Tummy Tuck

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Tummy Tuck Surgery

Following a pregnancy or weight loss, many women find that they’re faced with overly stretched abdominal muscles and loose skin. A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is the most effective way to remove excess skin, create a tighter abdominal wall, and trim the waistline. Dr. Scott Haydon and the experienced team at Austin Plastic Surgery Institute & Skin Care Clinic can perform a tummy tuck procedure that will give you the physique you desire post-pregnancy or after major weight loss.

How Is A Tummy Tuck Performed?

Dr. Haydon knows that each tummy tuck patient has a different reason for the procedure with specific goals in mind. You will meet personally with Dr. Haydon to discuss your desired results, personal health, and concerns about the procedure. Once it’s determined that you’re a good candidate for a tummy tuck procedure, Dr. Haydon and his team will schedule your surgery. During a tummy tuck, Dr. Haydon may need to stitch together the abdominal muscles just under the skin to create a tighter abdominal wall. This can be necessary for women whose pregnancy has severely stretched the abdominal muscles and created a diastasis. For most tummy tuck procedures, the excess skin is removed and the muscle tightened to create a flatter and tighter mid-section. Dr. Haydon injects a medicine called Exparel that is a long-acting local anesthetic. He also uses a progressive tension suturing technique. These two things have markedly improved results and recovery. He is able to do most tummy tucks without a drain! The procedure will produce a slightly visible scar, but Dr. Haydon is mindful to place it in a low position where it would be covered by a bathing suit or underwear.

Photo Gallery

View before-and-after pictures of real patients of M. Scott Haydon, M.D.

The tummy tuck procedure takes less than two hours. In most cases, there is an additional 1-2 hours of liposuction, depending on the patient. Recovery time varies, but two weeks is typically necessary to be fully functional. Driving is usually possible after 10-14 days. You can shower after 1-2 days.

Ideal Candidate For Tummy Tuck

If recent weight loss or a post-pregnancy body has you questioning if you should get a tummy tuck, there are a few things to keep in mind.

• A tummy tuck cannot be performed as an alternative to losing weight and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
• Tummy tuck candidates usually have a BMI of 30 or less and have maintained a stable weight for some time.
• You’re not planning another pregnancy.

Am I a Candidate for a Mini-Abdominoplasty?

The mini abdominoplasty is reserved for those patients with very little skin excess and not a very wide diastasis. They typically have just a small pooch inferiorly and need only a little tightening. The scar is in the same position, but it is slightly shorter. This method does not have the ability to remove as much skin as the traditional abdominoplasty, nor can it tighten the muscle as effectively. Only about 5-10% of the tummy tucks Dr. Haydon does are mini abdominoplasties.