Tummy Tuck

The abdomen is one of the hardest areas for most people to tone and trim. Aging, weight fluctuations, and pregnancy often leave loose, excess skin and stretched muscles that cannot be targeted with diet and exercise.

A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is a surgical procedure designed to address these issues and restore a flatter, more attractive abdomen. Tummy tuck surgery removes excess fat and skin from the midsection. The process also tightens the abdominal muscles to improve core strength and muscle tone.

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What Can a Tummy Tuck Achieve?

Tighter Skin

As we age, our skin becomes less elastic. Coupled with weight changes, this can result in sagging, dimpled skin and even a skin flap that hangs over the lower belly.

Abdominoplasty surgery can remove this loose skin and pull the remaining skin taut over your newly tightened abdominal muscles.
Tight Abdominal Muscles

The abdominal muscles can separate due to aging, weight gain, and/or pregnancy. For many, no amount of exercise can bring these muscles back together.

Abdominoplasty can tighten and repair the core muscles to flatten the abdomen and eliminate a belly “pooch.” Strengthened core muscles may have added benefits for those who maintain an active lifestyle.
More Slender Body Contours

The abdomen is often one of the most difficult areas from which to remove stubborn fat. Even for those who have good muscle tone, excess fat may conceal the figure they seek.

For such people, tummy tuck surgery can remove fat to better reveal the body shape they desire.

As we age, our skin becomes less elastic. Coupled with weight changes, this can result in sagging, dimpled skin and even a skin flap that hangs over the lower belly.

Abdominoplasty surgery can remove this loose skin and pull the remaining skin taut over your newly tightened abdominal muscles.

The abdominal muscles can separate due to aging, weight gain, and/or pregnancy. For many, no amount of exercise can bring these muscles back together.

Abdominoplasty can tighten and repair the core muscles to flatten the abdomen and eliminate a belly “pooch.” Strengthened core muscles may have added benefits for those who maintain an active lifestyle.

The abdomen is often one of the most difficult areas from which to remove stubborn fat. Even for those who have good muscle tone, excess fat may conceal the figure they seek.

For such people, tummy tuck surgery can remove fat to better reveal the body shape they desire.

How Is the Tummy Tuck Procedure Done?

Anesthesia

Tummy tucks are performed with the patient under general anesthesia

Incision

An incision will be made horizontally from hip to hip along the lower abdomen
A second incision will be made around the navel, if needed

Correction

Muscles will be brought together and tightened with sutures
Excess fat will be removed
Liposuction techniques may be used to remove larger amounts of fat or fat from the hips and waist, if needed
The remaining skin is draped over the new, more slender frame
Excess skin is removed

Incision seal

The incisions are closed with hidden, dissolving sutures

Tummy Tuck Concerns

Recovery

Patients need to have someone drive them home from surgery and care for them for the first 24 hours. Dr. Hiatt will provide detailed post-operative instructions and may suggest that you wear a compression garment. During the first week post-surgery, expect swelling and bruising in the treatment area.

Recovery from a tummy tuck can take one to four weeks depending on the complexity of the treatment. Most patients plan to return to work and routine activities after two weeks. Patients should avoid lifting heavy objects and rigorous exercise for the first six weeks.
Results

Final results may take up to six months to fully develop and stabilize. Scarring may be treated to reduce visibility.

Results from the tummy tuck procedure are generally permanent unless the patient gains a significant amount of weight or becomes pregnant, which can reverse the results of the procedure. Your midsection will continue to age naturally, but it will remain more toned and flat than if you hadn’t undergone the procedure.
Pain

As with any surgical procedure, there will be some pain during recovery, especially in the first week while the incision locations remain swollen.

Dr. Hiatt will recommend post-operative pain management options, including prescription painkillers, as needed.
Cost

The cost of an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) procedure can vary widely based on location, facility fees, anesthesia fees, surgical fees, and more.

If you desire to combine your tummy tuck with other procedures, it may increase the price of the tummy tuck but will save money compared to the total cost of having multiple separate surgeries.

Discuss your goals with Dr. Hiatt during your consultation, and he will be able to provide you a specific price for your personalized tummy tuck in Mesa, AZ.

Patients need to have someone drive them home from surgery and care for them for the first 24 hours. Dr. Hiatt will provide detailed post-operative instructions and may suggest that you wear a compression garment. During the first week post-surgery, expect swelling and bruising in the treatment area.

Recovery from a tummy tuck can take one to four weeks depending on the complexity of the treatment. Most patients plan to return to work and routine activities after two weeks. Patients should avoid lifting heavy objects and rigorous exercise for the first six weeks.

Final results may take up to six months to fully develop and stabilize. Scarring may be treated to reduce visibility.

Results from the tummy tuck procedure are generally permanent unless the patient gains a significant amount of weight or becomes pregnant, which can reverse the results of the procedure. Your midsection will continue to age naturally, but it will remain more toned and flat than if you hadn’t undergone the procedure.

As with any surgical procedure, there will be some pain during recovery, especially in the first week while the incision locations remain swollen.

Dr. Hiatt will recommend post-operative pain management options, including prescription painkillers, as needed.

The cost of an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) procedure can vary widely based on location, facility fees, anesthesia fees, surgical fees, and more.

If you desire to combine your tummy tuck with other procedures, it may increase the price of the tummy tuck but will save money compared to the total cost of having multiple separate surgeries.

Discuss your goals with Dr. Hiatt during your consultation, and he will be able to provide you a specific price for your personalized tummy tuck in Mesa, AZ.

Tummy Tuck Before and After Photo

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"The whole experience has been positive. You have a friendly staff, comfortable office, and a very competant surgeon. Thank you."
Nancy

Frequently Asked Questions

Am I a good candidate for tummy tuck surgery?

Candidates for tummy tuck surgery should be non-smokers in good health. They should be at or near their desired body weight and have no plans for future pregnancies. It is important that patients have realistic expectations for their results before undergoing tummy tuck surgery with Dr. Hiatt in Mesa, AZ.

What will happen during my tummy tuck consultation?

The first step to effective treatment is a consultation. Dr. Hiatt will go over your medical history and examine your physical condition to determine the best treatment approach for you. He will also listen to any questions or concerns you may have.

The consultation is where you will discuss your goals for the procedure and ensure that the achievable results will bring about your cosmetic desires.

Discuss with Dr. Hiatt before the surgery if you have poor circulation, diabetes, or heart, lung, or liver disease.

Does a tummy tuck remove stretch marks?

While tummy tuck surgery isn’t specifically designed to remove stretch marks, it will remove them if they are located on the lower abdominal skin that is removed.

Will I have scars from tummy tuck surgery?

As with any surgical procedure that involves incisions, there will be a scar. This scar will be very low on the abdomen. It is typically well-hidden beneath most swimsuit styles and will fade significantly with time. The other scar around the navel will also be difficult to detect.

If a patient needs only a mini tummy tuck (that addresses the lower abdomen only), there will only be a lower abdominal scar that may be shorter than the traditional tummy tuck scar.

Will a tummy tuck help me lose weight?

A tummy tuck is not a replacement for proper diet and exercise but, rather, a means to reshape the body’s contours to be more aesthetically pleasing. While you may lose some weight due to the tissue removed, abdominoplasty is not designed to help you lose weight.

Do I need liposuction or a tummy tuck?

Liposuction is a good option for patients with excess fat and good skin elasticity. However, liposuction will not tighten the abdominal muscles or remove any stretch marks or sagging skin. Because of this, liposuction and tummy tuck surgery are often performed together.

Can I have a tummy tuck as part of my Mommy Makeover?

Is tummy tuck surgery dangerous?

Tummy Tuck

What Can a Tummy Tuck Achieve?

Tighter Skin

Tight Abdominal Muscles

More Slender Body Contours

Tighter Skin

Tight Abdominal Muscles

More Slender Body Contours

How Is the Tummy Tuck Procedure Done?

Anesthesia

Incision

Correction

Incision seal

Tummy Tuck Concerns

Recovery

Results

Pain

Cost

Recovery

Results

Pain

Cost

Frequently Asked Questions

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