avoided for a minimum of six weeks after surgery.
How much does a Fleur de lis tummy tuck cost?
The cost of an FDL tummy tuck will depend on the extent of surgical correction required to get rid of loose and saggy skin. Your state of health, including whether you smoke, will also be considered when determining the cost of surgery. Once you have had a face-to-face consultation with an expert surgeon, you will be seen by your dedicated patient coordinator to give you a price for FDL surgery with a cost breakdown. The cost of your FDL abdominoplasty includes your surgeon’s fee, anaesthetist fee, nursing fees and the facility fee. Postoperative wound care appointments are included in the cost of your procedure.
If you want further information about FDL surgery costs, visit our pricing page for body surgery. Centre for Surgery approved partners of Chrysalis Finance, and we are able to offer a variety of flexible payment plans, including 0% finance for eligible patients.
RELATED: Finance Options
Which procedures can be combined with a Fleur de Lis tummy tuck?
Fluid in this abdominoplasty is designed to remove excess skin from both the lower and upper abdomen using three incisions. Many patients choose to combine their FDL procedure with other procedures to enhance the results of surgery.
Liposuction
Liposuction is a minimally invasive procedure designed to remove excess fat from the abdomen. Liposuction is designed to remove both smaller and larger quantities of fat, although it should not be considered a replacement for weight loss. When liposuction is performed as part of an FDL tummy tuck, it is usually performed first before the skin removal part of the procedure. Combining a Fleur de Lis tummy tuck with liposuction can help to achieve significantly enhanced results that an FDL procedure alone may not achieve.
Back lift
A backlift procedure involves the removal of excess skin and fat from the lower and upper back. This helps to achieve a smoother and tighter looking back with better contours. Patients may develop excess folds of skin after dramatic weight loss. Back lift surgery is commonly combined with an FDL abdominoplasty to achieve dramatic results and a significant improvement in the aesthetics of the abdomen and back.
Is a Fleur de Lis tummy tuck worth it?
Fleur de Lis surgery is an excellent treatment for patients who have significant amounts of excess skin that may result in hanging skin folds from the abdomen. Although an FDL tummy tuck results in a vertical midline scar, the vast majority of patients who choose to have FDL Surgery are extremely pleased with the results and are not concerned about having a midline scar.
Fleur de Lis tummy tuck surgery is designed to produce a dramatic improvement in the appearance of the abdomen. Patience report a significant boost in self-confidence with the ability to wear an unrestricted range of clothing, including tight-fitting clothes. The results of surgery are immediately noticeable after the procedure and continue to improve over the next few months. Patients who have Fleur de Lis tummy tuck at Centre for Surgery report very high satisfaction levels and the procedure is therefore definitely worth it.
FAQs
-
How do I decide between a full tummy tuck or an FDL tummy tuck?A full tummy tuck is designed to address loose skin affecting the lower part of the abdomen. An FDL tummy tuck is designed to get rid of loose skin affecting both the lower and upper part of the abdomen and tighten the waist all in one procedure.
-
Can I have FDL surgery if I am significantly overweight or obese?Patients with a body mass index above 30 are not considered suitable for the procedure. Patients who are significantly overweight have an increased risk of developing complications both during and after the surgery, including delayed healing, wound breakdown and wound infection.
-
Is Flor de lis tummy tuck a permanent solution for weight loss?Fleur de Lis tummy tuck surgery is not a procedure to achieve significant weight loss. Weight loss surgery in the form of a gastric bypass or gastric sleeve is designed to reduce stomach volume and make people feel fuller with smaller quantities of food.
An FDL tummy tuck is designed to surgically remove excess skin after significant weight loss. Most patients who have an FDL tummy tuck have either had prior weight loss surgery or lost weight of a natural means such as diet and exercise.
What To Expect
The consultation
The consultation is designed to give you the opportunity to discuss your ideas, concerns and expectations about FDL surgery. Your surgeon will inform you about all the potential risks and complications associated with a Fleur de Lis abdominoplasty. Your surgeon will perform a detailed medical assessment to determine your suitability for a vertical tummy tuck. As part of the physical examination, the amount of excess skin you have as well as the extent of hanging skin, will be determined. The strength of your abdominal muscles will also be assessed, and if these are weakened, you may need to have abdominal muscle repair as part of the FDL procedure
On the day of surgery
Once you have been admitted for the procedure, you'll be taken through to the operating room, where anaesthesia will be administered. Once you are asleep, the surgeon will commence the procedure by removing excess tissue and hanging skin. Once any loose skin has been removed, the site of the incisions will be closed with dissolvable stitches. You will then be taken to our dedicated recovery suite until you are ready for discharge.
The recovery period after FDL tummy tuck
You will be given detailed post-operative care instructions on how to look after yourself and your incision site after surgery.
You should ensure to follow your surgeon's post-operative care instructions in full to minimise the risk of complications occurring. Your healing should be straightforward and smooth, and this will ensure you get the best possible results. You will have a post-operative appointment with our nursing team one week after surgery to review the site of Surgery and to see how you have been managing. Practical tips for recovery will be given at this stage. You will be reviewed by your surgeon six weeks after surgery to assess the results of your FDL tummy tuck procedure.