Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) Consultation

Sometimes, achieving a flat and toned belly takes a little help beyond lifestyle improvements. While smart food choices can lead to weight loss and regular exercise can firm up abdominal muscles, the fact remains that laxity and excess skin in the stomach area can persist, creating a flabby look that will not go away no matter how many sit-ups you do. A tummy tuck in the Philadelphia area with Dr. Laura Gowen can tackle this issue. Men and women alike choose the Cirillo Center for Plastic Surgery in Bryn Mawr and Newtown Square to help give them the flat abdomen they seek.

A tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is not intended to be a weight loss procedure. By removing excess tissue and tightening the abdominal wall, it will create a flatter, firmer stomach. A consultation with our skilled board-certified, fellowship-trained plastic surgeon, Dr. Gowen, will allow you to discuss your concerns and help you determine whether a tummy tuck is right for you.

A tummy tuck may also improve certain aesthetic issues, such as stretch marks, due to the fact that some or all of the skin bearing the marks may be eliminated during the surgery. However, men and women who want to be sure that their stretch marks or other skin issues are addressed should not count on a tummy tuck, and would be better served by contacting a skin expert at the Cirilllo Cosmetic Dermatology Spa to learn more about their options.

MINI TUMMY TUCK

For relatively minor tightening of the abdomen, a mini abdominoplasty may be an option for some patients. Many women in particular find that they develop excess, sagging skin at the lower abdomen in particular after pregnancy.

As a less invasive procedure, it is designed to remove some excess skin and tighten the muscles at the lower abdomen only. While the results of a mini tummy tuck or abdominoplasty may not be as dramatic or comprehensive as those that can be achieved with the full procedure, many patients find that it is all that is required to achieve their desired goals.

The type of tummy tuck that may be suitable for you will depend on a number of factors, such as the number and length of areas that need tightening and the extent of improvement you are looking to achieve.

RECOVERING FROM A TUMMY TUCK

Allow yourself enough time to rest and heal after a tummy tuck and common post-surgical side effects, such as swelling and bruising. While each patient heals differently, most find that they are able to return to all their regular activities about six weeks after the operation.

Avoid stretching or other positions that may put undue strain on fresh incisions or sutured skin and muscle.

WHAT ARE MY OTHER OPTIONS BESIDES ABDOMINOPLASTY?

Patients who are concerned primarily with fat removal, or interested in a less invasive procedure, may want to consider liposuction. Men and women with sufficient skin elasticity to see their abdomen revert to a flat and toned look after this procedure, or who are having only small amounts of fat removed, may find that a tummy tuck is not necessary.

FINAL WORDS ON TUMMY TUCK

Dr. Laura Gowen will meet with each patient for a thorough consultation to discuss the details of abdominoplasty, including what the procedure’s steps may be to suit your unique concerns, cost, recovery, follow-up care, and more.

Patients can request to see before-and-after images to get a better idea of what a tummy tuck in the Philadelphia area could do for them. Though every patient and surgery is unique, the visuals can give a concept of what to expect.

During the consultation, patients should be open and honest about what they hope a tummy tuck will achieve. The doctor will help them to be sure their expectations are appropriate and that the abdominoplasty is the best procedure for them.