Tummy Tuck

Tummy Tuck

If your abdomen is lax and flabby from pregnancy or weight loss, sometimes no amount of exercise and healthy eating will fix it. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Jackie Yee sculpts flatter and tighter abdomens through abdominoplasty, also called a tummy tuck. At her practice in Miami, she offers traditional tummy tuck surgery, as well as mini abdominoplasty procedures.

If you’re frustrated with sagging skin and a protruding belly, request a consultation using the online form to learn about body contouring at the Miami office. Or call (305) 670-9995 to schedule an appointment.

Who are the Best Candidates for a Tummy Tuck?

If you exercise regularly and maintain a healthy lifestyle yet are still not satisfied with your abdomen’s appearance, an abdominoplasty – or tummy tuck – may be right for you. A tummy tuck isn’t weight-loss surgery, and good candidates for the procedure maintain a fairly stable weight.

Depending on each case, tummy tucks address three main issues: excess fat, excessive skin, and stretched muscles. In many cases, though, Dr. Yee recommends having liposuction performed at the same time as a tummy tuck to further sculpt your body.

Candidates for tummy tuck surgery typically:

• Have separated abdominal muscles due to pregnancy or weight loss
• Have stretch marks on their abdominal skin
• Have excess, sagging skin on their abdomen
• Have focused fat over their abdomen area

What to Expect

Procedure

Tummy Tuck

‍Description

People interested in full tummy tucks generally want to slim and tighten their upper and lower abdomens. A curvilinear bikini incision is used to do this, and the navel is naturally reconstructed. Dr. Yee makes these incisions so that they are easily hidden beneath even the tiniest swimsuit or underwear.

The separated abdominal muscles are repaired, which creates a flatter profile and slimmer waist. Excess skin is pulled down to the incision and trimmed away. Mini tummy tucks don’t involve the navel and require a smaller incision just above the pubic area.

General anesthesia is used during tummy tucks. The length of the procedure ranges from approximately 2 to 4 hours. Liposuction is often done at the same time to properly sculpt the torso or other areas of concern.

‍Recovery

Tummy tucks are safe surgeries when performed with general anesthesia. At the practice, the pre- and post-operative regimen has been optimized to support recovery. All tummy tuck patients spend the evening of surgery at the recovery facility.

With specialized care from trained staff, your recovery will be safe and as easy as possible. The staff ensures you remain comfortable throughout your stay. Dr. Yee routinely uses a pain pump device that significantly decreases postoperative discomfort, making recovery much easier.

Patients are educated about properly caring for themselves before going home after surgery. Most tummy tuck patients have drainage tubes inserted to remove excess fluid. They are easy to use after receiving instructions from the staff. Your follow-up appointment will be scheduled before you are discharged from the recovery facility.

Mini Tummy Tuck

Selected men and women might be good candidates for the less extensive mini tummy tuck (mini-abdominoplasty) procedure. A mini tummy tuck is a good choice if most of your laxity and excess skin is below your navel.