Please contact us for a private consultation:

Tummy Tuck

Many people develop "pouches" in their stomach area after a few pregnancies, dieting or just as a result of aging. There's a weakening of their muscular corset, and sometimes it's accompanied by skin laxity. No amount of exercise seems to resolve the problem. These are the people for whom a "tummy tuck" is a perfect solution.

Tummy tucks work best on patients who:
• Are not planning to become pregnant in the future
• Are not planning to lose a lot of weight.
• Have excess or loose, sagging abdominal skin
• Have weakened abdominal muscles that don't respond to exercise
• Are in good health

Do these conditions apply to you?

You Might Need Only a Mini-Tummy Tuck
If your skin laxity and muscle weaknesses are confined to the area below your navel, a mini-tummy tuck might be a good option for you. The scar will be shorter, and an incision around the navel is not required.

A physical exam will tell you more about what would suit your unique needs. When you come in for your consultation, Dr. Narsete will go over all your options and tell you what the best solution is for you.

How It's Done
The tummy tuck requires a horizontal incision across the lower abdomen (within or above the pubic area). The length of the incision varies depending on the amount of skin to be removed.

The vertical muscles in your abdomen will be pulled together and stitched in a new position close to where they were in your youth. Excess skin will be removed along the incision. In some cases an incision around the navel is made so that the excess skin above the navel is pulled downward and removed. The navel's position remains unchanged.

How Long Does It Take?
From 1-2 hours.

Will there be a Scar?
The scar is placed where it will be hidden by panties or a swimsuit. Although it's considered permanent and visible, it should fade over time.

Recovery
• Within the two weeks the drainage tubes put in to prevent fluids from accumulating will be removed.
• You will wear a support garment for two weeks after surgery. You should be able to return to work or school after that.
• You'll have to avoid exercises that work the abdominal muscles for three months. Low-impact exercise can be resumed within 2-3 weeks.
• High-impact exercise may be resumed within 6-8 weeks.

Your Results
Abdominoplasty produces long-lasting results as long as you can maintain your weight and do not become pregnant. As with all cosmetic procedures, the final result will be apparent after about six months.

Bonus
Stretch marks on the lower abdomen can often be removed during the procedure. However, it may not be possible to remove all of the stretch marks.