Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

Dr. Lipton has performed tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) procedures for over two decades, refining his expertise to help optimize results. He will help flatten, tighten and contour your stomach area with an aim to minimize visible scarring and healing time. Dr. Lipton is a specialist who is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. He has received multiple Best Plastic Surgeon awards and is rated 4.8 stars. Scroll to the bottom of the page for more reasons why Dr. Lipton may be your best choice for tummy tuck body contouring.

Female body

What Is A Tummy Tuck?

A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) can help flatten your abdomen by removing loose, excess fat and skin, as well as tightening your muscles in the abdominal wall. This procedure can also help remove some (or all) of the stretch marks in your lower abdomen where skin is excised. Abdominoplasty is a popular body contouring procedure for individuals who have fat deposits outside of the abdominal wall or flanks. The procedure is sought after by both men and women who have difficulty achieving a flat belly because of weakened abdominal muscles, as well as women who have given birth to children. It is also a common procedure to tighten and contour the abdomen and flanks for individuals who have achieved massive weight loss. A tummy tuck may help improve self-esteem as well.

Tummy tucks specifically target the lower abdomen, the “belly” area. One of the goals of a tummy tuck procedure is to address the sagging skin that has created a pooch. Excess skin is trimmed. Excess fat is removed. And the underlying muscles are pulled together to create a firmer, narrower waist that you cannot get with liposuction.

Tummy tucks create permanent changes — skin is trimmed, fat removed, and muscles repositioned. Without another pregnancy or excessive weight gain, your results should endure, especially if you adopt an exercise regimen.

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Mini Or Full Tummy Tuck Options

Full Tummy Tuck: A full tummy tuck is usually necessary if the patient has a good deal of loose skin both above and below the navel. It involves two incisions: one from hipbone to hipbone descending close to the pubic area, and another around the navel. The surgeon then separates the skin from the abdominal muscles, which he pulls together and stitches into place. Next, the skin is pulled down over the tightened muscles and the excess is trimmed. The navel will usually need to be moved upward and reattached to its natural position. The incisions are then sutured.

Mini Tummy Tuck: A mini tuck can be a great solution if the patient has less sagging skin, but still wants to eliminate a pooch that has developed. The mini tuck eliminates the second incision at the navel area. It may or may not involve muscle repair, and the incision will likely not need to run from hipbone to hipbone. Mini tummy tuck is the more minimal incision option.

Liposuction Vs Tummy Tuck Tips

Patients often wonder if they need liposuction or a tummy tuck. While your surgeon should guide you to the best choice, here are some tips to help you understand which you may likely need.

Liposuction: Liposuction is a great alternative to remove pockets of fat in the belly that are outside of the abdominal wall. Liposuction typically utilizes what is known as a tumescent technique to remove large volumes of fat. As a rule of thumb, if you can grab your fat through the skin, then much of that fat can be suctioned out. If you are just looking to remove fat without tightening or flattening your abdomen, then liposuction may be your best alternative. Liposuction does not tighten a bulging or sagging stomach that is a result of muscles that have loosened (whether from baby delivery, weight gains, or aging).

Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty): In a tummy tuck procedure, large pockets of fat can also be removed. A tummy tuck will typically result in a flatter stomach, after tightening muscles and excising loose skin. A tummy tuck can also remove stretch marks in the skin that is trimmed. Stretch marks outside of that skin that is removed will still be there after surgery, although they often become far less noticeable. If you are desiring to lose those belly rolls then tummy tuck is your best alternative.

Can I Combine Liposuction With A Tummy Tuck?

It is common to combine liposuction with a tummy tuck procedure for even more fat removal and symmetrical contouring in areas near the abdomen like flanks and thighs. Most people don’t have sagging skin without unwanted fat pockets, and in addition to the fat excised with the tummy tuck, that’s where liposuction can come in. Plus, patients frequently request to add liposuction of the flanks, hips, thighs or back during their tummy tuck procedure. Adding liposuction improves the circumference of the waist and can create more symmetrical contouring among the various areas. Plus, healing is simple, as the liposuction areas are contained in the same compression garments worn for your tuck recovery.

Will A Tummy Tuck Leave A Scar?

While the lower incision in a tummy tuck creates a scar, Dr. Lipton is careful to place the incision in as optimal an area as possible. He is generally able to hide this scar below the bikini/underwear line. In most patients, the scar fades over time to become nearly invisible. There usually is little or no scarring with the upper incision, as it can often be made through the navel.

Weight Loss Advice And Who Is A Good Candidate

Two things patients need to consider. First, if you’re thinking you may want to have additional children in the future, this isn’t the time for a tummy tuck. Pregnancy and the associated localized weight gain will negate the results. Second, if you are considering losing a significant amount of weight, then you may want to do that before you have the procedure.

Liposuction and abdominoplasty are not considered weight loss procedures. However, individuals who are physically and mentally healthy, but have excess fat deposits, a sagging belly or excess skin can be excellent candidates for a tummy tuck procedure.

Recovery Healing Time And After Care Exercise Tips

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Tummy tuck is a significant surgery that can provide significant results. As such, recovery takes time and some patience. There will be some discomfort, but the amount varies by the individual. For the first couple of weeks, you’ll be encouraged to walk after your surgery. You’ll take short walks three or four times a day for just a few minutes each time. You will have to walk a little hunched over and the skin of your abdomen will feel tight. If you have drains, they will be removed anywhere from four days to two weeks after your surgery.

Most patients can return to work two weeks after their surgery, but this is an individual thing — it may take longer. You’ll wear a compression garment for a period of time to help your skin adapt to its new slimmer contour. Any strenuous exercise or lifting will have to wait for at least six weeks. As you would assume, patients need to be careful for the first couple of weeks not to strain their lower abdomen area.

Exercise is a terrific way to speed recovery because it promotes blood flow, which aids the healing process and reduces swelling. Your first return to exercise will be normal walking on a level surface and this usually is possible after two weeks of recovery. Low-impact aerobic exercise can begin around four to six weeks, but if extensive muscle adjustments were made this could be delayed.

The worst thing you can do is “test” or push your sutures or your incision; overdoing exercise could loosen your repair. After about two months you can return to most forms of exercise, although specific abdomen-focused exercises such as crunches should be approached carefully at first.

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What Our Patients Have To Say

"Absolutely the most friendly staff I have ever come across. Dr Lipton is fabulous in every way, you can tell he loves what he does. I had a tummy tuck and scare revision, I could not be happier with the wonderful results."

- Misty

Why Choose Dr. Lipton For My Tummy Tuck

Dr. Lipton has practiced for more than 2 decades, refining his expertise in performing tummy tuck procedures. He is passionate about what he does and loves every opportunity to help someone gain or regain confidence about their appearance.

Even more importantly, Dr. Lipton cares deeply about his patients. For this reason, he often takes more time than other plastic surgeons in his procedures to personally help ensure an optimal outcome and experience for each patient.

One way he takes extra time is by performing the entire procedure himself. He does not use surgical technicians to open and close procedures. This helps ensure optimal results. (Employing surgical technicians is a common practice that allows a plastic surgeon to spend less time in the procedure.)

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Stuart Lipton, MD
American Board of Plastic Surgery

As another example, before surgery, he takes added time to inject long-lasting local anesthesia in the areas of the procedure. Local anesthesia has nothing to do with being put to sleep during a procedure. However, the local anesthesia increases your comfort for several additional hours after surgery, as well as helping your body heal faster.

Many surgeons limit these types of things to quicken the time the surgeon spends in the procedure. As they say, time is money. However, to Dr. Lipton time spent is an even better new you.

Schedule A Consult For A Tummy Tuck In Lewisville, TX

At your consult, Dr. Lipton and staff will help guide your decision towards the best body contouring procedure to fit your goals & desires. Our goal is to make it simple and easy for you to realize your dreams and cast away any doubts you might have about your appearance.

To schedule a private consultation with Dr. Lipton, from your cell phone click to text 469-771-0760 (our staff cell phone), scroll to the bottom of the page to email, or call us at (972) 420-0023. We look forward to helping you.

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