Tummy Tuck

A once-taut tummy can change as you age, have children, lose a great deal of weight or experience weight fluctuations. A healthy diet and exercise can’t fix loose skin and you may still have a stubborn layer of fat on your belly. A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, removes extra skin and fat and tightens the abdominal muscles to create a flatter, firmer midsection.*

Dr. David Dellinger of Elysian Plastic Surgery maintains board certifications in both general and  plastic/reconstructive surgery, and has extensive experience performing body contouring plastic surgery procedures over his two decades in practice. Dr. Dellinger works with men and women in Austin and throughout Texas who are interested in improving their appearance with body contouring surgery.

Contact us online or call our Austin office at 512-229-1978 to learn more your options for body contouring.

• We offer a full range of body contouring procedures, so you can be sure to find the one that’s right for you. Depending on your needs, turning your tummy tuck into a mommy makeover or trying minimally invasive BodyTite may be right for you.
• During your initial consultation, Dr. Dellinger and his staff use their expertise to put you at ease, understand your concerns and recommend the best treatment for you.
• A recognized leader in his field, Dr. Dellinger is a frequent lecturer and regularly attends local and national medical education conferences to keep up with new body contouring techniques.

Healthy men and women who have realistic expectations, have reached a stable weight and have hanging skin and loose abdominal muscles that bulge when relaxed can be the best candidates for a tummy tuck. A tummy tuck may not be right if you are severely overweight or plan to have children in the next few years. Although a tummy tuck won’t affect a pregnancy, having a baby or experiencing a drastic change in your weight may affect your results by stretching your skin and abdominal muscles. Dr. Dellinger may recommend postponing your tummy tuck if you’re planning to have a baby in less than five years.

There are three different types of tummy tucks that can be right for different people:

• A full tummy tuck is the most common technique and may be best for people who have more excess skin and fat.
• A mini tummy tuck may be right for people who mostly have loose abdominal muscles and a smaller amount of excess skin and fat.
• A tummy tuck with liposuction is a combination procedure may work best for heavier people who need less muscle tightening and includes liposuction to eliminate extra fat.

During your consultation, be open and honest with Dr. Dellinger about your concerns and hopes. Once Dr. Dellinger understands your needs, he can design the right type of tummy tuck for you and suggest any additional procedures that may help create the look you hope to achieve. A tummy tuck can be combined with liposuction, breast enhancement or even facial surgery.

On the day of your abdominoplasty, you’ll be sedated with a local anesthesia or under general anesthesia during the procedure, which takes about an hour or two. Dr. Dellinger starts by making an incision on your lower abdomen that may stretch from hip to hip. The incision should be positioned where it’s easily covered by a swimsuit or underwear and can be incorporated into a Cesarean section scar. Dr. Dellinger then repairs and tightens the abdominal muscles, trims away excess skin and performs liposuction.*

Right after your tummy tuck, there will be a small drain to remove fluids and you’ll be wearing a compression garment to hold your tissues together to minimize swelling and improve healing. The drain should be taken out after 7 to 10 days.*

You should plan on resting at home for the first few days and arrange to have someone available to help you, especially with applying new bandages and measure the drained fluid. Be sure to get up regularly and gently move around to get the blood flowing. Wear your compression garment around the clock for the first 2 weeks, then during waking hours for another 4 weeks. You can begin some light exercise after 2 weeks and gradually increase the intensity over the next several weeks. You should avoid heavy lifting and straining your abdominal muscles for 2 to 3 months.*

While you will notice improvement right after surgery, the initial swelling may hide the full impact of your tummy tuck. Your results should become increasingly noticeable in a week or two and improve as the swelling completely subsides and your body heals.*

To schedule your tummy tuck consultation, please call our Austin plastic surgery practice at 512-229-1978 or request a consultation online.

How much does a tummy tuck cost?

With plastic surgery procedures, there is a lot of variation between patients, which translates into a lot of variation in cost. With a tummy tuck, the cost can depend on the extensiveness of the procedure, the technique used, the plastic surgeon’s experience, location and more.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the average cost for a tummy tuck is $6,253. This price is only for the surgery and may not take into account anesthesia, operating room, recovery, garments or other related costs.

If you have concerns about making a tummy tuck fit into your budget, ask us about our financing options.

How do I find the best plastic surgeon for a tummy tuck near me?

You start by researching board-certified plastic surgeons near you who offer tummy tuck procedures. This should leave you with a pretty long list of names, so you can use their websites to help narrow them down. Make sure they are board-certified and have experience performing tummy tucks.

Once you narrow your list, set up consultations. Let them explain to you how they envision your procedure and its results and have them answer your questions. Ask yourself if you feel comfortable with them. Your plastic surgeon should make you feel confident and comfortable while discussing your goals and procedure options. Ask to see before and after photos to see the results of previous patients.

How much pain will I experience with my tummy tuck?

The majority of pain from a tummy tuck will be felt in the first days after surgery. Afterward, you may feel sore, and there can be some bruising and swelling. It is important that you follow all instructions given by the doctor, including those for diet, movement, medications and compression garments. It is vital that you give yourself the proper time to recover, as pushing yourself too hard too soon can cause greater pain and complications.

What should I expect from tummy tuck recovery?

A tummy tuck is a procedure requiring preparation both before and after surgery. You will need help getting home after the procedure and someone to stay with you to take care of you for at least the first 72 hours. Showering and bathing must be avoided until 24 hours after your drainage tubes are removed. It is important to maintain a healthy diet during recovery and you may want to supplement your diet with protein shakes.

You will be prescribed medications for pain and antibiotics to prevent infection. Be sure to take all medications as directed. Expect to take about 2 weeks off from work and avoid strenuous activities for up to 2 months. You will also need to wear compression garments as directed by Dr. Dellinger.

What are the risks associated with a tummy tuck?

A tummy tuck is a surgical procedure, and as such, it comes with some risks. Although rare, patients should watch for signs of infection, adverse reactions and excessive bleeding.

How do I know if I am a tummy tuck candidate?

To know with certainty, you need to schedule a consultation with Dr. Dellinger. Most candidates have unwanted sagging skin and stretched abdominal muscles typically caused my significant weight loss and/or pregnancy. They should be close to their ideal weight, finished having children and in good overall health.

How can I prepare for my tummy tuck?

Dr. Dellinger will provide specific pre-surgery instructions. However, it is a good idea to do the following before any surgery:

• Stop smoking for at least 4 weeks before the procedure.
• Make sure your diet is healthy to help support recovery.
• Avoid medications that thin the blood, like aspirin and ibuprofen.
• Do not eat for 8 hours prior to surgery.
• Have realistic expectations for your results.

*This information is for education only, and is not meant as a guarantee of results. Your results may vary.