For women or men who feel unhappy with the loose skin or bulging of their midsection, an abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, may help restore your confidence. A tummy tuck removes excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen while tightening the muscles of the abdominal wall. While this procedure can leave a scar on the lower abdomen, most people find it a very worthwhile trade-off for significantly improved body contours.

Dr. Lee B. Daniel is board-certified in both general surgery and plastic surgery and specializes in tummy tucks and other body contouring procedures for men and women. Together with his team at Aesthetic Plastic Surgery in Eugene, Dr. Daniel is dedicated to helping you meet your appearance goals through cosmetic surgery.

If you’d like to learn more about whether a tummy tuck is right for you, contact our office in Eugene today for more details or to schedule your consultation.

Before Your Tummy Tuck

While a tummy tuck may be an option for anyone unhappy with the appearance of a belly paunch, the procedure is commonly performed for women who have had children, along with men and women who have undergone weight loss and are left with a significant amount of excess skin. The appearance of loose skin can also develop as a result of age. Women also frequently undergo tummy tuck surgery as part of a mommy makeover, which includes breast reshaping.

Before your procedure, you will meet with Dr. Daniel for a consultation where you can talk together about your expectations and appearance goals. Depending on your preferences and physical evaluation, Dr. Daniel will explain whether a good candidate for the procedure and what kind of results you can expect.

Your Tummy Tuck Procedure

Abdominoplasty can be ideal for sculpting the abdomen by removing excess skin and fat and tightening the musculature underneath. Because Dr. Daniel believes that the best cosmetic surgery results come from customized procedures that are tailored to each patient, he offers more than one option for tummy tuck surgery:

  • Full (Traditional) Tummy Tuck: For a full tummy tuck, a horizontal incision is made very low in the abdomen (just above the pubic bone), along with a small incision made inside the navel. The size of the incisions is determined by the amount of skin that will be removed. This technique includes tightening the abdominal wall with internal stitches.
  • The Mini Tummy Tuck: A limited tummy tuck, or mini tummy tuck, is best for removing excess skin on the lower abdomen only. A shorter incision is made at the pubic bone below the navel, and excess skin and fat are removed. Typically, a mini tummy tuck does not offer the same level of correction as a full tummy tuck.
  • Skin Only Tummy Tuck: Some patients have a flat abdominal wall with only loose skin above and below the navel. No abdominal wall tightening is necessary the incisions are the same as a traditional tummy tuck.

For patients with stubborn deposits of excess fat around the midsection, the tummy tuck may be paired with liposuction for more refined abdominal contours.

Recovering from Your Tummy Tuck

The results of your tummy tuck may be difficult to see immediately after surgery because standing fully upright is challenging during the first few days after the procedure. This should improve after about a week, as swelling lessens and you can stand comfortably again.

Dr. Daniel may recommend you wear a compression garment following surgery to keep your midsection supported and promote healing, as well as refraining from vigorous activity that could prolong the healing process. If a traditional tummy tuck is performed, it should be six weeks or more before core muscle exercise is done.

As your final results become more visible, you should enjoy a flatter, firmer tummy along with a more well-defined waistline. Although a tummy tuck won’t help you lose weight, many men and women notice that the absence of excess skin and tissue makes it easier to find clothes that fit and feel more confident with their improved body contours.

Schedule a Tummy Tuck in Eugene Today

To learn more about your options for tummy tuck surgery, please contact our Eugene office, which is conveniently located near the Oakway Center.

FAQ

Am I a good candidate for a tummy tuck?

You may be an excellent candidate for a tummy tuck if you struggle with loose skin and belly fat that doesn’t seem to respond to diet or exercise. Many tummy tuck patients are also bothered by separated abdominal muscles, which commonly occur after pregnancy or significant weight gain.

Excess tummy skin can also be a concern after weight loss for both men and women. The best tummy tuck candidates should be in good overall physical and mental health with realistic expectations about their results.

How can I choose the best type of tummy tuck for me?

Abdominoplasty can be ideal for sculpting the abdomen by removing excess skin and fat and tightening the musculature underneath. The ideal type of tummy tuck for you depends upon a variety of factors, such as your appearance goals and the amount of excess skin present.

The best tummy tuck results come from customized procedures that are tailored to each patient, so three options are available from our practice:

  • A full tummy tuck includes tightening the abdominal wall and removing both skin and fat.
  • A mini tummy tuck uses a smaller incision and includes a minimal amount of excess skin removal and muscle repair.
  • A skin-only tummy tuck can be ideal for patients with a flat abdominal wall who have limited excess skin.

In cases where patients also have stubborn deposits of excess fat around the abdomen, the addition of liposuction can provide additional fine-tuning.

Can I just get lipo instead of a tummy tuck?

Liposuction can be great for patients who want to remove stubborn pockets of fat that don’t respond well to traditional exercise, such as the love handles. However, if you have loose skin in addition to excess fat, a tummy tuck may give you better body contouring results. Determining if liposuction alone can give you the desired results can be discussed in more detail during your consultation.

Isn’t a tummy tuck just for women?

Although pregnancy is one of the most common reasons that women find themselves left with stretched-out tummy skin, both men and women can see positive benefits from abdominoplasty, including women who haven’t had children. Some patients have undergone massive weight loss that left behind excess abdominal skin, and a post-weight loss tummy tuck can help complete the transformation that you’ve worked so hard to achieve.

What about scarring?

Every effort is made to place incisions in the most discreet locations possible and to keep incision size to a minimum. However, as with any surgery, some scarring is inevitable. Typically, a tummy tuck scar is placed low on the abdomen, where it can be easily hidden by everyday clothing or even swimwear. Most patients feel that their results are well worth the trade-off.

How soon will I see my final results?

You should notice a change in your abdominal tightness immediately following your surgery, although standing up straight may be difficult at first. As the swelling lessens over the next few weeks, you should be able to stand more comfortably and start to see a flatter belly.

Wearing a compression garment following surgery can help support your midsection, reduce swelling and keep you comfortable. Your final results will continue to develop more fully over the next several months. After a tummy tuck, you should notice that the absence of excess skin and tissue makes it easier to find clothes that fit, and feel more confident with your slimmer, firmer midsection.

Meet Dr. Lee B. Daniel

Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Lee Daniel is trusted by people who want a meticulous, deeply caring doctor.

Meet Dr. Lee B. Daniel

Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Lee Daniel is trusted by people who want a meticulous, deeply caring doctor.

Dr. Lee B. Daniel, Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
N/a
244 Country Club Rd
Eugene OR   97401