Tummy tuck surgery—also called abdominoplasty—can comprehensively rejuvenate the abdomen for a slimmer, firmer, more youthful aesthetic. Our board-certified plastic surgeon in Greensboro, Dr. Mary Ann Contogiannis, takes the time to understand each patient’s goals and customizes the procedure for stunning, long-lasting results.
What Is Involved in a Tummy Tuck?
In medical terms, abdominoplasty is a plastic surgery procedure designed to remove excess fat and skin from the abdominal area. Commonly known as a tummy tuck, it also tightens up the walls of the abdomen, leaving a firmer, flatter appearance. Liposuction can also be incorporated into the procedure to help sculpt the belly, flanks (sides), back, and other areas to complement the overall result.
It’s worth mentioning that a tummy tuck is not intended to be a replacement for a weight loss program. It’s considered a body sculpting treatment, used to shape and contour the body. Best results are obtained with patients who are at or near their ideal weight.
What Is a Mini Tummy Tuck?
A mini tummy tuck is a surgical procedure designed to remove excess skin and fat from the lower abdomen, below the belly button. It’s ideal for individuals with minimal abdominal sagging or a slight pooch, often resulting from pregnancy or weight fluctuations. Unlike a full tummy tuck, it involves a shorter incision and typically doesn’t require repositioning the navel. Recovery is generally quicker, with less scarring and downtime. This procedure tightens the lower abdominal muscles and smooths the area below the navel for a more toned appearance, but it does not address the upper abdomen.
What Are the Benefits of a Tummy Tuck?
A tummy tuck can offer dramatic results and most patients are delighted with their outcome. A few of the many benefits include:
- Significant increase in self-confidence and self-image
- Stronger, tighter stomach muscles
- Flatter stomach appearance and improved posture
- Increased exercise tolerance
- Decreased issues with stress-induced urinary incontinence
A tummy tuck is also often incorporated into mommy makeovers in order to firm and tighten the skin and musculature of the abdomen that can become stretched out during pregnancy.
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After Am I a Good Candidate for a Tummy Tuck?
Generally speaking, if you’re a healthy adult with excess fat and skin in the lower abdominal area, you’re likely a good candidate for a tummy tuck. Abdominoplasty is also often incorporated as part of a post-pregnancy mommy makeover or post-weight loss body contouring treatment plan.
The very best way to determine if you are a suitable candidate for a tummy tuck is to let a board-certified plastic surgeon, like Dr. Contogiannis, assess your goals during a consultation.
Tummy Tuck vs. Liposuction
Tummy tuck surgery and liposuction are two of the most frequently performed body sculpting procedures, but they each serve very different purposes. Abdominoplasty is designed to address loose or excess skin, stretched abdominal muscles, and stubborn fat deposits in the midsection. Most often, the procedure is chosen by patients who have experienced pregnancy, significant weight loss, or effects of aging that have left sagging skin or weakened abdominal muscles. No amount of dieting and exercise can correct these concerns. Fortunately, a tummy tuck can remove excess skin, tighten underlying muscles, and redrape the skin for a flatter, firmer abdominal profile. This makes the procedure ideal for those not only looking for fat reduction, but also for skin and muscle repair.
Liposuction, on the other hand, is a less invasive surgical option that focuses solely on removing unwanted fat deposits. This fat removal does not address loose skin or muscle laxity, which makes it most effective for patients with good skin elasticity who are looking to refine their body contours rather than correct sagging tissue. Liposuction can be performed on various areas of the body beyond the abdomen, including the thighs, hips, arms, back, and chin, offering versatile fat reduction where needed. Since it does not involve muscle repair or skin excision, liposuction generally has a shorter recovery time compared to a tummy tuck.
How Does the Tummy Tuck Procedure Work?
Tummy tucks can be performed on an outpatient basis, but you will be under general anesthesia throughout the surgery. For a full tummy tuck, an incision is made along the lower abdomen. Excess skin and fat is removed and the abdominal muscles are tightened.
For a mini-tummy tuck, this procedure is usually done when only the lower stomach is involved (such as following pregnancy) and a smaller incision is used.
Sometimes liposuction is performed in conjunction with a tummy tuck procedure to help sculpt the abdomen, creating enhanced body contours.
Dr. Contogiannis can help you decide which tummy tuck procedure is best in your unique situation, and whether or not liposuction will be needed.
What Can I Expect During Recovery Following a Tummy Tuck?
Most patients are able to resume non-strenuous desk jobs and regular routines within a week or two. That said, every person’s body will recover at a different pace, so your recovery time may be a bit longer or a bit shorter than someone else’s. Generally speaking, returning back to normal can take from a few weeks to a few months. Be patient and give yourself plenty of time to recover.
Swelling can take up to six months to completely go away. Incision scars can take up to a year to completely flatten out to the point they don’t show under clothes.
Dr. Contogiannis will give you post-op instructions specific to your surgery. For optimal recovery results, read and follow them as closely as possible.
How Long Do Tummy Tuck Results Last?
The results of a tummy tuck are designed to be long-lasting and many patients enjoy a flatter, more toned abdomen for years. On average, the improvements achieved with abdominoplasty can be considered permanent, as the excess skin and fat that are surgically removed do not return. Additionally, the repair of stretched or separated abdominal muscles can remain consistent as long as patients maintain a healthy weight and do not have children after surgery. That said, the longevity of results depends heavily on a patient’s lifestyle, health, and future life events. Significant weight fluctuations, pregnancy, or the natural aging process can affect the outcome by stretching the skin and/or weakening the abdominal area once again.
How Much Does a Tummy Tuck Cost?
The average cost of a tummy tuck is $8,174, according to the latest statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). That said, this price does not include the fees associated with operating facilities, anesthesia, post-op medications, and other factors. Furthermore, the cost of a tummy tuck, like the cost of most cosmetic procedures, varies between patients, due to a number of variables that change from one person to the next. The doctor will discuss your treatment plan during your initial visit and you can be given a more accurate cost assessment at that time.
Many cosmetic surgeries are not covered by insurance, so it’s best to contact your provider to find out which procedures they will or will not provide coverage for. We’re pleased to offer financing as an option for your tummy tuck procedure through Alphaeon® or CareCredit®.
If you think a tummy tuck may help you achieve the image you want for your body, contact our office and schedule a private consultation with Dr. Contogiannis. The Renaissance Center for Plastic Surgery & Wellness is pleased to offer tummy tuck services to residents in Greensboro, NC, including Winston-Salem, Burlington, High Point, and other nearby neighborhoods.