Why Do Women Get A Tummy Tuck?

During a tummy tuck procedure, excess skin and fat are removed from your midsection while the abdominal muscles are tightened to provide a taut and more hourglass figure. Tummy tucks are often sought after by women who seek to reverse the effects of pregnancy on their abdomen or from those who have undergone significant weight and hormonal changes in life. Once the abdominal muscles have been stretched and separated during pregnancy or large weight gain, it's impossible to fully repair them without surgical intervention. Abdominoplasty surgery can fully correct the unwelcome changes brought about by pregnancy while restoring a feminine figure and body confidence.

The evolution of mommy makeover surgery has introduced advanced plastic surgery techniques designed to achieve a one of a kind outcome, the procedure was done by focusing solely on the center part of the abdomen with the removal of skin and fat.

Modern tummy tucks are much more evolved, focusing more on the entire aesthetic of a woman's figure, and using liposuction to sculpt the abdomen, waist, back, hips, and thighs. The tummy tuck incision is placed in a much lower position and the muscles are tightened in multiple vectors to give a more hourglass shape; corset plication.

What Is A Tummy Tuck?

Tummy tuck surgery, also known as abdominoplasty, is a popular cosmetic procedure designed to give patients a contoured and toned appearance around their waistline. The steps to a great tummy tuck are:

-liposuction to remove unwanted fat stores at the abs, love handles, and hips

-surgical ab muscle (rectus diastasis) repair

-the removal of loose abdominal skin, stretch marks, and excess fatty tissue

-belly button reshaping for a more natural look

Tummy tuck surgery is always a multistep process that requires careful attention from your plastic surgeon.

Benefits of A Tummy Tuck

The Dr. Burns Difference

Having performed thousands of mommy makeovers over the past 20 years, board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. John Burns strives to achieve the best possible outcome and one of a kind result for each abdominoplasty patient. Dr. Burns performs extensive liposuction in each lipoabdominoplasty procedure coupled with corset plication, or tightening of the abdominal muscles in three vectors. This advanced algorithm creates a true hourglass waistline.

Get to know Dr. John Burns here

Before and after tummy tuck surgery by Dr. John Burns

Candidates For Tummy Tuck Surgery

In order to be eligible for a tummy tuck, it is important to be in good health and a non smoker. Patients should have excess skin in the abdominal area with reduced elasticity and weakened or separated ab muscles. It is also important to be at a stable weight that can be maintained after undergoing surgery.

If you're planning to have more children in the future, it's best to wait until you are completely finished, as additional pregnancies can cause more changes and potentially reverse the effects of a previous surgery.

The Dallas Tummy Tuck

Dallas moms, in particular, are unique in that they have ultra-specific goals for their mommy makeover aesthetic. They're health-conscious, and they understand that their appearance is a factor in their overall well-being. They, along with their families, lead an active lifestyle. Many of them also serve at the c-suite level. It's essential that they both look and feel their best. In Dallas, what was once considered taboo or selfish surgery is now categorized as next-level self-care or good hygiene like regular mani/pedis, extensions, or teeth whitening. Gone are the days when moms resign themselves to living life in a “mom bod.”

Click here to read more about the Dallas Tuck.

Tummy Tuck Techniques

Tummy tucks are also not a one size fits all procedure. Each patient is unique and each patient’s procedure may differ to give the best result. In general, tummy tuck are divided into 4 categories depending on how much body contouring needs to be done:

The Mini Tummy Tuck / Tiny Tuck 

A mini tummy tuck is ideal for smaller-framed women in a healthy weight range with some loose skin and fat (think pregnancy pooch) around their lower abdomen. They often have little to no abdominal muscle separation (rectus diastasis), and have smaller pockets of fat stored in their flanks or waist.

-The incision is shorter (just inside the hip bones), and kept low on the abdomen using a low bikini incision.

-Abdominal liposuction is performed to sculpt the waistline and shape the abdomen muscles using a technique called abdominal etching.

-The belly button or umbilicus is often repositioned without placing additional scars on the abdomen in a technique called umbilical floating.

The Standard Tummy Tuck

 Most women undergo a standard tummy tuck to reverse the effects of pregnancy and childbirth. The surgery involves:

-A low bikini line incision is placed (hip bone to hip bone) to conceal tummy tuck scars.

-Liposuction is performed to slim the love handles and abdominal contours.

-The patient's original belly button is carefully repositioned after excessive skin is removed.

Extended Tummy Tuck

An extended tummy tuck is an advanced form of traditional tummy tuck surgery. It involves even more, and longer incisions than a standard tummy tuck, and is usually done by skilled plastic surgeons with experience in the procedure.

For patients who have an “overhang” or shelf of skin and fat that extends beyond the hip bones. The low or bikini incision is extended beyond the hip bones to encompass and correct lateral fullness for a better contour.

In an extended abdominoplasty, more aggressive liposuction is used on the abdomen and waist to remove pockets of fat around the waist, hips and back.

Circumferential Tummy Tuck / Body Lift

A body lift is a surgical procedure that differs from a tummy tuck in that it encompasses the entire circumference of the body. It is commonly referred to as a circumferential tummy tuck and is recommended for patients who have excess skin in the abdominal region, as well as their sides and back.

Designed mainly for massive weight loss patients whose excess skin requires the incision to circumnavigate the entire torso flattening the abdomen and lifting the butt, hips, and thighs. Sometimes this is referred to as a lower body lift.

When necessary, liposuction is used to remove excess fat although this procedure is primarily focused on skin removal.

The muscles are usually very stretched, rectus diastasis, and tightening of the abdominal muscles is a mainstay of this procedure. The corset or lateral plication can be very effective in these patients as well.

This procedure can be combined with a thigh lift to remove excess skin from the thighs to give a more complete result.

The Corset Tummy Tuck Technique

Dr. Burns strives to achieve an "abdominal aesthetic," where 3D vectors are addressed to sculpt and shape abdominal muscles, creating a tighter, hourglass waist. With the corset technique, the rectus abdominis muscles are sewn together from the rib cage to the pubic area. Further tightening can be achieved by adding 2 points of plication to draw in the lateral sides of the waist. This can be executed by tightening the muscles along the obliques for 3-vector plication, also known as "corset" plication, due to its hourglass effect on the waistline. Dr. Burns regularly employs the corset technique to create a beautiful aesthetic that goes well beyond "just a tummy tuck" to a beautiful and one-of-a-kind result.



Read more here:
The Corset Tuck: 3 Vector Plication For a Tighter Waist

Will I Need Drains?

Tumescent fluid is used in lipoabdominoplasty. During the healing process, the body produces its own fluid that accumulates around the tissue and helps with healing and recovery. Drains serve to remove excess fluid while the body heals.

Generally speaking, for larger volumes of fat removal more tumescent fluid will need to be injected as well as more natural healing fluids produced post-procedure. By understanding how much tumescent fluid and natural healing course our body follows after a lipo give us insight into whether drains or other additional measures are needed for our particular cases.

In cases where a mini abdominoplasty or tiny tuck is performed, drains may not be used.

Will I Be Awake During My Tummy Tuck?

All tummy tucks are performed under general anesthesia in our fully accredited Dallas Day Surgery Center, using only board-certified anesthesiologists. Out of town mommy makeover patients may elect to stay overnight in our private recovery hotel, Cloister at Park Lane.

How Long Is Recovery From A Tummy Tuck?

Tummy tuck recovery varies from patient to patient and the extent of the procedure. In most cases you can expect to spend the first week at home doing day to day activities but not much more. Most patients are off their prescription pain medication by one week and can usually drive at this time. Patients return to normal activities of daily living in 7 to 10 days. Light exercise is usually possible by one month and more strenuous exercise by 6 - 8 weeks. Heavy lifting and or core specific exercises are possible by 2 - 3 month once the muscles have fully healed.

Tummy Tuck Before and After by Dallas Mommy Makeover Expert, Dr. John Burns

When Will I See My Final Results?

This photo illustrates what you can expect post procedure and then approximately 2 years following surgery.

Tummy tuck results are instantaneous in the fact that your abdomen will be flat and the liposuction results will be evident immediately after surgery. However, there will be swelling that can take months to fully resolve. We tell our patients that they will look great after surgery but continue to improve for up to 6 months as all the swelling resolves.

 The tummy tuck scar will be red and raised initially and then gradually fade. Like with swelling, full scar maturation takes about 6 months and then continues to fade over time. The scar healing is improved with prescription strength scar cream, scar massage, silicone sheeting, and laser therapy. Mature tummy tuck scars are thin white lines that can be easily concealed below the panty line.

How Much Is A Tummy Tuck?

The cost of a tummy tuck would include the surgeon’s fee, operating room fees (includes recovery garments), anesthesia fees, and any small related expenses such as medications or extra compression garments. Cost also depends on the type of tummy tuck needed: mini, standard, extended, or circumferential.

For a standard or average tummy tuck with liposuction of the flanks/love handles (lipo 360) the cost would be about $11,500 ( includes surgeon's fee, anesthesia and operating room fee).

Can I Finance A Tummy Tuck?

Yes, you can finance your tummy tuck. We offer simple third party financing options through CareCredit, PatientFi, or Alphaeon. Many of these plans offer no interest options. We are happy to help you guide you through the process during your consultation.

Schedule Your Tummy Tuck Consult with Top Plastic Surgeon
Dr. John Burns

Schedule your private consultation with Dr. John Burns.  Dr. Burns offers both virtual and in-office plastic surgery consultations for women considering tummy tuck surgery in Dallas, throughout the United States, and the world.