Like a woman’s breasts, the abdomen, waist, and hips can undergo significant changes over a patient’s lifetime. Age, genetics, pregnancy, and fluctuations in weight often result in excess skin, skin folds and rolls, excess fat, and changes in the abdominal muscles. Unfortunately it can be extraordinarily difficult to correct these with strict dieting and rigorous exercise alone.
A tummy tuck (aka, abdominoplasty) addresses all of these concerns by removing excess skin and fat and repairing the abdominal muscles in order to flatten and firm the midsection and reshape your waist and hips to create a curvier silhouette. This commonly performed procedure can give you a more toned, fit appearance and is often combined with liposuction to help you get rid of additional unwanted fat throughout your abdomen and flanks. A tummy tuck can also be very beneficial for new mothers who are having trouble getting back to their pre-pregnancy figures. This is why the procedure is often included in Mommy Makeovers and Daddy Do-Overs.
Tummy Tuck FAQs
Men and women who are (1) healthy, (2) want to eliminate excess skin and fat from the abdominal region, and (3) have realistic expectations are excellent candidates for tummy tuck / abdominoplasty.
All of our procedures are performed at our office in our JCAHO-accredited surgical suite. In other words, your surgery will be performed in a facility that has met the same standards as a hospital!
A tummy tuck / abdominoplasty typically takes three to four hours or less to complete and is performed under general anesthesia on an outpatient basis.
There are multiple ways to perform a tummy tuck / abdominoplasty. The technique that is chosen depends on each patient’s individual needs and aesthetic goals. That being said, Dr. DelMauro prefers to keep the horizontal incision as low as possible so that it can be easily hidden under underwear and swimsuits.
Dr. DelMauro prefers to keep the horizontal incision as low as possible so that it can be easily hidden under underwear and swimsuits. Additionally, Dr. DelMauro begins *proactive* scar management for all of his patients as early as two weeks after surgery. This maximizes the chances that scars are fine line, flat, pliable, and minimally visible.
The hallmark of an excellent tummy tuck / abdominoplasty is an attractive and natural-looking belly button. For many surgeons, this aspect of a tummy tuck / abdominoplasty is an afterthought. However, Dr. DelMauro spends a significant amount of time planning and redesigning a patient’s native belly button to achieve his signature result. This allows patients to confidently show off their midsections (and is the reason for so many of his new patient referrals!).
Yes. Dr. DelMauro almost always performs liposuction of the abdomen and flanks (and other areas) at the same time as a tummy tuck / abdominoplasty. He believes that these techniques work synergistically to create the highest-quality aesthetic outcomes in most patients.
With Dr. DelMauro’s rapid recovery protocol, most patients experience mild-to-moderate discomfort, aches, and tightness after tummy tuck / abdominoplasty surgery. However, the speed of recovery depends largely on your ability to follow the rapid recovery protocol. Most patients are able to return to their normal daily routine and work within 7-10 days. (However, patients are advised to avoid various activities for several weeks after surgery. Additional details will be discussed with you by Dr. DelMauro and is explained in the postoperative instructions provided to each patient.)
Yes. Typically patients wear a compression garment for six to eight weeks.
A tummy tuck is the perfect procedure for patients who wish to reduce excess loose skin around their abdominal area. Ideal candidates for a tummy tuck are within 20lbs of their ideal body weight, are in good general health, and have realistic expectations of their desired results. We also recommend patients wait to receive a tummy tuck until they are done having children, as pregnancy will disrupt their tummy tuck results.
It’s important to remember that a tummy tuck is not a weight-loss solution and should not be viewed as such. Instead, a tummy tuck should be viewed as a supplement to an already healthy and active lifestyle to enhance the body’s natural shape.
While there is no perfect age for a tummy tuck, we typically see patients in their 30s and 40s come in for tummy tuck consultations. Our medical professionals are happy to provide a tummy tuck to patients of all ages, ranging from women in their 20s who are done having children to men in their 50s following a significant weight loss.
The results of your tummy tuck have the potential to last a lifetime! This is because the stretched skin that is removed during the procedure is removed for good. It’s important to remember that the results of your tummy tuck may be disrupted by pregnancy or weight gain. For this reason, we ask patients to lead a healthy and active lifestyle to maintain their desired results.
Following your tummy tuck, it’s normal to experience swelling, bruising, and tenderness around your midsection and treated areas. These side effects are normal and typically resolve on their own within a few weeks of surgery. Our medical professionals will provide you with detailed post-operative care instructions to help you manage your discomfort following surgery and help you have a quick recovery.
To schedule a private consultation with Dr. DelMauro please contact our Concierge Patient Coordinators at (845) 454-8025 or email us at info@NYfaceMD.com.
