Tummy Tuck or Abdominoplasty

Want To See Real Abdominoplasty Results?

The baby has been home for the better part of year, or more. However, the extra weight gained during your pregnancy has yet to come off—well most of it. You eat right, exercise, and you feel healthy. Life is good until you see your reflection coming out of the shower. You cringe. You ask yourself, “where did my body go?”

You wonder if you will ever get it back—your fit and trim tummy—is it gone forever? What will it take? How long to get there? You’re uncomfortable standing in front of that mirror. You want to hide what you used to show off. Now you can’t show anybody—perhaps even your significant other.

If you could only turn back the clock on your body, to the days before pregnancy. What’s a mom to do?

If you are unhappy with your body after pregnancy or weight loss, we understand your concerns. We see people daily that have experienced great success in shedding weight after pregnancy, or slimmed down through diet, exercise, or weight-loss procedures. But often these patients remain frustrated by loose skin, stretch marks, and stubborn pockets of fat around their midsection.

In situations where you’re near your ideal weight, but have a belly with bulges that refuse to budge, a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is often your best option. If you have excess skin and muscle laxity in your abdominal area, we can tighten your abdominal wall, and remove excess skin and fat from the lower abdomen through our tummy tuck Austin procedure. All stretch marks and scars will disappear below your belly button, leaving you with the flat stomach you’ve been dreaming about.

Tummy Tuck Procedure

After general anesthesia is administered, you will be unconscious for the duration of the tummy tuck Austin surgery, approximately 4 hours. No pain will be experienced nor will you have any memory of the procedure.

Traditional abdominoplasty – In a full tummy tuck, an incision will be made across the lower abdomen from hipbone to hipbone. The skin will be lifted off the abdominal to the ribs. Your abdominal muscles will be stitched closer together, then excess fat and skin will be cut away. Another incision for your belly button will be performed and stitched into position. A temporary drain may be placed to remove excess fluid from beneath the incision. All incisions are stitched closed and covered with dressing.

Mini tummy tuck – also known as a mini abdominoplasty, this tummy tuck Austin procedure is in the cases where excess skin and fat are limited to the lower abdomen (below the navel). Here, a partial or mini abdominoplasty may be performed. The muscle wall is not tightened, rather a small incision is made just over the pubic-hair line, and excess skin is cut away. The incision is then closed with sutures. The belly button is not repositioned.

Tummy Tuck 360 – Tummy Tuck 360™ – Using SAFELipo, this procedure will address not only the abdominal region, but also the entire trunk. Please click here to learn more.

Tummy Tuck Consultation

At Restora Austin Plastic Surgery Centre, we believe that aesthetic surgery is an experience, not a single encounter. Your experience begins the moment you contact our office. Our devoted team of professionals is at your service, and we are here to personally address your individual needs. At your initial tummy tuck Austin consultation, you will receive the focused attention of our clinical consultant, Brandy, one of our professional nurses, and your chosen surgeon.

Your consultation is valuable. We will discuss your goals, explore treatment options, and figure out what procedure will work best for you. We encourage you to bring photos to show us the results you wish to achieve. This helps your surgeon understand your goal, and share with you reasonable expectations.

The risks, benefits, and expected recovery will be discussed at length. This is the time for you to share your concerns and ask any questions you may have. You will not be rushed, or cut short for insufficient time. We want your tummy tuck Austin consultation to be a success.

After your consultation, you will meet with your patient coordinator to review the cost of your proposed tummy tuck Austin treatment, financing options, and scheduling. You can schedule your procedure at the time of your consultation, or you can wait to seek advice from family and friends. Our goal is to make you feel as comfortable as possible with your decision.

Suitable Candidates for Tummy Tuck

Tummy tuck procedures are available to both men and women who are healthy, weight is stable, and are non-smokers.

Women who have stretched muscles and skin after pregnancies find tummy tuck useful to restore pre-pregnancy contours. It is also an alternative for men and women who were obese and have loose skin, and fat deposits in the abdominal area.

What to Expect

Before Surgery – As with all surgeries there are things you must do to be prepared. Avoid blood thinners like ibuprofen, aspirin, and Tylenol for two weeks prior, and two weeks after abdominoplasty surgery. If you have medical issues like asthma or diabetes, get medical clearance beforehand.  If you are older than 50, you will need an EKG performed. If you smoke, stop!

Your tummy tuck will be performed at Inspire Surgery Centre, our fully accredited, AAAASF, surgery center. A board-certified anesthesiologist will administer general anesthesia.

After your tummy tuck Austin, you will be able to go home the same day. If you have a Tummy Tuck 360™ or if you have additional procedures, you will spend one night in our overnight suite at Inspire Surgery Centre. An RN who specializes in post-operative care will stay with you.

After Surgery – Most patients report mild discomfort after their tummy tuck, and almost all say that their C-section recovery was harder. We use Exparel^® to minimize post-operative discomfort, along with muscle relaxants, and prescribed pain medication.

Most patients are ready to go back to work after 2 weeks. If your job is physically demanding, you may need to take more time off, or request light duty.

Tummy Tuck Recovery

Your surgery went well, and now you must recover. Your muscles and area of incision must heal. It will take a couple of weeks before resuming work, longer if you have a physically demanding job.

You might have discovered in your personal research that the recovery stage of a Tummy Tuck is not pleasant. You found that it is painful and full of discomfort.

At Restora Austin Plastic Surgery Centre, we strive to make the whole surgical experience as comfortable as possible. Although we cannot eliminate all discomfort, we can eliminate most with our post operation pain management process.

Exparel^® is one of the great advancements for tummy tuck recovery, replacing the pain pump. Exparel^® is a slow-release-local anesthetic that will be injected under your fascia, or the connective tissue around your abdominal muscles, at the time of your muscle repair. One single injection provides pain reduction for up to 5 days.

For many patients, the first 3 days after a tummy tuck are the most uncomfortable. The Exparel^® lasts long enough to allow you to “turn the corner” and start feeling better before the medication wears off. Clinical studies confirm that patients have lower pain scores and less narcotic usage. A secondary benefit is that you will be active sooner, which will hasten your recovery process.

Taking Care of Yourself After Surgery

Whatever type of surgery performed, traditional, mini, or Tummy Tuck 360™, your abdominal area will be stitched and bandaged. A firm elastic bandage will be applied to the area of incision. You must follow your surgeon’s instructions on care for this area, in the days following your surgery. You will also be instructed on how to best position yourself for rest and sleep.

You must limit strenuous physical activity for a minimum of 4 weeks. You should take at least 2 weeks off work, but 4 would be better.

Tummy Tuck Cost

You tummy tuck surgery will be unique to your specific body. All procedures performed at Restora Austin Plastic Surgery Centre are custom tailored to our individual patients. There isn’t any standard pricing for this procedure as the cost varies by anatomic type and other factors.

For more specific information about the cost of tummy tuck Austin, and available financing options, please contact us today, or call 1-512-371-8817.

Tummy Tuck Complications

Pain and swelling are common after tummy tuck surgery. As mentioned earlier, Exparel will be administered during surgery, easing much of the pain associated with Abdominoplasty. Soreness may last for several weeks or months.

You could experience numbness, bruising, and overall fatigue for that same time period. With any surgery, there are risks involved. These may include:

• Scarring
• Hematoma (bleeding)
• Infection
• Seroma (accumulation of fluid)
• Poor wound healing
• Loss of skin
• Blood clots
• Numbness or other changes in sensation
• Risks related to anesthesia
• Changes in skin color
• Long-lasting swelling
• Fat necrosis (death of fatty tissue located deep in the skin)
• Wound separation
• Asymmetry (unevenness or lopsidedness)

This is why choosing the right plastic surgeon is crucial to your overall success and comfort during the tummy tuck procedure.

Choosing Your Plastic Surgeon

The first and most important decision for tummy tuck surgery is choosing your surgeon. You must consider:

• Are they board certified?
• Do they have adequate experience?
• Will the surgery be performed at an AAAASF accredited facility?
• Do they provide before and after pictures?
• Are they experienced in the different tummy tuck techniques available, like mini tummy tuck surgery, traditional, and Tummy Tuck 360™?
• During consultation, are they attentive, and listen to your concerns?

These are important questions for your peace of mind. You must be confident in your surgeon’s abilities, and comfortable with the procedures recommended. They should be friendly, and professional. Their staff should be qualified, and compassionate.

Why Restora Austin Plastic Surgery Center?

Our practice is built on word-of-mouth referrals from satisfied patients, and colleagues in the medical profession. Dr. Gordon was named a “Texas Rising Star” in 2012 and 2013 and a “Texas Super Doctor” in 2014 – 2016. Dr. Reid was named a “Texas Super Doctor” from 2013 – 2016.

“Super Doctor” identifies top doctors as selected by their peers with only 5% of physicians named. Less than 2.5% are named to the “Rising Stars” list. Both surgeons at Restora Austin Plastic Surgery Centre have been honored with these prestigious awards!

Our board-certified plastic surgeons studied their craft at Emory University. They brought their expertise to Central Texas, and have since built arguably, the most popular aesthetic surgery practice in Austin, performing thousands of surgical procedures each year.

Make Your Appointment for Consultation Today

Take the first step to the body you have been dreaming about, call Restora Austin Plastic Surgery Centre at 512-371-8817, or Contact Us for your consultation visit today.

View our Gallery of Before and After Pictures

Visit our before and after gallery to view photos of Tummy Tuck and Tummy Tuck 360 procedures.

Tummy Tuck Reviews

Dr. Reid and Staff,
I wanted to take the time to thank you and your staff, Brandi, Jay, Venita, Casey, and Carley, for the exceptional care and attention you have given me from the consultation to the recovery. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. I knew all along I was in great hands. I trusted Dr. Reid to give me the results I was hoping for. Dr. Reid, not only did you give me the results I Hoped for, you have me back my confidence and made me feel beautiful and sexy again. You are a true artist and I love my new look. Thanks again to your wonderful staff for being so caring and concerned for my well-being. Restora certainly has it together. I would do it all again if I had to. I am so grateful for your service. Many thanks.

Dr. Gordon and Staff,
Thank you all so much for your kindness. I appreciate you taking the time to answer all my questions and putting my mind at ease prior to my surgery. I felt like I was in great hands the whole time and I love how it all turned out! Thanks so much!

Read more…

Tummy Tuck Q&A

What do I need to do to prepare for my tummy tuck?

To optimize your recovery, you will need to:

• have blood work done
• have an EKG if you are over 50
• get medical clearance if you have health issues, like diabetes or heart disease
• stop smoking
• avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements as they can increase bleeding

How long will my results last?

As long as you maintain a stable weight and a healthy lifestyle, your result will last for many years. A tummy doesn’t eventually succumb to gravity like the face and breasts.

What can I do to maintain my result?

• Commit to a healthy lifestyle of eating well, along with an exercise plan after you have fully healed
• Maintain a stable weight
• Avoid future pregnancies

When can I get back to the gym?

If you feel up to it, you may start some light cardio at 3 weeks. At 6 weeks, you will be fully healed and can resume your normal exercise routine and even do crunches and ab work.

How long will I need to take off of work?

Most patients are ready to go back to work after 2 weeks. If your job is very physically demanding, you may need to take more time off or request light duty.

What are the risks of a tummy tuck?

Your safety is our number one priority, so everything is done to minimize risks of surgery. Complications include bleeding, infection, poor healing, unfavorable scarring, skin loss, skin numbness, fluid accumulation (seroma), and/or DVT (Deep Venous Thrombosis).

What will my tummy tuck scar look like?

All women are very concerned about what their scar will look like. Our surgeons are very sensitive to this concern, and they will do everything they can – before, during and after surgery – to optimize the appearance of your tummy tuck scar. Your scar will be located very low, in the pubic hair, because we want you to be able to wear a bikini. Many are surprised to learn that the Restora Austin tummy tuck scar is located below their C-section scar. Before your procedure, we recommend laser hair removal (LHR) in the area where the scar will be located to minimize ingrown hairs and irritation to the scar while it is healing. We can treat just the area of scar placement or you can do your entire bikini area. It’s totally up to you. Depending on how far out your surgery is scheduled will determine how many LHR treatments you can have before your tummy tuck. The remaining treatments will be done on a monthly schedule after surgery. We will then recommend scar care for the first 3 months following your surgery. Our recommendations will be based on your skin type, your scar history, and other factors, like tension.

Although technically you will be “healed” at 6 weeks, your scar will continue to remodel and mature for an entire year after surgery. The first 3 months are critical because this is when the scar is the most active and immature, and it’s when we can have the most impact on its final appearance. We also perform Pro-Fractional laser scar treatments if the scar is thick or raised and/or BBL treatments if the scar has persistent redness. Recent studies show that early laser scar treatments, at 1-2 weeks after surgery, may be beneficial in optimizing their appearance, and Dr. Gordon is working on protocols for this now. Her protocols are based on trying to modulate or guide the incision into healing with the least visible scar possible, instead of just treating the scar at 1 year once it’s fully healed. Dr. Gordon’s passion and her research in scarless wound healing means that patients at Restora Austin will always receive cutting-edge scar treatment and care.

Will I be bruised and swollen? How long does that last?

Swelling will subside a few weeks after surgery. Bruising can occur in areas of liposuction and will resolve in 7-10 days.

Why is a tummy tuck not as painful as a C-section?

There is less pain because a tummy tuck is limited to the area in front of your rectus muscles. The muscles are tightened, but they are not divided or stretched like they are in a C-section.

Will I still need to take narcotics after my tummy tuck?

You will be given a prescription for narcotic pain medication and a muscle relaxer.

The goal of the Exparel^® is to minimize your need for narcotics. While effective, narcotics can have significant side-effects, such as nausea in up to 50% of patients, drowsiness, constipation, and itching. The Exparel^® will reduce your pain at its source, and decrease your need for oral pain medication.

What is Exparel^®?

Exparel^® is one of the great advancements for tummy tuck recovery, and it has replaced the pain pump. Exparel^® is a slow release local anesthetic that will be injected under your fascia, or the connective tissue around your abdominal muscles, at the time of your muscle repair. One single injection provides pain reduction for up to 5 days. For many patients, the first 3 days after a tummy tuck are the most uncomfortable. The Exparel^® lasts long enough to allow you to “turn the corner” and start feeling better before the medication wears off. Clinical studies confirm that patients have lower pain scores and less narcotic usage. A secondary benefit is that you will be active sooner, which will hasten your recovery process.

What can I expect after surgery?

Most patients report mild discomfort after their tummy tuck, and almost all say that their C-section recovery was harder. We use Exparel^® to minimize post-operative discomfort, along with muscle relaxants and narcotic pain medication.

Is a tummy tuck an outpatient procedure?

Yes, you will be able to go home the same day. If you have a Tummy Tuck 360™ or if you have additional procedures, you will spend one night in our overnight suite at INSPIRE Surgery Centre. An RN who specializes in post-operative care will stay with you.

Where will my surgery be performed?

Your tummy tuck will be performed at INSPIRE, our fully accredited, AAAASF, surgery center. A board-certified anesthesiologist will administer general anesthesia.

Who’s a good candidate for a mini tummy tuck?

Only a small percentage of patients are candidates for a mini tummy tuck because pregnancy typically affects all aspects of the abdomen; the skin, the muscle and the fat. If someone has no muscle laxity or stretch marks, but has excess skin limited to below the belly button, a mini-abdominoplasty or tummy tuck can be a nice option. In a mini tummy tuck, the muscle is not tightened and there is no incision around the belly button. The horizontal scar is also shorter. SAFELipo^® can be added to further re-contour the area.

How do I know if my muscle needs to be repaired?

During pregnancy, as the mid-section gets bigger and bigger, the connective tissue or fascia between the paired vertical rectus muscles get stretched. This is called rectus diastasis. Many times, especially after multiple pregnancies, the stretched tissue doesn’t return to its pre-pregnancy state, resulting in a bloated or barrel shaped abdomen. In order for the abdominal wall to be tight again, surgical repair of the stretched tissue is performed to bring the muscles back together in the midline.

Do most patients have a standard tummy tuck or a Tummy Tuck 360™?

Because Dr. Gordon and Dr. Reid are the only surgeons in Austin who perform the Tummy Tuck 360™, many patients aren’t aware of this new revolutionary technique. When patients desire a transformation, not only in the abdominal area, but also along the entire circumferential trunk, from the bra roll to the top of the buttocks, a Tummy Tuck 360™ is the best option. The results of the Tummy Tuck 360™ speak for themselves, and with such dramatic results, the Tummy Tuck 360™ has quickly become one of Restora Austin’s most requested procedures.

What’s the difference between a standard tummy tuck and a Tummy Tuck 360™?

Early in their practice, Dr. Gordon and Dr. Reid regularly performed standard tummy tucks, but they found that while the patients were thrilled with their “flat” stomachs and their overall appearance from the front, they lacked any visible change in the back. The traditional tummy tuck technique wasn’t able to provide their goal of delivering a “Before Baby Body” result. As we all know, pregnancy and/or weight fluctuations don’t only cause changes in our appearance from the front, they cause changes along our sides and our back. People tend to get bigger or thicker all around. Our surgeons sought a better technique to deliver a better result. They traveled to train with the creator and inventor of SAFELipo^®, Dr. Simeon Wall, Jr.. From this experience, they developed and coined the term Tummy Tuck 360™, which safely combines liposuction using SAFELipo^® techniques with their tummy tuck procedure. This is the best option for patients who desire an all-around body contouring solution.

How is the Restora Austin tummy tuck performed?

• Step 1 – Anesthesia by a Board-Certified Anesthesiologist
• Step 2 – The Incisions
  • An incision is made in the pubic area that extends from hip bone to hip bone. A second incision is made around the belly button. If you have a C-section scar it will be removed during your tummy tuck. Our goal is for you to wear a bikini, so your tummy tuck incision will be placed lower than your C-section scar.
• Step 3 – The Muscle Repair
  • The muscles are tightened with internal sutures
• Step 4 – The Excess Tissue is Removed
  • Excess skin and fat between the belly button and the pubic area is removed. To further tighten the abdomen, the skin of the upper abdomen is stretched downward.
• Step 5 – The Belly Button Is Repositioned and the Incisions Are Closed
  • SAFELipo^® is sometimes incorporated to remove stubborn fat and achieve a smoother contour

Please click on the procedures below for more detailed information:

• Abdominoplasty
• Tummy Tuck 360
• Mini Tummy Tuck