Tummy Tuck

Board-Certified Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeons Serving Pensacola, FL & Mobile, AL

If you’re unhappy with loose skin and excess fat in the abdomen and want to obtain a flatter, more toned stomach, a tummy tuck (also known as abdominoplasty) may be right for you. This procedure is very popular because it can produce dramatic results that last as long as you can maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Tummy tucks are great for post-childbirth women, but they can be performed on anyone who has excess fat and sagging skin in the abdominal area. Men can also sometimes benefit from tummy tucks, especially if they’ve undergone massive weight loss.

If you’re interested in a tummy tuck, don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Ben Brown of Restore Plastic Surgery in Pensacola. Call us at 850-500-7527 to schedule your consultation today. Our friendly Pensacola facility welcomes patients from throughout Florida, nearby Mobile, Alabama, and across the nation.

What Is a Tummy Tuck?

A tummy tuck is a body contouring procedure that addresses:

  • Loose, sagging skin on the abdomen
  • Excess fat in the abdomen
  • Loose, separated abdominal muscles

During a tummy tuck, we also like to perform liposuction to help contour the entire midsection of the body. Performing liposuction ensures a smooth, beautiful contour while also having the added benefit of allowing the abdominal skin to become mobile and easier to manipulate and trim.

In addition, the fat from the liposuction can be harvested and injected into the buttocks for a Brazilian butt lift. This procedure shapes and contours the buttocks, allowing patients with flat or deflated buttocks to achieve a full, round backside.

We position the incision for a tummy tuck very low, just 5 or 6 cm above where the labia majora meet. We also take care to only extend the incision as far as absolutely necessary. This allows the scar from the procedure to be hidden easily in swimsuits and underwear.

Mini Tummy Tuck

If you have excess skin and fat but no need for muscle repair, you may benefit from a mini tummy tuck rather than a full tummy tuck. A mini tummy tuck utilizes a shorter incision, leaving a smaller scar. It’s a good option for men and women who desire a flatter, smoother stomach but do not need a full tummy tuck with muscle repair.

During your consultation, we can examine you and listen to your concerns to see if a mini tummy tuck may be an appropriate option for you.

Benefits of a Tummy Tuck

There’s a reason the tummy tuck is such a popular procedure. The numerous benefits of a tummy tuck include:

  • Increased self-confidence
  • Feeling better in swimsuits and lingerie
  • Feeling sexy again after childbirth
  • Easier time finding clothes that fit well

While diet and exercise can help you to shed weight and look better, unfortunately not even the healthiest lifestyle can get rid of excess skin or repair stretched, loose abdominal muscles. A tummy tuck can help you to regain the body you had prior to childbirth.

Tummy tucks also will last for as long as you can maintain healthy eating and exercise habits. If you don’t put on more weight, your results can basically last forever.

Tummy Tuck Candidates

The best candidates for a tummy tuck are those who want to obtain a more toned, flatter stomach. You should also:

  • Be committed to leading a healthy lifestyle
  • Be in good overall health
  • Not smoke, or be willing to quit
  • Be finished having children

Having a tummy tuck will not prevent you from having more children in the future, but you should keep in mind that pregnancy and childbirth will likely ruin your results. You can always have a revision tummy tuck, but we recommend that patients be finished having children to prevent the need for one.

You can also be a tummy tuck candidate if you have undergone massive weight loss that left you with lots of excess skin. A tummy tuck can help to excise your loose and sagging skin. If you have excess sagging skin in other areas besides the abdomen, we also offer body lift procedures.

tummy tuck candidate

Recovery After a Tummy Tuck

A tummy tuck is a fairly extensive procedure, and full recovery can take some time. We’ll give you prescription medications to help with any pain or discomfort, but you should have help around the house and with childcare.

You’ll need someone to drive you home after your surgery, and you should rest for the rest of the day at home. Walking around is encouraged for the first week or so, after which you can resume light exercise.

A typical tummy tuck recovery timeline may look something like this:

  • Rest and take it easy for the first few days. Take medications as needed.
  • Shower 24 hours after surgery.
  • Return to work within the first week, depending on your type of job.
  • Resume light exercise after 1 or 2 weeks, depending on how fast you’re healing and how well you feel.
  • Resume regular exercise after 3 to 4 weeks, avoiding abdominal exercises.

You’ll have a scar, but we position it low enough to be hidden in your underwear. It’ll be fairly prominent at first, but it should fade over the course of a year or so. The majority of patients find that the scar is well worth the results.

If your scar looks like it is going to heal poorly, we offer scar revision services to help improve its appearance. We can also give you topical scar ointments to use during your recovery. Scarring can be unpredictable, but we do everything we can to try to improve your outcome.

Will Tummy Tuck Surgery Leave a Scar?

Yes. All surgical procedures leave a scar. However, the risks of a prominent scar are diminished in the hands of an experienced and skilled plastic surgeon.

You can further reduce the chances of thick scar development by following our pre and postoperative instructions, including avoiding certain herbs, vitamins, and medications, using a compression garment, and keeping your incisions dry and clean.

It is essential to remember that nicotine slows the healing response and provides a more significant opportunity for scars to develop. Tobacco users, including those who vape, must cease use at least six weeks before and at least six weeks after surgery to avoid this complication.

In some cases, scar revision sheets or non-surgical treatments, such as laser skin resurfacing, can help to reduce the appearance of surgical scars. If you have surgical scars or if scars develop after your procedure, we can discuss these options with you in greater detail.

When is the Best Time to Have Tummy Tuck Surgery?

Tummy tuck surgery eliminates excess skin and fat from the midsection. The complete abdominoplasty technique also tightens the abdominal wall. Pregnancy and weight gain will undo these results. Therefore, the best time to have a tummy tuck is when you are satisfied with the size of your family and have been at a stable weight for at least six months.

Of course, there are no hard and fast rules for when every person should undergo a cosmetic procedure. Dr. Brown is an experienced, thoughtful, and board-certified plastic surgeon who welcomes an opportunity to meet with you and help you decide if tummy tuck surgery can help you achieve your goals.

Can a Tummy Tuck Help Me Lose Weight?

Removing loose and sagging skin along with stubborn fat deposits from the belly can help you lose weight. However, abdominoplasty is not a weight loss procedure and is best for patients close to their goal BMI.

Tummy tuck surgery will tighten and tone the midsection, helping restore definition while improving things like clothing options, range of motion, and general comfort. But it should not be considered a suitable or safe way to lose significant weight. During your initial consultation, Dr. Brown will evaluate your frame and listen to your goals to help you determine if abdominoplasty is suitable for your needs.

How Much Does a Tummy Tuck Cost?

While we can’t provide an exact quote without a consultation, we’ll be more than happy to give you a ballpark estimate of how much tummy tucks typically cost at our practice.

If you have had massive weight loss and are suffering from extensive loose skin, your procedure may be covered by insurance. Check with your plan to see if you may have full or partial coverage for a skin excision procedure. Otherwise, tummy tucks are typically not covered by insurance as they are considered a cosmetic procedure.

We offer tummy tuck financing plans for patients who would rather not pay the full amount upfront. Our financing plans allow you to have payment flexibility so that you can fit your procedure into your budget. Other benefits include:

  • Low or 0% APR for qualified candidates
  • Flexible repayment schedules
  • Easy to apply
  • Get your tummy tuck sooner
photo session body contouring (tummy tuck) patient 1

A tummy tuck can provide an immense boost to your self-confidence and self-esteem, and we want everyone who needs one to be able to have one. Tummy tucks can also provide the motivation to lead a healthy life, as patients wish to keep their results. Talk to us about financing options during your consultation so we can help you find the one that best fits your needs.

What Can I Expect from My Tummy Tuck Results?

Tummy tuck surgery can trim the waist, tone the belly, and reveal underlying musculature. It can also reattach separated abdominal muscles, which may assist in preventing certain types of hernia, improve posture, and reduce lower back pain.

Examples of the results we have achieved for other patients can be found in our tummy tuck before and after gallery. What you can realistically expect and how abdominoplasty may benefit you will be discussed in greater detail during your initial consultation at our Gulf Breeze office.

Are Results from Tummy Tuck Surgery Permanent?

Yes. Neither skin nor fat can grow back once it has been removed. However, this comes with a caveat: substantial weight gain, pregnancy, poor diet, and general inactivity can allow new fat to accumulate and once again stretch the skin. Taking care to maintain your abdominoplasty results through a healthy diet and exercise regimen will help ensure they are long-lasting.

Schedule Your Tummy Tuck Consultation

Please call Restore Plastic Surgery today at 850-500-7527 to schedule your consultation. Our office in Pensacola, Florida serves patients from across the state, Mobile Alabama, and throughout the country.

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Contact Us To Explore The Possibilities

For inquiries and information, you can email our team at [email protected] or [email protected].

Location

Gulf Breeze Office

1645 Nantahala Beach Road
Gulf Breeze, FL 32563

Office Hours

Monday: 9am - 5pm
Tuesday: 9am - 5pm
Wednesday: 9am - 5pm
Thursday: 9am - 5pm
Friday: 9am - 5pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

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