What Is a Fleur-de-Lis Tummy Tuck?

A fleur-de-lis tummy tuck, also known as fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty, is a cosmetic surgical procedure that reshapes your abdomen.

The surgeon uses a combination of vertical and horizontal incisions to remove significant excess skin for a slimmer, more toned tummy.

The incisions form a pattern that resembles the three petals of a stylized lily called a fleur-de-lis, hence the procedure’s name.

The highest point of this fleur-de-lis pattern is near the breastbone, while the farthest points on either side end are at the hip bone.

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As with a standard tummy tuck, your surgeon may perform liposuction on your belly to remove unwanted fat. And if needed, repair weakened or separated muscles to achieve the desired look.

What Is the Difference Between a Fleur-de-Lis Tummy Tuck vs. a Regular Tummy Tuck

A regular or standard tummy tuck removes excess skin from the upper and lower abdomen and tightens the underlying muscles. It also repositions the navel.

The surgery uses two incisions. One runs from hip to hip in the lower abdomen, just above the pubic area. And the other is made around the belly button.

A fleur-de-lis tummy tuck also targets the entire midsection. It’s performed on patients with excessive redundant abdominal skin, usually caused by massive weight loss.

The procedure uses a horizontal incision similar to the one used in a standard tummy tuck and a vertical incision made along the middle of the stomach.

Going by the placement of the incisions, both procedures allow for horizontal skin tightening.

But a fleur-de-lis tummy tuck also allows the plastic surgeon to tighten your skin from side to side. Therefore, drastically improving your abdominal contours.

Good Candidate for a Fleur-de-Lis Tummy Tuck

Whether or not a fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty is right for you is determined during your initial consultation with a plastic surgeon. But generally, you’re a good candidate for the procedure if:

• You have undergone extreme weight loss and now have significant amounts of skin in the midline of your abdomen.
• You are in good health and have no underlying conditions that may increase risks associated with surgery, including delayed recovery. These include diabetes and heart, lung, or liver disease.
• You are a nonsmoker. Nicotine causes your blood vessels to constrict, reducing the amount of oxygen and nutrients to the treated area, which slows down healing. It can also cause your blood to clot, blocking blood flow to your brain, heart, and legs.
• You have reasonable expectations regarding what the procedure can achieve. A fleur-de-lis tummy tuck will improve, not perfect, the appearance of your abdomen.
• You are planning to get pregnant in the future as it will likely undo the results of your procedure.
• You have a BMI greater than 30. However, findings from a 2019 study published in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery journal suggest that BMI alone shouldn’t disqualify an individual from tummy tuck surgery. The study found that when performed on obese patients, abdominoplasty is just as safe and effective as when performed on nonobese patients.

Fleur De Lis Tummy Tuck Cost

The average cost of a tummy tuck is $8,325, according to RealSelf. While the price range is $3,175 – $13,400.

In 2020, the average cost for the procedure was $6,154, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

The more complex the tummy tuck technique used, the more you’re going to pay. A fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty is more extensive than other types of tummy tucks, hence more expensive.

Additional factors that determine the cost of a fleur-de-lis tummy tuck include:

• The surgeon’s level of training and experience
• The geographic location of the office-based surgery facility, ambulatory surgery center, or hospital
• Length of procedure
• Type of anesthesia administered
• Who administers the anesthesia

The total cost of your procedure will include three basic fees: surgeon’s fee, anesthesia fee, and facility fee.

However, there are other expenses to consider, including the cost of prescriptions, lab tests, and compression garments.

Health insurance plans typically do not cover cosmetic surgery, and a fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty is no exception.

But there are other ways to fund your tummy tuck, including health care financing like CareCredit and payment plans offered by your plastic surgeon. So be sure to enquire about accepted payment options during your consultation.

If you want to know more about tummy tuck costs and other related fees, then see our complete guide on how much does a tummy tuck cost?

Risks of a Fleur-de-Lis Tummy Tuck

A fleur-de-lis tummy tuck requires the addition of a vertical incision, making it a more complex surgical procedure than a traditional abdominoplasty.

But when performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon, the surgery is generally safe, not to say that there are no risks.

A 2010 comparative study found that fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty had similar rates of complications as transverse-only tummy tuck techniques.

However, patients who underwent the procedure had a higher wound infection rate. Among the risk factors for abdominal wound complications were high BMI and male sex.

Other fleur-de-lis tummy tuck complications may include:

• Seroma, i.e., fluid accumulation beneath the skin
• Hematoma, i.e., internal bleeding
• Infection
• Blood clots
• Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
• Fat necrosis, i.e., death of fatty tissue found deep within your skin
• Unfavorable scarring
• Adverse reaction to anesthesia
• Dissatisfaction with the results hence the potential need for another surgery

During your consultation, your plastic surgeon will discuss the risks and complications of fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty in detail. Be sure to ask any questions you have before consenting to the surgery.

Preparing for a Fleur-de-Lis Tummy Tuck

In addition to discussing potential complications of the fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty during your consultation, your plastic surgeon will also:

• Discuss your surgical goals. What are your expectations, appearance-wise, following the procedure?
• Ask about your current and past medical conditions, previous surgeries, and any substances you’re currently using. The latter may include prescription and over-the-counter medications, dietary supplements, alcohol, tobacco products, and illegal drugs.
• Do a physical examination of your abdomen and take photos for your medical record.
• Order routine laboratory and imaging tests to confirm you’re a good candidate for a fleur-de-lis tummy tuck. These may include a complete blood count, an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), urinalysis, and a chest X-ray.

Once you receive medical clearance, your surgeon will give you preoperative guidelines that may include:

• Quit smoking for a few weeks before surgery.
• Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, and herbal supplements because they can increase bleeding during surgery.
• Make plans for someone to drive you to and from the hospital or surgeon’s office and stay with you for at least the first night after your procedure.

Fleur-de-Lis Tummy Tuck Procedure

A fleur-de-lis tummy tuck typically takes between three hours and five hours. And involves the following steps:

• An anesthesiologist gives you general anesthesia to induce unconsciousness throughout the surgery.
• Your plastic surgeon makes two incisions: a horizontal incision that wraps around the abdomen from hip to hip and a second incision that runs vertically up the middle of the stomach.
• The surgeon then begins removing the excess skin above, below, and to the side of the incisions. And in some cases, liposuction and or muscle repair is also performed to achieve the desired look.
• Afterward, the surgeon smoothens the remaining skin and closes the incisions using dissolvable sutures.
• Your incisions will then be bandaged and your abdomen wrapped in a compression garment to minimize swelling and provide abdominal support during the healing process.

After Surgery

Following your fleur-de-lis tummy tuck, you may stay at the hospital or surgical facility overnight or go home the same day.

You will receive custom post-operative guidelines that will help reduce the risk of complications after surgery and ensure optimal results.

Surgical drains may be temporarily placed near the incision sites to drain any blood, pus, or other fluid that may collect under the skin.

These tubes are typically removed a few days after surgery. But until then, ensure you care and empty them as instructed.

As expected, you will have some swelling, bruising, and redness, particularly during the first few days after surgery.

Post-op pain can also be severe. Pain medication should manage the pain while wearing a compression garment will help reduce the swelling and bruising.

You’re encouraged to get up and move around within reason as early as the first day after your tummy tuck to help prevent blood clots.

However, it will be at least two weeks before you can resume normal activities and up to 6 weeks before you can engage in strenuous activity or exercise.

Your plastic surgeon will give you specific signs to look out for at the incision sites or in your general health.

These include excessive bleeding and increased redness or warmth in the treatment area. If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your surgeon immediately.

Fleur De Lis Tummy Tuck Results

Following a fleur-de-lis tummy tuck, your midsection will have more pronounced contours that reveal your new slimmer figure. But because swelling after the procedure can persist for several months, it will take some time before your final results are evident.

A fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty leaves a horizontal and vertical scar. The latter is harder to hide under intimate clothing.

But many find the dramatic body shape transformation the procedure achieves well worth the vertical midline abdominal scar. The scars don’t entirely disappear but fade over time, becoming barely noticeable.

How long the results of your fleur-de-lis tummy tuck will last depends on whether you maintain a stable weight. So as long as you eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly, your new abdominal contours will be long-lasting.