A Tummy Tuck, or abdominoplasty is an operation done to remove unwanted excess skin and fat from the lower abdomen. If necessary, rectus diastasis (widening of the abdominal muscles) is repaired at the same time. Liposuction is frequently combined with abdominoplasty to achieve the best abdominal contour possible.
A Tummy Tuck, or abdominoplasty is an operation done to remove unwanted excess skin and fat from the lower abdomen. If necessary, rectus diastasis (widening of the abdominal muscles) is repaired at the same time. Liposuction is frequently combined with abdominoplasty to achieve the best abdominal contour possible.
• It’s all about the belly button! In a mini-abdominoplasty, only the skin on the very lower part of the abdomen is resected, and we can leave your belly button alone.
• During a full abdominoplasty, skin is taken out from above the belly button, and so the belly button has to be re-inset at the end of the case.
• A Tummy Tuck is an excellent operation for women who have had their abdominal skin overly stretched by pregnancies. Others find a similar problem after losing a lot of weight. No amount of dieting or sit-ups can restore the elasticity to the skin – in these cases surgery is the way to go!
• On the other hand, surgery is not a weight-loss substitute. The ideal candidate for a tummy tuck is at or near her goal weight before undergoing surgery. The aesthetic outcome will not be as good if there are significant fluctuations in your weight after surgery. If you aren’t sure, you can always come for a consultation and discuss your options with Dr. Elkins-Williams.
• Liposuction is best for removing unwanted fat, especially in troublesome areas that are not responding to diet and exercise. However, it cannot remove excess skin.
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• A Tummy Tuck will remove the extra and stretched skin from the abdomen. It is possible to combine Tummy Tuck with liposuction. We often combine these procedures to treat both abdominal skin excess, as well as extra fat in the flanks, hips, or inner thighs.
• Not sure? The best way to find out is to schedule a personalized consultation with Dr. Elkins-Williams. After a thorough discussion of your goals and a physical exam, Dr. Elkins-Williams will discuss all of your options and help you choose the course of treatment best for you!
Our team will:
• Ask about your goals and expectations for Tummy Tuck
• Ask about your overall health, including other medical conditions, prior surgeries, medications and drug allergies.
• Examine and measure your abdomen
• Take photographs
• You will have a detailed discussion with Dr. Elkins-Williams to determine your goals and realistic outcome of the surgery. Dr. Elkins-Williams will discuss all of your options and recommend a course of treatment
• Every woman’s body is unique. Dr. Elkins-Williams is broadly trained in a wide variety of surgical techniques that he can adapt to each individual patient to deliver the very best results. During your consultation, Dr. Elkins-Williams will help you determine the right operation and right technique for your unique circumstances.
• With modern surgical techniques such as progressive tension sutures, bothersome drains are typically unnecessary in today’s abdominoplasty. And with all of the sutures under the skin and absorbable, the only thing you have to worry about after surgery is healing and making a full recovery.
• Tummy Tuck typically requires about 4 hours to perform under general anesthesia. You will have some pain and swelling immediately after surgery. Most patients will require pain medication for a few days. You will need to hold off on aerobic exercise for at least 2 weeks after surgery; Dr Elkins-Williams will advise you when strenuous activity can be resumed.
• Swelling will gradually improve over a period of around 3 months. Though results are visible immediately, the final outcome will reveal itself over several months as theswelling in the abdomen resolves.
• Look forward to better-fitting and more comfortable clothing. Enjoy improved confidence as you get ready for swim-suit season!
You will receive a surgical quote and any clearance forms required at your consultation. Should you decide to proceed, we will connect you with our patient care coordinator, Shannon Jones. At this time, you will select a procedure date and pay a $500.00 non-refundable booking fee to reserve this date. Once the surgery date is set, we schedule a pre-operative appointment two weeks prior to surgery.
At your pre-op, you will have ample time to discuss your upcoming procedure in great detail and have all your questions answered. We will review all pre- and post-operative care, prescribed medications, and any provisions we may give you for use pre- and post-surgery. You will review and sign the consent for surgery, and the balance will be due at the conclusion of this appointment.
Avoid blood thinning medications/supplements for two weeks prior to surgery. This includes any aspirin or aspirin-containing products as well as any anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen or naproxen (including Motrin, Aleve and Advil). Generally, you may take Tylenol (Acetaminophen). Avoid supplements such as Vitamin E, multi vitamins, and omega 3 fatty acids (fish oil and flax seed oil.) You will be given a complete list of medications/supplements to avoid at your pre-op. All these medications can contribute to bleeding problems following surgery and can increase the amount of bruising.
