Lockwood Dissection Explained
Note: This video contains footage of a live surgical procedure at the 3:24 mark, when I warn you I’m going to show a surgical clip. If you are sensitive to graphic medical procedures, please skip ahead or close your eyes to the 4:33 mark of the video.
The Lockwood technique is superior to traditional tummy tuck dissection. It preserves the blood and nerve supply much better than the traditional abdominoplasty technique by undermining less tissue, which has several benefits:
- A better blood supply means more oxygen to the wound, so less chance of infection, wound separation, or other healing problems.
- Preservation of nerve supply means there no loss of sensation in the belly skin after surgery.
- Undermining less tissue means less chance of fluid accumulations (hematoma, seromas) which means drains can be removed after a few days instead of weeks!
Technically, the Lockwood technique is more difficult to do because the surgeon must operate in a narrow tunnel (hard on my back) and it takes longer. Perhaps that explains why it is not more popular among surgeons.