Tummy Tuck San Antonio

Tummy Tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, is an operation that serves to remove excess skin and fat, while also tightening the muscles.

Tummy Tuck Procedural Steps

The goal of a tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, is twofold: we want to remove excess skin and fat from the lower abdomen, and we want to tighten up the body wall muscles that have been stretched out from a variety of causes including pregnancy, weight loss, or congenital formation. To do this I excise excess skin, pull the rest of the tummy skin tight, and sew the widened muscles/fascia together in the midline.

Can I do Liposuction instead?

Liposuction removes fat, whereas a tummy tuck removes both skin and fat. Most of the time if a woman has had pregnancies (or after significant weight loss) there is loose skin that ultimately is not improved by liposuction alone. So while I could physically remove fat, usually I feel like it is not going to get her the change she wants.

Also, after pregnancy the stomach muscles (really the fascia) are usually pretty stretched out, and a tummy tuck tightens these, whereas liposuction will not.

That being said, a younger woman with good skin tone who has not had babies may benefit from liposuction alone. And other women may too, as there are exceptions to the above guidelines.

What about the scar?

It would be great if we could make the significant changes that a tummy tuck achieves without a scar. However, in this case, you cant’ get something for nothing. In other words, the scar is the price you pay for achieving the improvement in the rest of the abdomen. I try to keep the scar low where it would hide under a bikini or underwear, understanding that even then it may not accommodate all styles.

There is also a scar around the belly button. Sometimes this is a great scar and sometimes it is a so-so scar. It does take time (months) for the scars to fade, but usually they are usually acceptable when they mature.

Does it matter if I have had a C-section?

No. I will put the tummy tuck incision below the C-section incision, and it will be removed.

Can’t I just do sit-ups instead?

Of course you can do sit-ups. And more exercise is always better than less. But exercise will NOT tighten your skin, and it will NOT tighten loose fascia. Imagine a ballcap. If a person borrows a cap from a person with a bigger head, he or she can tighten the strap in back so that it is smaller. This is sort of like the tightening you get in the fascia during a tummy tuck.

Will tummy tuck get rid of stretch marks?

There is no direct treatment for stretch marks. However, tummy tuck removes most of the skin from the lower abdomen, which also happens to be where stretch marks are most common. Stretch marks above the belly button move down to the bottom of the abdomen, and they are sometimes less visible when they are tight.

Can I combine other procedures with tummy tuck?

Yes. I commonly perform other procedures with tummy tuck. Often breast augmentation or breast lift, and sometimes liposuction accompany tummy tuck.

What is the recovery?

This operation does require some getting over. I ask people to take it easy for two weeks. That being said, I want folks to not be too immobile. I want you moving around. The first week can be tough, but usually folks start to feel better in the second week. Ask us about the pain ball.

Tummy Tuck Surgery Cost

Unfortunately, there are costs associated with cosmetic surgery, and with San Antonio tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) in particular. Some women need more work than others, and therefore the cost may vary from one person to another. Let me be clear-my first goal is to provide quality care and meet your expectations. Fees are an unfortunate byproduct of the process. We treat every patient as an individual. While we might be able to give you an idea of costs over the phone, we really need to see you to give you an exact cost. And when we quote fees we will quote you the entire costs-facility, anesthesia, surgeon, and any other ancillary fees. Usually the only extra costs are prescriptions. See my post entitled Plastic Surgery Cost Explained for more information.

Conclusion

Tummy tuck is a procedure that can have a dramatic change for a woman’s abdomen. Feel free to browse my tummy tuck photo gallery to see some results.

Contact us and call the office at 210-495-4100 during business hours for more information. My staff is very helpful and can answer lots of questions. You are welcome to come visit them at no cost and they can show you everything you ever wanted to know about tummy tuck!

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