What Are the Benefits of a Tummy Tuck?
Tummy tuck surgery restores a firmer and flatter abdominal contour. This procedure is ideal for men and women hoping to:
- Improve abdominal shape and firmness
- Reduce excess skin that resulted from weight loss, pregnancy, or aging
- Repair weak or stretched abdominal muscles
- Remove excess fat pockets on the abdomen
- Create an internal corset, or waist trainer
- Remove stretch marks below the umbilicus
Am I a Candidate for a Tummy Tuck?
The tummy tuck is the most comprehensive way to improve abdominal tone. Men and women interested in tummy tuck surgery:
- Must be near to their ideal weight and have maintained that weight for at least three months
- Have a bulging abdomen that diet and exercise cannot remedy
- Are displeased by their excess abdominal skin and stretch marks
- Experience diastasis recti (stretched abdominal muscles)
- Desire a more defined waistline
- Are in good overall health
- Do not have any previous medical conditions that can impair their healing
- Do not smoke
- Have realistic expectations of their results
Are you a candidate for a tummy tuck? Call Dr. Agullo at (915) 590-7900 to set up a consultation.
What Is Discussed During My Tummy Tuck Consultation?
Your tummy tuck surgery will be personalized to you, depending on your specific needs and goals. Therefore, your consultation with Dr. Agullo is an essential part of the surgical process. During your meeting, Dr. Agullo will:
- Discuss your wishes and expectations for your results
- Evaluate your skin and muscle laxity
- Suggest additional techniques that may provide optimal results
- Take measurements and photos
- Explain how to prepare for your tummy tuck
How Is My Tummy Tuck Performed?
Your tummy tuck will be performed under IV conscious sedation, “twilight” anesthesia, or general anesthesia. The right option for you will depend on the tummy tuck techniques used and will be determined by Dr. Agullo during your consultation.Tummy tuck surgery usually takes between two and four hours to perform.
FULL TUMMY TUCK
Also called the standard tummy tuck, a full tummy tuck addresses the entire abdomen. It reduces excess skin with an incision across the pelvis from hip bone to hip bone and another incision hidden within the navel.The abdominal muscles are tightened with a triple plication to provide the firm structure that produces a flat abdomen. If the patient has weak areas in the abdominal wall, a temporary internal corset can be used to provide extra support as the tissues heal (it is naturally absorbed by the body a few weeks into the recovery process).
Once the internal structures are tightened, the skin is redraped over the abdomen, and any excess skin is removed.
What Makes Dr. WorldWide’s Tummy Tucks So EXTRA?
Dr. Agullo combines multiple components and techniques to contour the entire abdomen:
- Ultra-low scar
- Triple plication for a snatched waist and flat abdomen
- Lipo everywhere
- EXPAREL®
- Quilting sutures to reduce drain time
- Removal of the mons fat pockets and lift
- Thinning of the abdominal flap
- Designer belly button
What Is an Ultra-low Scar?
Dr. Agullo is recognized world wide for his ultra-low tummy tuck scars. These are placed below the mons hairline and are easily covered with bikini or underwear.
What Is a Triple Plication?
Triple plication creates a permanent internal corset. Dr. Agullo not only plicates the rectus abdominis muscles at the midline, but he also plicates the obliques to bring them in and define the waistline further. In social media circles, this technique is often referred to as the “Hollywood Waist Procedure” for a cinched waist.
In some patients, Dr. Agullo recommends reinforcing the triple plication with an internal corset made of mesh that reinforces the waistline and strengthens weak areas to reduce the likelihood of post-operative complications. This is commonly used on those with a loose abdominal wall or those who have weak tissue caused by substantial weight fluctuation, pregnancy, or hernia operations.
What Is Lipo Everywhere?
Liposuction of the abdomen and flanks is included in all tummy tucks. Dr. Agullo performs extensive liposuction on these areas using the SAFE technique. This lipo 360, or all around the waist, contributes to a more snatched waistline. Many patients choose to add liposuction for other areas of fatty deposits, such as the back rolls, thighs, arms, or neck.
What Is EXPAREL®?
Dr. Agullo uses EXPAREL®, a local anesthesia that lasts up to three days, to create a nerve block in the abdomen. This numbs the nerves that sense pain in the abdomen (transversus abdominis plane (tap) block). Half of the patients that undergo a tummy tuck with Dr. Agullo experienced no pain. Although we cannot promise that, the pain level is greatly decreased with this technique.
What Are Quilting Sutures?
Sutures are placed between the abdominal flap and the abdominal muscles to help the skin stick back down and decrease spaces where fluid can accumulate. Sometimes this is referred to as a “drainless” technique, but since Dr. Agullo performs substantial liposuction, he will still use a drain. The quilting sutures also allow Dr. Agullo to pull the skin tighter using proggressive
tension sutures, which relieves tension at the incision line for a thinner and flatter scar.
What Are the Mons Fat Pockets?
Dr. Agullo includes liposuction in the mons area with all his tummy tucks. There are two fat pockets in the mons, which cannot be removed with liposuction and can often cause a full mons look or bulge if not removed. Dr. Agullo removes the excess fat in these pockets and performs a mons lift in all abdominoplasties.
What Is Thinning of the Abdominal Flap?
After raising the skin and fat from the abdominal wall, Dr. Agullo thins the flap by removing the deep fat that was not removed with liposuction. This allows for a slender and flatter abdominal contour.
What Is a Designer Belly Button?
The umbilicus is the only scar on our body that we find attractive. With aging, pregnancy, and fluctuations in weight, excess skin around the belly button changes the shape and appearance. Recognizing the importance of an attractive umbilicus, Dr. Agullo will take his time creating an oval-shaped belly button with a hidden internal scar.
Mini Tummy Tuck
The mini tummy tuck is the least invasive of the three options and addresses the lower abdomen only. With only one incision very low across the pelvis, the mini tummy tuck eliminates a protruding lower abdomen, excess skin below the navel, and any stretch marks that fall on the skin. Dr. Agullo offers a more aggressive tummy tuck that involves tightening of the abdominal muscles with a triple plication.
Extended Tummy Tuck
An extended abdominoplasty is a full tummy tuck that extends around the body to include the flanks (love handles). It also provides improvement to the lateral hips and thighs, and it will sometimes provide a mild buttock lift at the same time.
The main incision wraps around the entire lower midsection and can typically be hidden beneath most bikini styles.
At Agullo Plastic Surgery, tailored care begins with a full consultation to discuss the goals and options available.
What Are Your Concerns?
What Can I Expect for My Tummy Tuck Recovery?
Tummy tuck surgery is an outpatient procedure, and patients can usually return home within a few hours of their surgery.
Most patients require assistance for the first five days of their recovery and must schedule at least two weeks off from work.
While the extent of recovery will depend on the tummy tuck techniques chosen, patients can expect bruising, swelling, and discomfort. Compression garments may be wrapped around the abdomen to protect the incision and reduce swelling. Pain can be managed by prescribed or over-the-counter pain medication.
Light walking is encouraged after surgery to prevent blood clots, strokes, poor circulation, and other complications, but patients should not resume regular exercise or heavy lifting for at least six weeks. Patients usually feel like they are back to themselves after one week and feel well enough to venture out of the house after two weeks.
Will My Tummy Tuck Leave Scars?
Tummy tuck surgery requires an incision across the lower part of the abdomen. Dr. Agullo strategically places these incisions where underwear and bikinis will hide the resulting scars.
Surgical taping is used during the first two weeks of recovery to relieve tension along the scar. After surgery, you can use bioCorneum® silicone ointment to accelerate healing and minimize the appearance of scars. Dr. Agullo offers other scar treatments, including embrace®, IPL, and Nd: YAG lasers, and microneedling to treat patients with a history of bad scarring.
Is My Tummy Tuck Painful?
A tummy tuck is performed with anesthesia to ensure a painless surgery. You may develop some discomfort after the anesthesia wears off that can persist for several days. Any post-operative discomfort can be alleviated with prescription pain medication. Your compression garment will also help to relieve any discomfort.
When Will I See My Tummy Tuck Results?
You will start to see your results as soon as the bruising and swelling subside, which usually takes a few weeks. The quality of your results will continue to improve over time and can be maintained with a healthy lifestyle.
How Much Will My Tummy Tuck Cost?
The cost of your tummy tuck surgery varies depending on the extent of your surgery.
Generally speaking, cosmetic plastic surgery is considered “elective” and is not covered by most insurance plans. The prices listed on our fee schedule represent the minimum cost of the procedures, including anesthesia and surgical facility fees, medical tests, garments, and recovery products. The cost of prescription medications, however, is not included. All fees must be paid in full prior to the scheduled treatment.
What Are Some Frequently Asked Questions About the Tummy Tuck?
Abdominal liposuction can be performed to remove excess fatty deposits. While this technique is beneficial for excess fat, it cannot address skin or muscle laxity. Candidates for liposuction alone have good skin elasticity and strong abdominal muscles.
A tummy tuck will not affect your ability to get pregnant or compromise the pregnancy; however, pregnancy may undo the results of your tummy tuck. This is why we suggest waiting for your tummy tuck until you are finished having children. Those who think that a pregnancy may be in their future may benefit from liposuction if they have good skin elasticity.
Dr. Agullo has performed hundreds of tummy tuck surgeries with very safe and successful results, but as with any surgical procedure, it does have the potential for some risks. These risks include:
- Complications with the anesthesia
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Blood clots
- Tissue death
- Fluid accumulation
- Changes in skin sensation
- Poor wound healing
- Scarring
You can reduce your chances of complications by following all of Dr. Agullo’s recommendations before and after the procedure.
Dr. Agullo traditionally combines liposuction in every tummy tuck surgery. The only exception is if a patient does not have much abdominal fat. Patients who have lost a significant amount of weight may choose to combine their abdominoplasty with other skin removal procedures, such as a thigh lift or arm lift.
The tummy tuck is also one of the quintessential procedures used during a Mommy Makeover, alongside breast augmentation, breast lift, liposuction, and occasionally, fat transfer to the buttocks (Brazilian Butt Lift).
The results of your tummy tuck are long lasting, if not permanent. While this procedure removes excess skin and fat, it does not prevent additional weight gain and skin laxity. Patients must maintain their results with a healthy lifestyle.
Interested in a Tummy Tuck?
If you want to learn more about Dr. Agullo’s tummy tuck, contact his office by calling (915) 590-7900. Dr. Agullo offers the tummy tuck for patients in El Paso, Texas, and the greater El Paso area.
Since the tummy tuck is one of the most common procedures Dr. Agullo performs, you are sure to catch the full transformation live on Snapchat or Instagram @RealDrWorldWide on any given day! #StayBeautiful
