TUMMY TUCK
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Our patients who experience a tummy tuck open the door to a bodily contour that looks great from every angle. By addressing concerns of excess skin and pockets of fat around the abdomen, patients can restore a refined, slimmer body that brings out the most of their natural beauty. Booking your visit for an abdominoplasty in Houston at Linville Plastic Surgery is the first step in exploring a path toward your ideal body aesthetic.
What Is a Tummy Tuck?
A tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, is a surgical procedure focused on removing excess fat and skin from the abdomen area. It has been a core procedure for cosmetic surgery for years, but medical advances have increased its safety and efficacy. Patients can see improved results when working with the surgeons, who use the latest techniques for optimal outcomes.
Benefits of a Tummy Tuck
Abdominoplasty can provide multiple benefits to patients when the procedure is performed under the right conditions and with a board-certified surgeon like ours at Linville Plastic Surgery. Some of these can include:
- Improved contour and silhouette of the abdomen
- Reduced excess fat and skin for a tighter look
- Tightened abdominal muscles to create a more youthful look
- A flatter, firmer appearance in the stomach area
- Minimal visible scarring
- Boosted confidence and comfort in one’s appearance
Expected Results
Why Choose Us for Your Tummy Tuck?
Both of our surgeons are board-certified plastic surgeons with years of experience in the medical field. With extensive training and education, our two surgeons strive to provide care for all our patients that meets our standards for compassion, quality, and safety. Our goal is to ensure that every patient feels comfortable as we help them progress toward unlocking new aspects of their unique beauty.
How Does the Abdominoplasty Work?
We take the time and effort to adapt every procedure to each patient’s individual situation, so there is variance between every single tummy tuck procedure. However, the general outline mostly remains the same. During the procedure, your surgeon will make an incision in the lower abdomen area and remove any excess fat or skin according to your procedure plan. Afterward, the remaining abdominal muscles are tightened to provide a smoother and firmer look. The length of the incision and other aspects of the procedure factor in to whether it is a full tuck or a mini tuck.
Full Tummy Tuck
Full Tummy Tuck are ideal for patients who have loose skin and fat in the lower and middle abdominal regions. Typically also uses liposuction and tightens skin both above and below the belly button.
Mini Tummy Tuck
Mini Tummy Tuck focuses on milder amounts of fat or loose skin below the belly button while still tightening the muscles. Involves a smaller incision and a faster recovery process.
Post-Bariatric Tuck
If you have recently had weight-loss surgery, Post-Bariatric Tuck could be for you. It helps remove the extra skin left behind after weight loss.
Panniculectomy
Panniculectomy differs from an abdominoplasty in that it leaves your belly button. Instead, it only targets skin and fat below your navel. This tends to help patients with overhanging skin, and is more for alleviating symptoms than for cosmetic enhancement.
Reverse Tummy Tuck
A reverse tummy tuck pulls skin upward instead of down. This often combines well with a breast lift or reduction because the incision is in the same area. It usually is used when a normal tuck does not provide enough results.
Minimally-Invasive Diastasis Repair
Diastasis Repair is less an abdominoplasty in itself, and more something to add to your procedure. It repairs your center abdominal muscles, restoring them to their original position. This is beneficial for patients who have had significant stretching, especially for women after pregnancy.
Less-Invasive Abdominal Contouring
Sometimes you can achieve your goals without surgery. Using minimally-invasive Abdominal Contouring treatments like BodyTite, you can tighten mildly loose skin.
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What Is the Recovery Like?
Recovery time for a tummy tuck depends on the multiple aspects of each individual procedure and the patient’s healing process and health. A full tuck typically has a longer recovery period than a mini tuck, though neither is overlong. Generally, patients should expect to take the first two weeks following surgery off from work and daily routines as downtime and can return to most of their regular activities after four to six weeks with their surgeon’s approval. Patients may experience some bruising, swelling, and pain during the recovery period, but these symptoms can be managed with aftercare techniques and medication and should subside with each passing day.
Seeing Your Abdominoplasty Results
Patients can typically see their results after a few weeks, though some immediate improvements may be visible since fat and skin are treated during the procedure. However, the final results may take several months as the swelling goes down and tissues settle into their final positions. Dr. Linville and his team will provide patients with detailed instructions on how to care for the area in order to ensure optimal healing, reduce the risk of complications, and generate aesthetic outcomes.
Who Is an Ideal Candidate?
The ideal candidate for a tummy tuck is healthy, has realistic expectations, and is committed to a long-term plan of healthy living. Patients must also be at least 18 years old before undergoing the procedure. Additionally, women who are considering pregnancy in the future should wait until after they have finished having children before exploring abdominoplasty options, as pregnancy can interfere or work against your results. It is also key that patients are near their ideal weight, as future weight changes can also interfere with results. To learn more about it and our full suite of procedures, you can book your visit with a cosmetic surgeon at Linville Plastic Surgery.
CAN I COMBINE A TUMMY TUCK WITH OTHER PROCEDURES?
Yes, many patients may choose to combine a tummy tuck with other procedures such as liposuction, a body lift, liposuction, breast augmentation, a breast lift, and more. Dr. Linville will carefully assess your individual concerns and help develop the best treatment plan for your cosmetic goals, exploring what treatments could work as an ideal set to bring about the results you want to see. This all happens during the consultation procedure, in which you will have the chance to openly discuss your expectations and ask any questions in a comfortable and private environment.
Preparing for Your Abdominoplasty
It is important to follow all of your surgeon’s instructions leading up to and after your surgery to ensure a safe and successful procedure. This includes avoiding certain medications, quitting smoking, drinking plenty of fluids, and eating a healthy diet. You may also have individualized instructions based on your unique situation or procedure plan, which will be just as vital to follow. It is also recommended that patients get the necessary blood tests and medical evaluations before their appointment date.
TUMMY TUCK VS MINI TUMMY TUCK
A full tummy tuck addresses the entire abdominal wall. The mini version only deals with the part below the belly button.
A mini tuck scar is only a few inches in length and sits below the belt line. A full tuck scar looks similar, although it stretches from hip to hip. Still, a bikini bottom should cover it up.
If we don’t change, we don’t grow. If we don’t grow,
we aren’t really living.
GAIL SHEEHY
Book Your Consultation Visit With Dr. Linville Today!
The surgeons and staff at Linville Plastic Surgery are dedicated to providing a boutique, patient-centric experience for those in our care. Contact our office today to learn more about abdominoplasty surgery and to schedule your consultation visit with one of our surgeons. We look forward to helping you achieve your desired aesthetic goals through a tummy tuck in Houston!
