Tummy Tuck, Abdominoplasty | Dr. John Burns
Abdominoplasty (a.k.a "Tummy Tuck")
It’s common for both men and women to gather excess fat in the lower abdomen. What can be even more frustrating is when countless crunches and ab exercises don’t do anything to change your appearance. For this stubborn area, there is a cosmetic procedure that will change your overall look for good.
What is a Tummy Tuck?
A tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is designed to remove excess skin and fat from your abdomen ranging from the belly button to the pubic area. The abdominal muscles are tightened to narrow your waist and the procedure is often paired with liposuction of the love handles and hip areas to create an hourglass look.
Who is a Good Candidate for a Tummy Tuck?
From 2000 to 2014, tummy tuck procedures have increased by 87 percent, in part because new methods and safety measures have made it possible to achieve a tighter, shapelier midsection without a difficult recovery. Because the surgeon can place the incision below the bikini line, no one will ever know that you had any work done.
There are many reasons people seek an abdominoplasty, from having lost extreme amounts of weight to experiencing the results of pregnancy, both of which can cause excess skin and stretch marks in the abdomen.
Women have the additional concern of childbirth which significantly stretches the abdominal muscles. When there is good skin tone, no stretch marks, and a limited amount of fat, liposuction alone is usually the best option. However, when stretch marks are present in addition to abdominal muscle laxity, a tummy tuck remains the best option. In this procedure, the incision is kept low below the “bikini line” and a large ellipse of fat and skin is removed. The belly button is resutured in its original place and the abdominal muscles tightened to give an hourglass shape. This procedure can be combined with liposuction to further sculpt the body. Newer techniques use progressive tension sutures or Tissue Glu to eliminate the need for a drain making recovery much easier and quicker.
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| No Drain Tummy Tuck Article | TissuGlu No Drain Tummy Tuck |
What are my Options?
There are several different kinds of abdominoplasty depending on the desired results.
In a mini-abdominoplasty, the incision is placed lower and inside the hip bones. The amount of tissue removed is minimal and does not involve an incision around the belly button, and the stomach muscles are usually not tightened. This approach is ideal for thin patients whose main issue is extra skin and stretch marks.
In a standard abdominoplasty, the incision will generally extend across the lower abdomen from hip bone to hip bone. Skin and fat is removed from the belly button to the pubic bone and the abdominal muscles are tightened.
In an extended abdominoplasty, the incision will generally extend beyond the hip bones to include some of the lower love handle area. The extended incision will allow more tissue to be removed. This approach is ideal for heavier patients who require more contouring or weight loss patients with significant extra skin.
In a circumferential abdominoplasty or lower body lift, the incision will extend around the trunk in a circumferential fashion. The circumferential incision will lift the butt, hips and thighs as well as remove excess skin and fat from the lower abdomen. This approach is ideal for patients who have lost substantial weight and have excess skin and sagging of their tissue. A lower body lift can be combined with a medial thigh lift to remove excess skin and fat from the thighs and lift the thighs.
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| Mini Tummy Tuck/Abdominoplasty | Standard Tummy Tuck/Abdominoplasty |
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| Extended Tummy Tuck/Abdominoplasty | Circumferential Tummy Tuck/Abdominoplasty |
Tummy Tuck Before & After: Patient Focus 1
Procedures: Standard Tummy Tuck/Abdominoplasty with Liposuction of the Flanks
*All patients are unique and results may vary
Patient Focus 2
Procedures: Standard Tummy Tuck/Abdominoplasty with Liposuction of the Flanks
*All patients are unique and results may vary
Patient Focus 3
Procedures: Standard Tummy Tuck/Abdominoplasty Before & After with Liposuction of the Flanks, Hips, Thighs, Back. Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL)
*All patients are unique and results may vary
Patient Focus 4
Procedures: Standard Tummy Tuck/Abdominoplasty with Liposuction of the Flanks, Hips, and Thighs
*All patients are unique and results may vary
Expectations
In a typical tummy tuck, the incision is kept low below the bikini line and a large ellipse of fat and skin is removed. The belly button is then re-sutured in its original place and the abdominal muscles tightened to give an hourglass shape. This procedure can be combined with liposuction to further sculpt the body to the desired result.
Dr. John Burns is one of the nation's leading body contouring Board Certified Plastic Surgeons and practices a short scar bikini line incision technique in which your scar will be hidden by most undergarments or swimwear.
A tummy tuck is an outpatient procedure and is expected to take from two to three hours. You will be given general anesthesia during your surgery. After your procedure, expect temporary swelling, bruising and some pain. You’ll be instructed to wear conforming garments to avoid lumpiness or contour irregularities and to help with discomfort.
Newer techniques use progressive tension sutures or Tissue Glu to eliminate the need for a drain, making recovery much easier and quicker.
Risks include pain, bleeding and infection in rare cases. Most patients are able to return to work within two weeks and are cleared for strenuous activity within four to six weeks. Expect your swelling to minimize and your final appearance to be reached about two months after your procedure.
Anesthesia: General
In/Outpatient: Outpatient
Side Effects: Temporary swelling, bruising, and some pain
Risks: Pain, bleeding, infection, fluid collections, healing problems, blood clots
Recovery: Back to work: 1 - 2 weeks. More strenuous activity: 4 - 6 weeks
Final Appearance: 1-2 months for swelling to resolve
Duration of Results: Permanent if stable weight maintained
Body Contouring Plastic Surgery and Your BMI
Peer reviewed plastic surgery research indicates that the complication rates from breast and body contouring plastic surgery are much lower if your Body Mass Index is in the normal range. For obese or morbidly patients, complication rates such as deep venous thrombosis, wound healing problems, and infection are much higher. We encourage all of our patient to know their BMI and if at all possible achieve a normal BMI or at least < 30 before embarking on elective cosmetic surgery.
Calculate Your BMI
Weight Management Resource Center from the NIH
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| NIH Aim for a Healthy Weight Resource Center | Assessing Your Weight and Health Risk | Eat Right Resource Center |
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| Be Physically Active | Healthy Weight Tools | Key Recommendations |
Free Download: Aim for a Healthy Weight Booklet
About Dr. Burns
As one of the nation's leading body contouring Board Certified Plastic Surgeons, Dr. John L. Burns Jr. MD is the best choice for a tummy tuck surgery in Dallas.
Dr. Burns is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and President of the Dallas Plastic Surgery Institute, one of the largest plastic surgery group practices in the United States. Dr. Burns dedicates his practice to aesthetic or cosmetic plastic surgery in Dallas.
As a long-term resident of Dallas, Dr. Burns is a proud member of the community and has been honored with many awards in the DFW metroplex. In 2018 alone, he was named on the Best Doctor List by D Magazine, was presented a Dallas Award, named as one of America’s Top Breast Surgeons and became a distinguished inductee and top doctor for RealSelf Hall of Fame.
Schedule a consultation today to see if a tummy tuck is the right choice for you!