Gulf Coast Plastic Surgery logo
Call Us: (850) 476-3223
Visit Our Skin Care Site: The Skin Care Center

Tummy Tuck

Conveniently located to serve Pensacola, FL.

Book Appointment
Studio portrait ethnic dark skin female model in bikini

Tummy Tuck Overview

A tummy tuck is the ideal procedure to give you a tight mid-section and help restore firmness to your abdomen. Liposuction is often done in conjunction with a tummy tuck to help define the waistline and enhance the final results of a tummy tuck.

Guide To Tummy Tuck

What I Wish I Knew

Tummy Tuck Procedure

Through a horizontal incision on your lower abdomen, excess skin and subcutaneous fat are removed. Also through this incision, your abdominal wall muscles are sutured together to improve your abdominal contour. There are no sutures to remove as they are all internal. The resultant scars are a horizontal scar across your lower abdomen and a small scar around your belly button. Depending on your abdomen, one or two drains will most likely be placed to aid in the healing process.

Typical Timing/Age

>35-65 years old

Cost

$9,200 *This is an estimation & prices may vary. An exact price will be given at your consultation appointment.

Problem

Excess abdominal skin and subcutaneous fat. Abdominal wall muscle laxity. This is usually caused by pregnancy, weight fluctuations and aging.

Goal

To improve abdominal contour.

Facility

Surgery Center or Hospital

Preparation

Patients should be at a stable weight and cannot be using any nicotine-containing substances.

Anesthesia

General anesthesia

Hospital Stay

This is outpatient surgery. In the vast majority of cases, patients go home after surgery.

Positioning

After an abdominoplasty, you will need to keep your hips flexed at all times for 1-2 weeks to help minimize the tension on your skin incision. This means walking around a little hunched over and sleeping in a recliner or in bed with pillows under your back and your knees.

Work

1-2 weeks, depending on your type of work.

Bruising

Usually subsides after 2-3 weeks

Risks & Complications

Hematoma, seroma, infection, poor scarring, dehiscence, delayed wound healing, skin necrosis, asymmetry, numbness, thromboembolism, contour irregularities, need for revision, complications related to anesthesia.

Frequently Asked Questions

Thinking about a tummy tuck? If you’re unhappy with the appearance of your abdominal area, this procedure may be the best solution. Here are the top tummy tuck questions asked by our patients today.
Will a tummy tuck help stretch marks?
Yes, a tummy tuck can help with hip area stretch marks in some cases. Your doctor uses a low incision, which means he can pull the thigh skin to lessen the appearance of hip area stretch marks. Although the stretch marks remain, they’re much less obvious.
What is the recovery time?
The recovery time for tummy tuck surgery can vary according to the complexity of the procedure. Most patients should allow about two weeks for recovery. You can generally do light activity once you feel well enough, but it’s very important to avoid moderate to heavy activity for six weeks. To achieve the best tummy tuck recovery — and the best results from your surgery — it’s very important that you have realistic expectations about the outcome and that you closely follow all of your doctor’s instructions. We’re here to support and guide you to help you get the results that you want.
Am I a good candidate?
Tummy tuck candidacy depends on several things, all of which your doctor will discuss with you. You need to be in good overall health to undergo the anesthesia for a tummy tuck. It’s also important that you’re as close as possible to a healthy weight. Tummy tuck surgery isn’t intended to be a weight loss surgery, but rather to remove extra skin and fat to create improved contours in the abdominal area. It’s best to have a tummy tuck only after you’re done having children. Pregnancy changes the whole abdominal area, so results could be undone with future pregnancies. If you’ve recently had a child, it’s best to allow several months before undergoing a tummy tuck to ensure that the uterine contraction is complete. This allows your doctor to tighten the muscles more effectively.
Where are the scars located?
The tummy tuck scar is in the lower abdomen, above the pubic mound. The length of the scar can depend on several factors, including the amount of skin and fat being removed. You’ll have tape on the incision area for around six weeks post-surgery. Your doctor will recommend a scar-fading regimen to use after that time. Your scar will usually fade naturally until it’s eventually very faint.
What should I expect post-op?
After your tummy tuck, you can expect some pain in early recovery. Your doctor prescribes medication to help you manage this effectively. It’s important to take all medication exactly as directed for maximum relief and comfort. You’ll need to rest and relax as much as possible in the days after your surgery, as this allows for the best and most rapid healing. You can usually resume light activity like walking within a week, but avoid lifting or any type of abdominal muscle contractions. Take it slow and easy, and you’ll usually start to feel better within only a week or so.

Assistance

You will need someone to help take care of you after surgery as you will not be able to lift children, heavy items, etc.

Walking

You are encouraged to walk around as much as possible to help reduce the risk of DVT and thromboembolism.

Showering

After 48 hours, you should remove your dressings and take a shower.

Exercise

You will need to wait 2 weeks for light exercise, 4 weeks for regular exercise, and at least 6 weeks for abdominal exercises.

Sex

Wait 2 weeks because you don’t want to stress your incisions or increase your blood pressure during the early healing period.

Related Procedures

Smile Free and happy woman

Arm Lift

Smiling attractive woman with blue tank top

Upper Body Lift

Shot of an anonymous natural female body in black underwear

Mini - Tummy Tuck

Slim dark skinned female model in underwear wears high waist panties and cropped top poses against brown background has flat belly and slender legs

Belt Lipectomy

Before & After Gallery

Procedures are performed by board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons, Dr. Butler, Dr. Leveque, and Dr. Patterson in Pensacola, FL.

Liposuction before and after photos
View Gallery
Female models of different ages celebrating their natural bodies

Meet Our Team

At Gulf Coast Plastic Surgery, we understand that the selection of a plastic surgeon is an extremely important decision for any prospective patient. We believe communication, education and individualized patient care are the foundation for creating a strong and trusting patient-physician relationship. Our entire staff is absolutely committed to providing compassionate, personalized, individual attention before, during, and after surgery. We work together to deliver the best possible aesthetic outcomes in a setting that embodies the standards and lifestyle you seek.

 

Read More
Dr. Butler, Dr. Leveque, and Dr. Patterson all from Gulf Coast Plastic Surgery

We Accept Financing

Gulf Coast Plastic Surgery offers a variety of payment options so that your cosmetic surgery will suit your budget. All major credit cards are accepted, and financing plans are available.

Learn More

Our Reviews

View Testimonials