Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
There are a number of reasons why diet and exercise alone may not be able to give you the exact body contours you hope for, such as extra skin around the belly or separated abdominal muscles. A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, can help achieve a trim and toned midsection.
Dr. Ricardo A. Meade is a board certified plastic surgeon and tummy tuck specialist serving the entire Dallas-Ft. Worth metro area, with offices in Dallas and Plano, Texas. In addition to abdominoplasty, Dr. Meade offers a full range of body contouring procedures for both men and women, and has helped thousands of patients feel more confident about their appearance.
A tummy tuck is not a solution for weight loss, but can be ideal for those candidates who are close to their target weight yet unhappy with the actual contours of their body. Pregnancy, excessive weight gain, aging and genetics can all play a part in the development of excess skin and tissue or lax musculature that contributes to a flabby belly. During abdominoplasty, Dr. Meade removes this excess while repairing the underlying muscles for a firmer, tighter tummy again.
Please contact us online or call 214.823.1691 for more information on abdominoplasty at our Dallas or Plano plastic surgery offices. We encourage you to view tummy tuck photos in our real patient before and after photo gallery to get a better sense of what this procedure can achieve.
Your Consultation
Before your tummy tuck, a consultation with Dr. Meade is essential for going over the basics of what to expect during surgery and recovery, as well as discussing your personal goals for your procedure. During this time, Dr. Meade will also conduct a physical evaluation in order to determine what the best surgical approach will be to help you meet those goals. Your consultation will also include an explanation of the surgical steps Dr. Meade will take during your procedure, and you’ll be provided with a cost estimate for your tummy tuck with detailed price information.
Preparing for Surgery
As your surgery date gets closer, Dr. Meade may request specific lab tests or medical evaluations in order to give you the best possible care, including taking pre-surgery photos for documentation purposes. Dr. Meade’s pre-surgical instructions can include adjusting any medications, vitamins or supplements you may currently be taking. It’s also important to avoid the consumption of alcohol and drugs before and after surgery, and abstain from smoking for a certain amount of time as well.
The Tummy Tuck Procedure
- A tummy tuck typically begins with an incision made from hip to hip across the lower abdomen. Dr. Meade is careful to place this incision so that the resulting scar can be easily hidden by your everyday clothing or even swimwear. In some patients, a small vertical incision may be necessary as well. From this access point, Dr. Meade can tighten and repair abdominal muscles and sculpt away fatty deposits before redraping the skin, removing any excess and closing the incision.
- Although abdominoplasty improves waistline contours, men and women with good firmness and elasticity through the belly who are not concerned about excess skin may see very nice results through liposuction alone rather than a tummy tuck. Alternatively, Dr. Meade may include lipo during a tummy tuck to further refine transition areas like the flanks or love handles. These are all possibilities that Dr. Meade will go over with you in more detail during your consultation.
Recovery & Results
Although the recovery process is unique to every patient, most men and women feel comfortable enough after surgery that they don’t even finish a prescription of 40 pain pills. To avoid complications, it’s important to strictly follow Dr. Meade’s post-surgical instructions. Some early swelling is normal, although this may be alleviated with the help of a compression garment in combination with post-surgical drains to help prevent fluid buildup.
You should see a difference in your body shape almost immediately, with results becoming more apparent as healing progresses. The final result should be a smoother, slimmer silhouette that accentuates your waistline.