A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words. BEFORE & AFTER GALLERY
Abdominoplasty from board-certified
plastic surgeons
You can finally achieve a flat, smooth belly with an abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, procedure. Getting that perfect tummy can be a difficult accomplishment. Weight fluctuations, aging and pregnancy can leave the abdominal muscles weak, even separated, and cause the surrounding skin to become loose and sagging.
Often, proper healthy diets and regular exercise cannot provide a completely firm tummy, leaving many people frustrated and embarrassed by their bodies. In addition, normal aging or childbirth can cause weakened abdominal muscles to relax, creating fullness in the lower abdomen that doesn't go away with dieting and exercise.
No one should struggle to find clothes that fit properly, but sagging skin around your tummy can make it difficult to wear your favorite jeans or make wearing dress slacks and fitted dresses a nightmare. And even fit people can become self-conscious when in a state of undress with a significant other.
At Nesmith Plastic Surgery Center, Dr. Nesmith can help alleviate your anxiety about excess fat and skin around the abdomen with a tummy tuck, giving you a more youthful-looking, contoured body.
Citrus County tummy tuck procedures
A tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, is a fairly common procedure that thousands of men and women undergo each year. This cosmetic procedure eliminates unwanted, excess fat, as well as sagging or loose skin which is often found when a patient’s weight fluctuates significantly during a short period of time.
A tummy tuck generally focuses on the abdomen, but can include the removal of fat from the hips and back as well. In addition to a tummy tuck, patients often undergo other fat-removal procedures at the same time so that it is easier for Dr. Nesmith to sculpt a smooth, firm body that is in line with the patient’s body shape.
Tummy tucks are not a solution for weight loss. They are used to help patients achieve their ideal, sculpted body. Losing weight and firming your abdominal muscles won’t always tighten the skin, especially in older patients whose skin has lost a lot of elasticity. Getting a tummy tuck also doesn’t mean you failed in your dieting and exercising endeavors, it’s just a way to complement your efforts so your body looks as good as you feel.
Full Tummy Tuck
Mini Tummy Tuck
No-Drain Tuck
Am I a good candidate for a tummy tuck?
The best plastic surgery candidates are patients who can benefit the most from the procedure, who are already in good health, and who have realistic expectations for the results. If you have an excess of fat in the abdominal area that cannot be eliminated through a healthy diet and exercise, then a tummy tuck can help.
Aging men and women, and women who have been pregnant, often experience a loss of muscle control in the abdomen which can cause sagging, and again, abdominoplasty can correct that issue. Also, some patients who are healthy have a naturally protruding abdomen, which can also be corrected through a tummy tuck in Gainesville at Nesmith Plastic Surgery.
Women who want or expect to become pregnant should wait to have the procedure until after they are finished having children. The abdominal muscles and skin are stretched quite a bit during future pregnancies, and it can reverse any effects a tummy tuck may have had.
You are a good candidate if:
- You sit up straight and have sagging, hanging skin
- Healthy diet and exercise have not eliminated excess fat
- You have a naturally protruding abdomen
What can I expect during a tummy tuck surgery?
Any tummy tuck in Gainesville begins with anesthesia. Dr. Nesmith discusses whether intravenous sedation or general anesthesia is better during your consultation. The next step is the incision, of which length and location will depend on the type of tummy tuck. Excess skin and fat is removed, and the midline muscles (six pack muscles) are tightened and brought back to where they should be. To close the incisions, Dr. Nesmith uses fine, absorbable sutures to minimize scarring and to avoid extra visits to have them removed.
Can a tummy tuck scar be hidden?
Depending on the type of tummy tuck, the scar can be limited to your bikini area or can be extended toward your hips. It depends on if there is a need to remove more tissue. The scar is usually very low on your abdomen and can be easily concealed by underwear or even your bikini. Like other surgical scars, a tummy tuck scar generally fades to a fine line over time.
Large amounts of excess skin may require a longer incision or a vertical incision. Your surgeon will review the specifics of your surgery procedure during a consultation.
Types of tummy tuck procedures
There are three types of tummy tucks that are commonly used at Nesmith Plastic Surgery Center. A mini, full, and extended tuck can provide different results depending on the needs of the patient.
- Mini Tuck: This is the best option for patients who have a small amount of excess fat in the lower abdomen region only. A smaller incision is made during this procedure than other types of tummy tuck surgeries, and the recovery time is faster. Mini tummy tucks are performed as an outpatient procedure.
- Full Tuck: Full tummy tucks eliminate fat and skin in the lower and upper abdomen areas. The abdominal muscles are tightened, and Dr. Nesmith removes any excess skin. The incision for a full tuck goes across the pubic region from hip to hip, but it can usually be concealed by a bathing suit or undergarment.
- Extended Tuck: Extended tucks involve more contouring in the abdomen and include the back area. They have the longest incisions, which can run the entire way around the torso if needed. Extended tucks are used to significantly reduce fat deposits, remove excess skin and smooth the abdomen and back, as well as eliminate love handles.
Tummy tuck recovery
Dr. Nesmith will create a recovery plan tailored to you. He and the staff at Nesmith Plastic Surgery Center will be available to attend to your questions and concerns following your operation. Although the total recovery time after a Gainesville tummy tuck varies from patient to patient, two weeks of rest are generally required after the procedure.
Incisions are covered with dressings and/or bandages, and an elastic bandage or compression garment may be used to aid the healing. You may also have small, thin tubes under the skin to drain excess blood and fluid during the first couple of days.
Before leaving, you’ll be given instructions on how to care for the incisions and drains, along with prescription medication to be either taken orally or applied to the surgical site.
The swelling from a complete abdominoplasty may take up to three months to reduce completely. At that point, your final results should be visible. The scar from your surgical incision will continue to fade in the year following your surgery.
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How much does a tummy tuck cost?
The cost of your abdominoplasty can depend on the type of procedure you choose and if you elect to get other procedures done at the same time. For example, a Mommy Makeover procedure includes both a tummy tuck and breast lift or breast augmentation at the same time.
You can view pricing for all of our surgical procedures here.
What is a mini tummy tuck?
A mini abdominoplasty addresses excess skin and fat only in the lower abdomen. If your main concern is a "pooch" in your lower tummy, a mini procedure might be a good option.
Learn more about Mini Tummy Tucks
Can you have a baby after a tummy tuck?
Although it is safe to have a baby after recovering from an abdominoplasty, our surgeons advise against it. Future pregnancies will stretch the skin and muscles and can reverse the effects of your procedure. You may require a tummy tuck revision surgery.
We recommend waiting until your family is complete before getting a tummy tuck.
How long does a tummy tuck last?
The results from your tummy tuck will be noticeable within a few weeks – immediately if you experience significant sagging before surgery. The results will be long lasting, so long as you maintain a healthy lifestyle and do not fluctuate drastically in weight.
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Should I get a tummy tuck or liposuction?
Both cosmetic procedures are popular choices to improve the appearance of your abdominal area, but they are completely different. A tummy tuck addresses the contour of your belly and targets fat, skin, and muscles.
Liposuction only removes fat and relies on the skin to tighten itself. If the skin in your abdomen is lax from drastic weight loss or childbearing, a tummy tuck would be the appropriate procedure.
Learn more about our Liposuction Procedures
Do I need to lose weight before a tummy tuck?
An abdominoplasty is not a weight loss solution. In order to maintain your results for a longer length of time, you'll need to maintain your weight post-surgery. Our surgeons recommend that you be within 10-15 pounds of your goal weight when you undergo a tummy tuck. The procedure will result in a few lost pounds due to the excess skin and fat being removed.
Can you have a baby after a tummy tuck?
Although it is safe to have a baby after recovering from an abdominoplasty, our surgeons advise against it. Future pregnancies will stretch the skin and muscles and can reverse the effects of your procedure. You may require a tummy tuck revision surgery.
We recommend waiting until your family is complete before getting a tummy tuck.
Tummy Tuck in Homosassa
A tummy tuck is a popular cosmetic surgery procedure. When searching for plastic surgeons in North Central Florida, choose a board-certified surgeon from Nesmith Plastic Surgery Center. We listen to our patients and tailor each tummy tuck procedure to their individual goals.
Dr. Nesmith and his staff treat each patient with a personal yet professional approach from the moment you schedule a consultation to the end of your recovery.
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Board-certified plastic surgeons
If you are unhappy with your breasts and considering plastic surgery, stop by our office in Homosassa, Florida.
We offer a variety of facial plastic surgery procedures so that you can be happy with the skin you’re in.
We perform body contouring procedures on men and women for a variety of aesthetic and health reasons.
If you prefer the non-surgical route, we have many options that can help you look young and feel more confident in your appearance.
Plastic surgery is not a gender-specific industry. At Nesmith Plastic Surgery Center, we often find that men have unique concerns.