Body Contouring and Tummy Tuck
Seattle and Bellevue Washington
Abdominoplasty, more commonly known as a tummy tuck, is a commonly performed and safe outpatient procedure. A tummy tuck is designed to give you a slimmer abdomen and improve your form. This operation is often combined with liposuction to remove the excess skin as well as the excess fat from the mid and lower abdomen and the hip area. In addition, the muscles in the abdomen are tightened. This helps to restore the anatomy that existed prior to changes in your body after pregnancy or weight change. The end result after tummy tuck surgery is that you will look much trimmer.
When the skin and fat is not excessive, a short scar version called a mini-abdominoplasty, or a mini tummy tuck, may be an alternative. The mini tummy tuck with liposuction works best for women in their early to late thirties who have had children. The scars with a mini-tummy tuck are much shorter. Finally, for patients that have little to no excess skin and good skin elasticity, liposuction alone can be used to improve your abdominal contour.
Ideal candidates for a tummy tuck are women or men who are in relatively good shape, but are bothered by the excess abdominal fat or loose skin that won't respond to continued dieting and exercise. The surgery is particularly helpful for women who have had past pregnancies. Pregnancy distends the muscles of your belly apart and unless the muscles are tightened , you will not be able to restore a trim profile to your belly. Tummy tuck surgery is also very helpful if you had a gastric bypass or similar weight loss surgery performed and your weight loss has stabilized.
The surgery is performed as outpatient surgery, meaning you go home the same day of your operation. We use a "pain pump" that continuously delivers anesthetic solution directly into the incision via a very small catheter for several days, making the operation and recovery even less painful for you. You will go home with 2 drains that will stay in for 1-2 weeks, depending upon the amount of drainage. Finally, you will be given compressive garments to wear for 6 weeks after your operation.
This surgery does result in lower belly scars, but the scars will fade with time. In healthy non-smoking patients, the chance of developing complications after a tummy tuck is very low. Patients who intend to lose a lot of weight should postpone their surgery until they are closer to their desired weight.
Actual patient photos are not shown on this web site. However, you are welcome to come in for a consultation to see actual patient photos and learn about the cost of tummy tuck surgery. We perform outpatient surgery for patients from Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland and the greater Western Washington area. For patients from Eastern Washington, Idaho, Montana and Alaska we coordinate reduced rate accommodations at several high-quality hotels that are within walking distance of our plastic surgery center and downtown Seattle.
