Tummy Tuck

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Tummy Tuck in Dallas, TX, | Dr. Yash Plastic Surgery

If you’re unhappy with the loose or flabby appearance of your abdomen after having children, losing weight, or simply growing older, a tummy tuck might be your answer. A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is surgery to firm, flatten, and smooth your midsection to give you a younger and healthier look. 

To learn more about what tummy tuck surgery can do for you, contact Dr. Yash Plastic surgery today or call our office at (469) 249-9615 to schedule a consultation. Dr. Yash Avashia is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Dallas, serving Fort Worth, Garland, and all surrounding areas. With his extensive training and experience, Dr. Yash applies surgical skill, aesthetic sense, and in-depth medical knowledge to produce beautiful and natural-looking results.

What Is a Tummy Tuck?

A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is surgery to remove loose, sagging skin and stubborn areas of fat from your midsection. When needed, it also tightens and reconnects abdominal muscles that have stretched and separated with pregnancy or weight gain. (Separated abdominal muscles, a condition known as diastasis recti, is common after pregnancy, and no amount of exercise will reconnect them to flatten the resulting belly bulge). These changes trim and flatten your abdomen, smooth the skin on your belly, and help to draw in your waistline. Midlife, post-pregnancy, or post-weight-loss bulge is replaced by a toned, trim profile. 

Tummy tuck surgery is popular with both men and women for the dramatic improvement it can make to the physique.

Dr. Yash customizes the tummy tuck procedure to your unique needs. In some cases, some tightening of the abdominal skin is all that’s needed. For other patients, separated abdominal muscles may need to be reconnected to restore a firm, flat tummy. Liposuction may be added to extend the area of fat removal. 

In planning your surgery, Dr. Yash works from three primary forms of the procedure, customizing the basic approach to optimize your results:

A mini tummy tuck removes loose skin and excess fat in the lower abdominal area — below the belly button. This is the best option when abdominal muscles are strong and resilient enough to hold the stomach flat. This is the least intensive approach to abdominoplasty and the one with the shortest recovery period.

A full tummy tuck removes excess skin that has stretched and sagged or wrinkled over a wider area — across the abdomen, waist, and hips. If needed, stretched or separate abdominal muscles are tightened and reconnected. A more extensive surgery than a mini tummy tuck, a full tummy tuck is also more transformational, producing remarkably rejuvenating results.

An extended tuck removes loose skin and excess fat over an even larger area of the torso, including the abdomen, flanks, and lower back. This is the most extensive and involved form of abdominoplasty and the most comprehensive. It may be the ideal option for patients with significant amounts of loose or sagging skin and may be necessary after massive weight loss.

Why Might I Consider a Tummy Tuck?

Men and women choose to have a tummy tuck to restore a firmer, flatter midsection profile. A tummy tuck tightens loose, sagging skin, removes stubborn pockets of fat that are resistant to diet and exercise, and can strengthen damaged abdominal muscles. 

For both men and women, it is an attractive procedure to restore a younger-looking body after weight loss or to correct the effects of aging. Women who have had children often choose to have a tummy tuck to correct the lasting effects of pregnancy, such as loose skin, fat buildup, and weakened abdominal muscles.

Abdominoplasty is one of the most transformative plastic surgery procedures. It restores a younger-looking, toned midsection and pulls in the waist for a trimmer figure.

It’s important to note that a tummy tuck is a body-contouring procedure, not a way to lose weight. Abdominoplasty can correct the effects of weight gain and loss — in stretched skin, pockets of hard-to-eliminate fat, and belly bulge from weakened muscles — but it is not in itself a weight-loss method. Think of body contouring as a way to lose inches, not pounds, in order to sculpt your figure. Consider a tummy tuck after you have lost weight with diet and exercise and are within the range of a healthy BMI.

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Honesty and integrity are the cornerstones of Dr. Avashia’s process. He feels strongly that he needs to educate patients on what gives them the most value, and he focuses on what should be done instead of simply what could be done. He will only recommend procedures that will help achieve your goals. Dr. Avashia knows that not everyone “needs the knife,” and he will recommend nonsurgical solutions when appropriate in order to give you a more minimally invasive solution to achieve your goals.

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Whether you’re looking to reverse the signs of aging or improve the appearance of a specific area of your body, Dr. Avashia can help you achieve your desired goals. Visit Dr. Yash today to learn more.

Am I a Good Candidate for a Tummy Tuck in Dallas, TX?

It’s best to wait until you are done having children before having a tummy tuck, as pregnancy can reverse some of your gains from the procedure. That’s not a requirement, and a tummy tuck won’t impair your ability to have children; it’s just a recommendation to ensure long-lasting results.

You are probably a good candidate for a tummy tuck if you:

  • Are bothered by loose, hanging, or wrinkled skin on your abdomen
  • Have pockets of fat in your belly or waistline that remain even after losing weight with healthy eating and exercise habits
  • Have a bulging belly from weakened abdominal muscles that you are unable to flatten with crunches or other toning and strength-building exercises
  • Are close to your ideal weight
  • Are in good health
  • Do not smoke
  • Have realistic expectations for the procedure

 

What to Expect in Your Dallas Tummy Tuck Consultation

In your consultation with Dr. Yash, he will ask questions to understand what bothers you about your body and your hopes for the surgery. He will examine you to determine the extent of skin loosening and the strength and resilience of your abdominal muscles. Dr. Yash will then show you before-and-after pictures of other tummy tuck patients who had similar concerns and goals to further clarify your wishes for the procedure and explain the kinds of changes that can be made.

After Dr. Yash has gathered information from the consultation, he will plan the details of your procedure and explain them to you. In some cases, he may recommend a different procedure or a combination of procedures. He knows that not everyone needs or would benefit from surgery, and he will recommend nonsurgical solutions when appropriate. If tummy tuck seems like the best solution for you, he will tell you what to expect before and after the surgery and describe the planned results. He will also review your tummy tuck procedure cost with you and discuss payment options. His goal is to be fully transparent so that you can make a confident and educated decision.  

What Can I Expect Before, During, and After My Tummy Tuck Procedure?

During

Dr. Nash is a partner in the Dallas Plastic Surgery Institute and will perform your tummy tuck in the Institute’s state-of-the-art surgery center. The Institute is the top facility for aesthetic surgery in Dallas and among the best in the country. You will arrive on surgery day, check in, and meet with Dr. Yash and your anesthesia provider. You will then be carefully anesthetized with general anesthesia and taken back into the operating room.

Before

The exact approach that Dr. Yash will use for your surgery will depend on the type of tummy tuck procedure and how the procedure will be customized based on your anatomy and goals, as determined in your consultation. The procedure follows some or all of these steps:

  • An incision is made low on the abdomen, just above the pubic area, where the resulting scar will be hidden even when wearing low-cut clothing
    • In a mini tummy tuck, this incision is several inches long
    • In a full tummy tuck, it extends in a curve from hip to hip
    • In an extended tummy tuck, the incision extends across the lower abdomen and around the hips
  • Liposuction is used to remove excess fat
  • Separated abdominal muscles are pulled together and reconnected with self-absorbing sutures
  • Excess skin is cut away
  • The remaining skin is pulled to smoothly cover the abdomen
  • The navel may be moved and reattached in a natural-looking position
  • A drain may placed in the incision to minimize post-surgical swelling
  • The incisions are closed

Depending on the specifics of your surgery, the procedure can take between two and five hours to perform. 

After

Tummy tuck surgery is performed as an outpatient procedure. Once you are alert again after the anesthesia, you will be released to go home. Even with a mini tummy tuck, you will need someone to bring you home and stay with you for at least the first night after surgery. Dr. Yash will provide you with a full list of post-operative instructions to follow and will be available if you have any immediate questions or issues.

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What Can I Expect in A Tummy Tuck Recovery?

The length of your recovery from a tummy tuck will vary with the specifics of the procedure performed and how closely you follow pre- and post-operative instructions. 

You can expect some bruising and swelling at first. We will provide you with compression garments along with instructions on effective ways to deal with swelling. Bruising will subside on its own. You can also expect some discomfort, especially in the first few days. We will provide you with pain medications as needed, as well as detailed instructions on wound care and bathing to prevent infection, suggested limits on lifting and movement, and encouragement to walk around your home to promote circulation and healing. 

Most people are able to return to office-type work within a week or two after surgery. After about two weeks, you’ll be able to resume light cardiovascular exercise, gradually building up to more strenuous exercise and physical work over the next few weeks. 

Dr. Yash will schedule periodic follow-up visits, at which we will monitor the pace of your recovery, answer any questions you have, and advise you on when it is safe to resume all normal activities.

Tummy Tuck Results

Schedule Your Dallas Tummy Tuck Consultation Today

Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn how Dr. Yash can help you regain a firm, flat abdomen with a tummy tuck. He will listen to understand what you hope to achieve from the procedure and will give you his expert recommendation on the best approach to meet your needs. As one of the best plastic surgeons in the area, Dr. Yash provides exceptional care to patients from Dallas and the surrounding areas of Texas.

FAQs About Tummy Tuck Surgery in Dallas, TX

Cosmetic surgery procedures that are often combined with a tummy tuck include:

Dr. Yash takes time to know his patients and fully understand their needs. During your initial consultation, he will carefully listen to your concerns, evaluate your problem areas, and provide you with honest information about the best procedures for your needs.

Abdominoplasty incisions are carefully placed to be hidden by clothing, even low-cut bathing suits. You can reduce risks for thick scarring by avoiding nicotine, keeping your incisions clean and dry, and not using blood thinners during the recovery phase. We can provide additional information on preventing highly visible scars during your time in our care.

Fat removed in a tummy tuck cannot “grow back.” In this sense, abdominoplasty is permanent. However, weight gain after a tummy tuck can stretch the skin and undo your results. In that way, tummy tuck surgery is as permanent as you make it. If you adopt healthy eating and exercise habits and make them a permanent and sustainable part of your life (as opposed to crash dieting), your abdominoplasty results will last for years. We can provide additional direction, as needed, during your time in our care.

Surgical risks that can accompany any procedure include bleeding, infection, and poor reaction to anesthesia. We take every care to avoid these and all other surgical risks.

In addition to general risks, those exclusive to the abdominoplasty procedure include:

  • tissue damage
  • nerve damage
  • fluid accumulation

As one of the best tummy tuck surgeons in Dallas, Dr. Yash is meticulous in his planning and thoughtful in his approach, helping to prevent serious risks. Following all of our pre- and post-operative advice will also help to minimize risk.

All patients who undergo tummy tuck will have drains. Drains help relieve the fluid build-up after surgery and speeds up recovery.  Drains normally stay in place for 2 weeks and Dr. Yash will remove them during your follow-up appointment.

A critical part of the tummy tuck is muscle repair. Most patients have some degree of rectus diastasis (separation of the rectus muscles) and require rectus plication or “repair of the muscle”. Dr. Yash uses two types of sutures to repair your muscle to provide you a long lasting, tight result. 

Tummy tuck is not a weight loss surgery. It is a body contouring surgery. Therefore, most patients won’t see a significant degree of weight loss from the surgery. Some patients however do experience up to 15-20 pounds weight loss from the operation depending on how much fat is liposuctioned and skin is removed.

Dr. Yash uses dissolvable sutures throughout your tummy tuck incision. The only sutures that need to be removed are in your belly button and these are removed at 2 weeks after surgery. 

When analyzing a tummy tuck result, look at (1) the scar placement and quality, (2) waist contour, (3) belly button aesthetic.  Dr. Yash’s philosophy on tummy tucks is to provide you with a tight waist, low tummy tuck scar that can be hidden with clothes and swimsuits, and a natural belly button.

Swelling after abdominoplasty is a normal part of healing.  Dr. Yash uses several tools to help reduce your swelling: (1) drains; (2) compression garments; (3) endermologie or manual lymphatic massages.  The combination of these will help reduce your swelling as quickly as possible, giving you the result you want.

Yes, you can get pregnant after a tummy tuck however this will affect the results of your tummy tuck as the abdomen stretches out.  Dr. Yash recommends that patients wait to have their tummy tucks after they’re done having children to give the most lasting results.

Recovery after a tummy tuck takes anywhere from three to four weeks.  The first two weeks are the toughest part of the recovery. Most patients experience pain and swelling during this time. It may take them more time to do daily activities such as showering, using the restroom, and walking.  All patients should be able to walk and get from place to place, the same day of  surgery. The third week is considered a transitional week when patients start to feel more comfortable and able to return to their normal daily activities.  The fourth week is when patients have fully recovered.  Dr. Yash advises patients to follow his activity restrictions for 6 weeks to allow them to properly heal and recover from their surgery.

Patients are encouraged to rest for 6 weeks to allow their tummy tuck to heal.  At 6 weeks, they can slowly restart light cardio exercises.  Patients who want to resume heavy-weight lifting (squats, core-workouts) should wait till 8 week to do these exercises.

Depending on your baby or toddler’s weight, you should ideally wait for 3 to 4 weeks.  You may need help at home to care for your baby or toddler while you’re recovering from your tummy tuck.  If you’re concerned about this, remember to discuss it with Dr. Yash during your consultation. Dr. Yash has taken care of many patients with several children and knows how best to help you get through your recovery phase.

Dr. Yash uses a special technique to recreate your belly button.  This technique will provide you with a natural belly button result. It is one of the main reasons why women seek Dr. Yash to do their tummy tuck. Remember to ask Dr. Yash about his belly button technique during your consultation.