Tummy Tuck
(Abdominoplasty)

Generally we perform a mini tummy tuck in our office-based surgical suite using local anesthesia and intravenous sedation (twilight sleep). An abdominoplasty is performed in an ambulatory surgical center or hospital using general anesthesia as an outpatient procedure.

How Long Does a Tummy Tuck Surgery Last?

An complete abdominoplasty usually takes two hours. A mini tummy tuck is somewhat shorter in duration. After surgery you are cared for in a recovery area for a minimum of 1 hour prior to being discharged home. You will need a driver and someone to stay with you for at least the first 24 hours after surgery.

Tummy Tuck Procedure

Most commonly, an incision is made from hipbone to hipbone, just above the pubic area. A second incision is made to free the navel from surrounding tissue. With a mini abdominoplasty the incision is much shorter and the navel may not be moved.

Next, the skin is separated from the abdominal wall all the way up to your ribs and a large skin flap is lifted to reveal the vertical muscles in your abdomen. Pulling them together with suture material tightens the muscles. This provides a firmer abdominal wall and narrows the waistline.

The skin flap is then stretched down and the extra skin is removed. A new hole is cut for your navel, which is then stitched in place. Finally, the incisions will be stitched and a temporary drainage tube will be inserted to drain excess fluid from the surgical site. Dressings and a girdle will be applied.

In a mini abdominoplasty, the skin is separated only between the incision line and the navel. This skin flap is stretched down, the excess is removed, and the incision is stitched together.

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A good candidate for a tummy tuck are men or women who are in relatively good shape but are bothered by a protruding abdomen, large fat deposit or loose skin that won’t respond to diet or exercise. The surgery is particularly helpful to women who, through pregnancies, have stretched their abdominal muscles and skin beyond the point where they can return to normal. Loss of skin elasticity in older patients, which frequently occurs with slight obesity, can also be improved.

A personal consultation at one of our Milwaukee offices is the first step for every patient considering an abdominoplasty. During this meeting, one of our board-certified plastic surgeons will evaluate your physical and emotional health and discuss your specific goals for surgery.

During your physical examination the doctor will determine the extent of muscle wall laxity, fat deposits in your abdominal region, and carefully assess your skin tone. We will also discuss alternatives and the risks, goals, limitations of each.

If, for example, your fat deposits and excess skin are limited to the area below the navel, you may require a less complex procedure called a mini abdominoplasty, which can often be performed in our office-based surgical suite. You may benefit from liposuction in the hips and flanks for fat removal for a better body contour.

In any case, we will work with you to recommend the procedure that is right for you and will come closest to producing the desired body contour.

For the first few days, your abdomen will be tight and swollen. You’re likely to feel moderate pain and discomfort that can be controlled by medication. We will give you instructions for post-operative care. Though it may be difficult to stand up straight at first, you should start walking as soon as possible.

It may take you weeks or a month or two to feel like your old self again. Some people return to work after two weeks, while others take three or four weeks to rest and recuperate.

Gentle exercises will help you feel better. Even people who have never exercised before should begin an exercise program to reduce swelling, lower the chance of blood clots, and tone muscles. Vigorous exercise, however, should be avoided until at least 6 weeks after surgery.