What to Expect
- Anesthesia: General
- Length of surgery: 2.5-5 hours
- Outpatient/Inpatient: Outpatient
- Adjunct Procedures: Liposuction, Thigh Lift, Butt Lift, Mommy Makeover
- Recovery: 1-2 weeks off work, lifting restrictions up to 6 weeks
There are a multitude of ways that someone can end up with extra skin or fat around their abdomen. For many people, the belly is the first place where extra fat is stored — that means that any weight gain, even a pound or two, can create a visible difference in the curvature of the stomach. When you gain and lose enough weight, the skin itself loses elasticity and its ability to “snap back” after weight loss.
This is also true in the case of pregnancy. A significant number of women who go through pregnancy and childbirth end up with a “stomach pooch” that simply does not go away regardless of how much diet and exercise they commit to.
Pregnancy is also known for causing diastasis recti, a condition in which the abdominal muscles separate from each other, creating an unpleasant appearance in the stomach that may leave some women feeling that they still look pregnant. Diastasis recti heals on its own in some women. In other cases, the only option is undergoing a tummy tuck procedure to cinch the muscles back together.
A tummy tuck (also known as an abdominoplasty) is a surgery designed to tighten the abdominal muscles and remove excess skin and fat from the abdomen. It utilizes precise incisions and skin redraping techniques to restore a taut, youthful appearance to your stomach. The skilled surgeons at Edina Plastic Surgery are often able to make these incisions in discreet locations that can be concealed in modern bikinis, so intrusive tummy tuck scarring is now a thing of the past.
If you are interested in abdominoplasty surgery in Edina, Minnesota, your best option is to book an initial consultation with one of the board-certified surgeons at Edina Plastic Surgery. Drs. Leigh, Philbin, Stewart and Wilke are committed to providing the most optimal and comfortable experience alongside top-tier tummy tuck results. You can contact us online or give us a call at 952-925-1765 to get started today.
Personalizing Your Tummy Tuck Procedure
Not every stomach is created equally, and every tummy tuck surgery requires a unique approach. In addition to making micro-adjustments to your abdominoplasty depending on your anatomy, there are three typical tummy tuck options that are available based on your needs: a standard, extended or mini tummy tuck.
Most patients benefit from a standard tummy tuck, which can effectively address a significant amount of skin sagging, muscle separation and residual fat deposits. People who are experiencing extreme amounts of sagging skin (usually following massive weight loss or higher impact pregnancy) will likely benefit more from an extended tummy tuck procedure. A mini tummy tuck is reserved for patients who have minimal muscle laxity and excess skin, and whose belly button resides in a normal to high location.
A lot of patients wonder if liposuction alone will address their concerns. In a small population of patients, liposuction alone will deliver the results they desire. Young patients whose skin elasticity is still in its prime, patients without stretch marks, patients without excess skin, patients without muscle laxity and patients without a lot of extra fat may be good candidates for liposuction without some sort of skin excision procedure. Your surgeon will be able to recommend what is best for you based on your goals and anatomy.
Standard Tummy Tuck
When most people think about getting a tummy tuck, this is the variation that comes to mind. A standard tummy tuck is a powerful tool that allows our surgeons to resculpt your waistline, flatten your abdomen, get rid of excess skin and fat below your belly button, redrape excess tissues in your upper abdomen for a smoother contour and reshape your belly button.
Mothers and weight loss achievers are great candidates for this procedure because they often need to address laxity of both the muscles and the skin in the abdomen. These conditions are easily addressed through the horizontal incision made along the bikini line in a standard tummy tuck. It opens up the area enough for the surgeon to repair any problem areas while keeping the scar discreet. The belly button is also reshaped and established, often near its original position. The belly button actually grows out of the abdominal wall and has a stalk that determines its position.
Extended Tummy Tuck
There are some severe cases of abdominal skin and muscle laxity that extend beyond the stomach area. Some men and women also experience the same sagging along the hips and some areas of the back. These conditions usually develop after massive weight loss or pregnancies that were more destructive to the mother’s body than usual. If a patient experiencing these symptoms were to undergo a standard tummy tuck surgery, they would likely have aesthetic dissonance between their front, sides and back, severely decreasing the likelihood that they would be happy with their results. In these cases, the surgeon may recommend an extended tummy tuck to maintain balance throughout the patient’s physique. Although it comes with the trade-off of a longer and more prominent scar, the extended tummy tuck can address a more extensive degree of skin sagging.
Mini Tummy Tuck
On the other side of the spectrum, there are some men and women who experience much milder symptoms of skin and muscle laxity. These patients may elect to undergo a mini tummy tuck, which involves a much smaller incision than even the standard tummy tuck procedure. Our surgeons will always recommend the more conservative surgery if they can provide satisfactory results. If you are a candidate for a mini tummy tuck, it will be discussed during your consultation.
Deciding If a Tummy Tuck Is Right for You
There are numerous procedures that can improve parts of your body you’re unhappy with, but when it comes to ridding yourself of excess skin and tissue along your waistline and retightening your abdominal muscles, there is a limited number of effective options. Abdominoplasty is the gold standard for addressing these issues, and there is no other technique that comes close to matching its results.
With that said, you should take some time to consider whether the risks of surgery are worth the benefits for you. Only people who are in good health, both emotionally and physically, should consider undergoing plastic surgery. If you smoke, have high blood pressure, obesity or other preexisting health conditions, you are at a higher risk of developing complications during the procedure. If you are currently on a weight loss journey, it would be best to wait until you are within 10 to 20 lbs of your goal weight. Our surgeons will speak with you about your health history during your consultations and advise against surgery if they deem it unsafe.
If you are in good health, have realistic expectations for your surgical outcomes and are confident that you are willing to undergo surgery to get rid of excess skin, tighten your abdominal muscles and achieve a healthy, youthful contour, then a tummy tuck procedure may be the perfect option to help you restore your confidence and the figure you desire.
Preparing for Your Tummy Tuck
The first step in your tummy tuck journey is scheduling a consultation with one of our surgeons. During the consultation, you will be asked what your goals for this surgery are. You will also be encouraged to ask your surgeon any questions or address any concerns you have. After listening to your goals and examining your concerns, your surgeon will recommend which of the three tummy tuck techniques is best suited for your unique anatomy and work with you to develop a full treatment plan.
It is common for patients to have more than one procedure done at the same time. Combining procedures saves money on facility, anesthesia and surgical fees, and allows the surgeon to maintain a balanced look throughout your figure. Many different procedures can be done alongside a tummy tuck.
Liposuction can help remove stubborn fat deposits around the remaining areas of skin, which will help further define your contours. A butt lift or Brazilian butt lift can make the overall contours of your body more proportionate and pleasing. In a mommy makeover, multiple procedures are combined that may address different areas of the body to help reverse the effects of pregnancy and childbirth.
Before your surgery, you will be given strict instructions on tobacco use, eating, drinking, and medication and vitamin use. It is critical to follow these instructions to reduce the likelihood of a complication occurring. It is required that you make arrangements to be driven home after your surgery since the anesthesia and medication will not allow you to operate machinery. You will also need someone to care for you during your first 24 hours of recovery.
The Tummy Tuck Procedure
All of our tummy tucks are performed at our state-of-the-art surgery center. It is a fully accredited facility with all the necessary equipment and staff at its disposal. We recommend that tummy tucks are performed with general anesthesia to ensure patient comfort.
Regardless of which tummy tuck variation you have, an incision will be made within your bikini line. The exact shape and length of this incision will depend on the level of correction required to achieve your desired improvements. The skin and fat will then be lifted to view your abdominal muscles. This allows weakened or separated abdominal muscles to be sutured together, if necessary.
Elevating the skin in a tunnel over your six-pack muscles until the xiphoid process (or where your rib cage comes together) allows our surgeons to address excess skin and fat of the upper abdomen as well, and redrape these tissues. The belly button will be repositioned and then the incisions will be closed using sutures. Small drains are often used to help your body get rid of excess fluid that develops in the surgical site.
Combining Your Tummy Tuck
During your consultation process, our team at Edina Plastic Surgery may recommend that you have a combination procedure performed if it fits your goals. We recommend these for several reasons. The first is that it saves you on cost in the long run since you only need to pay for anesthesia and facility fees once. Secondly, combinations require much less recovery time than having each one performed separately. And lastly, it is the best way to provide the dramatic results that many of us are aiming for.
Breast Augmentation
One of the key reasons patients want to have a tummy tuck performed is to achieve a better overall contour throughout their entire body. A breast augmentation focuses on providing those highly sought feminine curves in your breasts. When you combine a breast augmentation with a tummy tuck, the contours that will be achieved are dramatic and noticeable. This is a great pair for anyone in Minnesota who looking to achieve drastic improvements.
Breast Lift
Even if you aren’t looking to improve the size of your breasts with an augmentation, you may still want to give your breasts the same “lift” that you are providing your abdominal area. If that’s the case, a breast lift is a perfect option to ensure that your breast appearance remains harmonious with your new stomach.
Breast Revision
Not everyone is happy with their breast augmentation results. Many patients come to us after having bad experiences with other surgeons looking for a second chance at quality breast augmentation results. No matter how perfect we make your abdomen, there is a good chance you will still be unsatisfied with your appearance if your breasts do not meet your desires. Letting our team in Edina, Minnesota couple your procedure with a breast revision will breast and abdomen you always wanted.
Liposuction
Liposuction is often a part of many other procedures since adding it can create definition virtually anywhere on your body. This technique literally sucks fat away from your tissue and magnifies the improvements made simply by sculpting away unwanted fat. Liposuction and tummy tucks are a particularly good combination since you can more precisely shape the skin and tissue that remains after the procedure is performed.
Tummy Tuck Recovery and Results
After the surgery is complete, your incisions will be bandaged and dressed. You may also be given a compression garment to help improve blood flow and reduce swelling. It is essential to follow all post-operative directions given to you by your surgeon to ensure the best possible recovery and results.
Tummy tuck patients can expect to see a significant reduction in the amount of excess skin and tissue, especially of the lower abdomen and waist. The body’s contours are more balanced, and it is often easier to find clothing that fits well and is flattering. While scars are permanent, they do fade with time. Most patients see significant scar fading within a year of having their surgery.
Request a Consultation Today
If you are tired of carrying around that post-pregnancy or post-weight loss body, a tummy tuck is the best option to restore your formerly taut figure. Our board-certified surgeons can help you achieve world-class tummy tuck results tailored perfectly to your needs.
If you are ready to get started, contact Edina Plastic Surgery today at 952-925-1765. We are excited to help you begin your journey.
