Tummy Tuck

Overview

Enjoy a narrower waistline and a slimmer, tighter belly with an abdominoplasty, or a tummy tuck.

Often, we find that with ageing, weight loss, or pregnancy, we are left with pockets of fat, hanging skin, and weakened muscles in the abdomen which do not respond to exercise or diet. No matter what the reason, at IMAGN INSTITUTE we have a variety of customizable tummy tuck approaches to help you reach your aesthetic goals through an abdominoplasty. This procedure tightens up the abdominal wall and removes loose, excess skin to create a firmer, smoother midsection. Liposuction is often done at the same time as a tummy tuck to enhance your results and further sculpt a more defined abdominal wall.

A tummy tuck surgery is also often included as part of a comprehensive “Mommy Makeover”.

Are You a
Candidate for a tummy tuck?

Patients who are in general good health, do not smoke and are prepared to commit to the recovery process make ideal candidates. This procedure will address the following concerns:

Separation of the abdominal muscles as a result of pregnancy or weight gain
Areas of fat around the middle that will not respond to exercise or dieting efforts
Loose, hanging skin after pregnancy or massive weight loss
The appearance of stretch marks between the navel and the pubic line

A tummy tuck is not a weight loss procedure, and is generally recommended for patients that have achieved a stable, healthy weight. It is best to wait to schedule this surgery until after you are finished having children, since pregnancy can affect the results of the procedure.

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Tummy Tuck approaches

Traditional (Full) Tummy Tuck

This is the most common type of abdominoplasty procedure, involving an incision that runs just beneath the panty line from hipbone to hipbone. Through the extended incision, the surgeon tightens up the abdominal muscles and removes excess skin to create a smoother midsection. Liposuction may be used during the procedure to enhance the definition and sculpting of the abdomen. The navel is usually repositioned during this procedure to create a more natural-looking result.

Mini Tummy Tuck

Also known as a limited incision tummy tuck, this less invasive procedure may be recommended for patients that only require correction below the navel, and will not produce the extensive improvement seen with a traditional procedure. The incision for a mini tummy tuck is also located beneath the panty line, but is typically much shorter than the one created for a traditional abdominoplasty. The navel does not typically need to be repositioned during this procedure.

Fleur de Lis Tummy Tuck

This type of abdominoplasty is usually reserved for patients that have undergone bariatric surgery and have a significant amount of redundant skin impacting their weight loss results. The procedure combines the horizontal incision of the full tummy tuck with a perpendicular incision that runs up the center of the torso. The additional incision allows the surgeon to remove more excess skin to achieve horizontal tightening and a smoother overall result. Repositioning of the belly button may also be necessary to produce the most natural result.

Circumferential Tummy Tuck

This procedure, also referred to as a belt lipectomy, offers the greatest amount of correction after bariatric surgery, particularly in patients that lose 70 pounds or more, and have massive amounts of loose skin around the trunk. In addition to flattening the midsection, this surgery removes redundant skin around the hips, flanks and buttocks. As the name suggests, the incision runs completely around the middle of the body, allowing for dramatic, three-dimensional results.

The procedure
at a glance

The Recovery Process

It is not uncommon to feel notable soreness and swelling after a tummy tuck. Discomfort can be managed with prescribed medication for the first few days. Although you might prefer to rest following the surgery, we would encourage you to start walking as soon as possible to promote healing and prevent blood clots.

Most patients are back to regular activities within three to four weeks, with restrictions on lifting and strenuous exercise in place for up to eight weeks. Any scars will heal and become practically invisible with time. Once you have fully recovered, you can expect your tummy tuck results to be long lasting as long as you maintain a healthy weight after your surgery.