Tummy Tuck in Austin

Yes, tummy tuck surgery has a long record of safety when performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon. One of the more significant risks associated with tummy tuck surgery is seroma (fluid accumulation at the surgical site). We typically prevent this complication by placing surgical drains in the area for up to a week after surgery.

Tummy tuck surgery is not a weight loss method; it is important for my patients to understand that this is a body contouring surgery aimed to create a smoother and firmer midsection. While weight loss after a tummy tuck isn’t significant for most patients, many can wear smaller pants and dresses.

In general, I prefer my patients to be close to their ideal weight before their surgery, usually within 5 to 10 pounds of their goal weight. For your tummy tuck to be as successful as possible, it is important that you maintain a healthy, active lifestyle. For instance, exercising regularly and not smoking will help you recover faster from surgery. Each patient has their own unique story when they come in for a consultation, and I create a customized treatment plan based on our discussion.

We tell our patients to abstain from all tobacco products for 4 weeks prior to surgery. This is critical for optimal safety, healing, and results. We want all of our patients to remain tobacco-free permanently after their surgery to prolong their results and their lives.

Yes. I remove scars from C-section delivery when creating the lower incision so patients end up with a single horizontal scar that is usually more attractive and easier to conceal than the one created during delivery.

Most tummy tuck patients need to wait about 6 weeks before going swimming. The abdominal muscles need time to heal before any rigorous exercise, and the incisions should be fully healed before submerging them in a swimming pool, hot tub, ocean, or other standing water.

Typically, I am able to place the horizontal incision low enough to be covered by a bikini and most underwear. The improvements from surgery give most patients the confidence to wear a bikini again.

Usually, some stretch marks are removed during a tummy tuck. A full tummy tuck removes a significant amount of skin from the abdomen. Any stretch marks on that skin will be removed. Some people find that their remaining stretch marks are less noticeable after surgery when the skin is tighter.

While it is possible to get pregnant after tummy tuck surgery, I usually recommend holding off on tummy tuck surgery if a patient is planning on having more children. Additional pregnancies will once again stretch the skin and muscles and could have a negative effect on the results.

I use permanent sutures to repair diastasis recti during tummy tuck surgery. While rare, significant events such as pregnancy or significant weight gain could possibly reverse the muscle plication procedure. Symptoms may include a tummy bulge or softness around the belly button.

Liposuction is a great option for people with firm, elastic skin whose primary concern is addressing extra fat in the midsection. I can sculpt this area with liposuction, and healthy, resilient skin will shrink to fit the new contours. Tummy tuck surgery is the right choice if you have excess, stretched skin and separated abdominal muscles, which is often the case after massive weight loss or pregnancy. Liposuction alone will not improve either of these conditions and would produce an unsatisfying result.