Tummy Tuck Hawaii

A tummy tuck (also known as an abdominoplasty) is a body-contouring procedure. It is designed to remove the loose skin in the abdominal area, tighten the muscles of the abdominal wall and usually includes liposuction to contour the excess fatty tissue in the waist and hip area. 

A tummy tuck is not a weight loss procedure. You will lose a little bit of weight when the excess skin and fat are removed, but weight loss is not the primary goal of this surgery.

Who Is an Ideal Candidate for a Tummy Tuck?

The ideal candidate for a tummy tuck is someone who is at a stable weight, exercises regularly, and eats healthy but finds that their abdominal area will not improve any further with the work they are doing. 

Patients will often hit a plateau after seeing early improvements. If you still are not happy with your appearance, a tummy tuck can provide a dramatic change. After recovering from your tummy tuck, clothes will fit better, exercise will be easier and self-confidence will soar.

There are different techniques for performing a tummy tuck. Dr. Healy strongly believes in customizing the surgery for each individual patient. As such, he will use his years of experience to make necessary variations in each technique to provide the best possible outcomes. Some of the different techniques are described below.

STANDARD TUMMY TUCK

With this procedure, an incision is made across the lower part of the abdomen, usually right above the pubic area. The incision will extend from hip to hip. Another incision will be made around the belly button. The skin of the abdomen will then be elevated off of the muscles all the way to the rib cage.

At this point, the muscles of the abdominal wall are inspected. There is often a separation (diastasis) of the rectus muscles. This separation can be due to pregnancy or weight gain. This separation causes a weakness in the central abdomen which can often account for the little “pooch” that patients get in their lower abdomen. 

The muscles will be pulled back to the midline (plication) with permanent sutures. The plication will dramatically flatten the tummy, strengthen the central portion of the abdomen and pull in the waist slightly.

After the muscles are tightened, the patient is sat in a flexed position and the loose skin is pulled inferiorly as tight as possible. The loose skin is removed and the incision is closed temporarily with staples. 

The new position for the belly button is then marked and an oval incision is made in the skin overlying the belly button. The original belly button is then sutured to the skin and abdominal wall. Dr. Healy takes great pride in his belly buttons and will give you a smaller, proportionate “innie” belly button.

One or two drains are usually placed and the skin incision is then closed. Dr. Healy uses a three- layer closure to give a strong, precise approximation of the edges to help provide the best scar possible. Steri-strips are then placed on the incision to re-enforce the closure. Gauze is placed over the incision and an abdominal binder (girdle) is put on the patient.

MINI-TUMMY TUCK

A mini-tummy tuck is a smaller version of the standard tummy tuck. This procedure is good for patients who just have a small amount of loose skin in the lower abdomen. Most patients are not ideal candidates for a mini-tummy tuck because they need more work done than it provides.

The incision for a mini-tummy tuck is significantly shorter than the standard. It is placed lower in the central abdomen just above the pubic area (similar to a c-section scar). No incisions are made around the belly button.

The skin is elevated just to the level of the belly button. Plication of the rectus muscles is not performed. A small amount of skin is removed and the incision is closed in the same manner as a standard tummy tuck.

MODIFIED TUMMY TUCK (UMBILICAL FLOAT)

This technique is a hybrid between the standard and mini-tummy tuck. This procedure is good for patients that don’t have a lot of excess skin but need more correction than a mini-tummy tuck can provide.

The incision length is somewhere between the standard and mini incisions. There is no incision around the belly button. The skin is elevated all the way to the rib cage but the belly button is left intact with the skin and is lifted off of the abdominal wall. Tightening of the abdominal muscles is done as needed.

The loose skin is pulled down and removed. The belly button is moved (“floated”) to a lower position and then sutured to the abdominal wall. The incision is then closed in the same manner as above.

WHICH TECHNIQUE IS RIGHT FOR ME?

During your consultation, Dr. Healy will examine you and help determine which procedure will give you the best results. He will explain the different options and review your pictures with you to help you understand what is a realistic expectation. He will customize the procedure for you to give you a flat tummy with all the curves in all the right places.

RECOVERY AND AFTERCARE

Recovery time depends on the type of tummy tuck you get. Typically, it will take a few weeks for you to recover from this procedure. You should expect some swelling, soreness, and pain, especially during the first few days of your recovery. Dr. Healy may prescribe medication to help you deal with the pain. 

You should avoid strenuous activities for at least four to six weeks after your tummy tuck. It is important to remember that each patient is different and every patient’s recovery process will look slightly different. Be sure to follow all aftercare instructions from Dr. Healy to ensure the recovery process goes as smoothly as possible.

If you have any questions about recovering from this procedure, be sure to ask Dr. Healy during your personalized consultation.

TUMMY TUCK COST

The cost of this procedure depends on multiple factors, like the technique used during surgery, the length of the procedure, the amount of tissue removed, and other variables. If you have any questions about the price of this procedure, be sure to ask Dr. Healy during your initial consultation.

SCHEDULE YOUR CONSULTATION TODAY

If you think you are a good candidate for a tummy tuck and would like to learn more about this procedure, contact the office of Dr. Jeff Healy to set up a consultation today. Dr. Healy is a highly acclaimed board-certified plastic surgeon who will be happy to answer any questions you may have and will help you get the body of your dreams.