Tummy Tuck

Abdominoplasty

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Benefits of Tummy Tuck

Before and After Tummy Tuck Tennessee

A tummy tuck is a body contouring procedure. This surgery is designed to get rid of extra skin and help you show off your natural shape. But that’s just one of this cosmetic surgical procedure's benefits.

Generally, the benefits of a tummy tuck include:

Simply put: you’ll be able to get rid of excess skin and make your tummy look firmer, stronger, and more fit.
Transforming your skin to look naturally toned and fit can help you feel younger and more confident.
The permanent removal of some stretch marks around your abdomen.
You can say goodbye to skin hanging down uncomfortably from your tummy.
Abdominal muscles can be given added support, giving your tummy extra structure and strength.
You'll have a more defined waist and overall hourglass figure
Simple daily tasks like exercise or choosing an outfit can become easier and more comfortable.

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Who is a Tummy Tuck For?

On its own, tummy tuck is not a weight loss procedure. Instead, you can think of a tummy tuck as a way to refine and contour your appearance once you’ve reached a stable or ideal weight. In general, tummy tuck is a good fit if you:

Are bothered by hanging, folding, or uncomfortable excess skin in your mid-section.
Are currently maintaining a pretty consistent weight.
Want to achieve a curvy or hourglass-shaped figure (generally, tummy tuck is not recommended for naturally “boxy” shaped bodies or outcomes).
Want your tummy to look naturally firmer and more fit than it currently does.
Are not seeking a weight loss solution.
Are healthy enough for surgery.

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Your Tummy Tuck Procedure:

It Starts with the Consultation

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Every tummy tuck begins with a consultation between you and Dr. Endara or Dr. Fulks. Sure, that’s true with every plastic surgery procedure — but tummy tuck consultations are especially important. Typically, you can expect your initial tummy tuck consultation to take about one hour. You’ll talk about your desired outcome and compare that to what a tummy tuck realistically can and cannot do.

For the front and sides, a straightforward tummy tuck may be suitable. Some patients who have experienced more dramatic weight loss may have sagging skin and excess fat located around their lower back as well as their front. This would require a circumferential tummy tuck.

You’ll get to have extensive pre-op discussions and measurement-taking time with your surgeon. The idea is that you’ll be very comfortable with every aspect of your tummy tuck surgery before your consultation is over!

The Tummy Tuck Surgery

Making the Incision

The incision for your tummy tuck will be placed as low as possible along the abdomen. In most cases, the incision is placed below the bikini line. However, if the best possible results require the incision site to be higher than usual, your surgeon will make a t-junction incision in order to keep the scar as low on the tummy as possible. Another incision may be made around the back if a circumferential tummy tuck is performed.

During this process, we do everything possible to minimize blood loss with precisely made incisions. All of these steps help minimize pain, reduce the risk of infection, and control possible swelling.

Adding Structure to the Abdominal Muscles

It’s not just your skin that is transformed during your tummy tuck! Our surgeons transform the look — and function — of your abdominal muscles by giving them a little added structure.

This involves a two-layer approach. Multiple primary sutures are made to provide the abdominal muscles with added strength. Then, a second layer of suture is put in place to keep pressure off of the primary closure. This better ensures your sutures stay put, where they belong, no matter what physical activity you're doing.

We take care to limit lateral dissection upwards above the belly button in order to reduce the risk of blood-flow related complications. Additionally, you'll most likely receive liposuction of the sides and flanks in order to create the most beautiful hourglass shape possible.

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Tummy Tuck Risks

The risks of a tummy tuck include the following:

Excessive bleeding and bruising
Excessive swelling (hematoma or seroma)
Infection
Tissue loss (necrosis)
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
Temporary and permanent numbness or increased sensitivity
Undesirable contour irregularities
Abnormal scarring

You'll find out all the risks related to a tummy tuck during the consultative stage. Knowing them all will help you determine whether you're still comfortable proceeding with surgery.

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We Do These Things for Better Results

The Flex Test for a Smoother Contour

A 30 degree flex test is performed during surgery in order to find the optimum amount of skin to remove from your tummy. Then, the center point of your tummy is used as a reference point to bring your skin down to the lower incision line for smoother contour.

No Dog Ears

We use the advanced “Tailor Tack” method to close the incision line. This decreases the risk of developing dog ears, an unsightly complication that can be caused with improper suturing.

Tummy Tuck Drainage

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Every patient that undergoes tummy tuck surgery is sent home with small drainage tubes left in place. You may have either 1 or 2 tubes left in place depending on your situation (for example, if you are a massive weight loss patient, two tubes is pretty standard). These drainage tubes are used because:

Your body will simply produce a lot of fluid after your surgery. These drains keep that fluid from building up beneath your tissue. Creation of that fluid is simply part of your body’s natural healing process.
Drainage can reveal the first signs of hematoma. The faster a hematoma is treated, the better, so the drains drastically improve patient safety.
Drainage allows the skin to retract better. We typically perform tumescent liposuction to remove excess fat during surgery, and drainage is necessary afterwards to ensure all of that fluid is removed so your transformation proceeds as planned.

Drains do not require any additional incisions and are usually removed one week or so after your surgery.

Post-operative swelling could cause your results to look quite distorted immediately following surgery, but drainage helps get rid of the swelling faster.

We will do everything possible to prepare you for your post-operative needs. As your recovery proceeds, your tummy will look better with every passing week!

Recovery from Tummy Tuck

Your recovery is an essential part of the tummy tuck process. Giving your body time and space to heal, as well as closely following your surgeon’s instructions, can help ensure your comfort without compromising your transformation. During your tummy tuck recovery, you should expect:

Drains to be in place during the first week or so (your surgeon will decide when to remove these).
Lifting anything heavier than a gallon of milk will be prohibited for at least the first 2 weeks.
Minimal stress exercises, like walking, are typically encouraged during your recovery. We will let you know what you can do and when.
You should hold off on high-impact exercises (such as jogging) for the first six weeks or so post op.

In most cases, you should be back to most of your normal activities three months or so after your procedure (assuming there’s no pain and your surgeon gives you the go-ahead).