Tummy Tuck in Charlotte, NC
If you struggle with loose skin and a little extra weight around your belly, despite eating right and exercising, you’re in good company. From mothers who long to regain their pre-pregnancy figures to people who undergo dramatic weight fluctuations, the tummy is a common and persistent “problem spot” for many. Luckily, expert surgeons Dr. Bryan Criswell and Dr. Kara Criswell can help you smooth and trim your midsection with a tummy tuck in Charlotte, NC.
Tummy tucks can treat:
- Loose, sagging skin
- Separated abdominal muscles
- Excess abdominal fat
A tummy tuck, also known as an abdominoplasty, is one of the most common plastic surgery procedures performed at Criswell & Criswell Plastic Surgery. It also happens to be one of the most common surgical procedures performed across the nation. This procedure not only removes excess skin and fat from your abdomen, but can flatten and tighten your abdominal muscles and midsection, leaving you with a trimmer and toned tummy.
Another great benefit of a tummy tuck is that it can easily be combined with other procedures, such as a breast augmentation or, liposuction or as part of a Mommy Makeover, which can address a variety of concerns following pregnancy.
Candidacy for Tummy Tuck
A tummy tuck may be a good treatment option for women after childbirth, men and women who have lost significant amounts of weight, and individuals who have developed a protruding abdomen that appeared through aging. You may be a good candidate for this procedure tuck if you:
- Have loose, excess skin around abdomen
- Have weak, stretched, or separated abdominal muscles
- Are in good general health
- Are not planning to become pregnant
- Have reached a weight within 15 to 20 pounds of your ideal weight
- Are not planning to lose more weight
When is a Tummy Tuck Needed?
Many people work hard to achieve a flat, toned belly with diet and exercise, but their efforts are not always successful. Even women and men with a normal body weight may have a loose, sagging abdomen, or an unattractive protruding belly. This is a common problem that can be caused by:
- Significant weight fluctuations
- Pregnancy
- Aging
- Heredity
- Prior surgeries
Stubborn fat deposits in the abdomen may not respond to your best efforts with exercise and diet. Pregnancy can stretch the skin beyond the point of return and cause weakened or separated abdominal muscles. When the problem cannot be corrected by eating well and working out, a tummy tuck in Charlotte may be the best treatment option to restore a fit, trim appearance to the abdominal area.
Tummy Tuck Consultation
Before tummy tuck surgery at Criswell & Criswell Plastic Surgery in Charlotte, you will meet with one of our respected North Carolina plastic surgeons for a consultation. The doctor will discuss:
- Your treatment goals
- Any previous surgeries
- Current medications, vitamins and herbal supplements
- Drug allergies, medical conditions and treatments
- Drug use
It is important to be completely candid during your consultation. Your surgeon will evaluate your general health and risk factors, take “before” photographs, discuss your options, and recommend the most appropriate treatment.
Tummy Tuck Procedure
Also known as abdominoplasty, our Charlotte tummy tuck surgery is performed to remove excess skin and fat from the belly and, in many cases, to restore separated or weakened abdominal muscles to create a firmer, smoother profile. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia or intravenous sedation.
For a full tummy tuck procedure, a horizontally oriented incision is made low enough to be hidden by bathing suits and underwear in most cases. The amount of excess skin and tissue will determine the length and shape of the incision. Our surgeon will place the incision as discreetly as possible.
The skin on the abdomen is lifted and weakened muscles underneath are repaired. If there is excess skin, fat and tissue in the upper abdomen, a second incision may be needed around the navel to correct the problem.
After the muscles are repaired, the abdominal skin is pulled down and the excess skin is trimmed. The skin is then sutured together. The surgeon will create a new opening for the belly button, pop it through to the surface, and suture it into position. Finally, the incision is closed with sutures, skin adhesives, clips, or tapes.
Benefits of a Tummy Tuck
Tummy tuck surgery can streamline your silhouette and give you a firmer, flatter abdomen.
This procedure can remove large amounts of loose, stretched-out skin, as well as areas affected by stretch marks, for a tighter, smoother appearance of the skin on the belly. It can give you a slimmer waist, more feminine contours, and raise self-esteem and confidence.
In addition to its amazing aesthetic benefits, a tummy tuck can also have significant health benefits. It removes excess fat on the belly, lowering the risk of life-threatening diseases associated with increased fat close to the body’s organs. This surgery can help restore weakened core muscles which are involved in all we do, including breathing, lifting, and sitting.
Tummy tuck surgery in which the abdominal wall is strengthened can be combined with ventral hernia correction to help prevent the hernia from occurring in the future. Poor posture with a “sway back” often occurs when abdominal muscles are weak. A tummy tuck can improve abdominal tone and posture and help relieve some types of back pain.
Risks of a Tummy Tuck
Candidates should always explore the risks as well as the benefits of a surgical procedure. Tummy tuck surgery carries a small risk of complications. The most common risks include:
- Reaction to general anesthesia: A qualified anesthesiologist can quickly identify any problems and take steps to prevent them from becoming worse.
- Blood clots: Blot clots that form inside blood vessels after surgery can cause serious complications. To reduce your risk of blood clots: be forthcoming about your medical history and list all your medications; wear compression stockings as instructed; and begin taking slow, gentle walks as soon as possible after surgery.
- Infection: To reduce the risk of infection, follow your surgeon’s wound care instructions carefully. Infections that develop after surgery are treatable with drains and antibiotics.
- Slow healing: Younger patients in good physical condition tend to heal faster than those who are older and less fit. Smoking complicates circulation of oxygen to the cells and slows the healing process.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much downtime is involved with a tummy tuck in charlotte?
Our Charlotte tummy tuck procedure is surgical, so yes, there is downtime. Keep in mind that every patient is unique, and if you elect to have other procedures performed along with your Charlotte abdominoplasty procedure, there may be a different downtime. Typically, patients are able to return to normal activities within two weeks.
Will I have a Scar?
Yes, but it will be strategically placed so that it can be easily hidden behind the line of your pants or underwear. The tummy tuck procedure can easily be combined with many surgical procedures, including liposuction, breast augmentation, or vaginal rejuvenation.
How Long Will My Results Last?
Results can be maintained for patients who continue a healthy lifestyle. Significant weight gain can negate the effects of the tummy tuck procedure. Likewise, so can pregnancy; for this reason, we recommend patients who plan to get pregnant wait to pursue this procedure.
When can I see my results?
Some results can be immediate; however, it can take a few months to see optimal results as your body adjusts to its new contours. Contact us today for arguably the best tummy tuck Charlotte, NC has to offer.
How Long Does Tummy Tuck Surgery Take?
Depending on the extent of the procedure, abdominoplasty can take anywhere from one to five hours to perform. You will need to recover from anesthesia at our state-of-the-art surgical facility in Charlotte, NC, after which you must have a friend or family member drive you home.
Can a tummy tuck get rid of love handles?
Love handles are composed of excess fat that has accumulated in the waist. These localized fat deposits can be stubbornly resistant to exercise and diet, and many women and men are looking for effective ways to remove them. However, this procedure is not specifically designed to remove deposits of stubborn fat in the waist or hips. To accomplish this, we recommend liposuction performed in combination with tummy tuck surgery.
Is a tummy tuck painful?
s abdominoplasty in Charlotte, NC is performed under general anesthesia, patients do not feel pain during procedure. When you wake up from the anesthesia, you can expect pain, swelling, and bruising in the abdominal area, which will subside over time. Medications will be prescribed to control post-surgical pain and discomfort.
To help reduce swelling and bruising after tummy tuck surgery:
- Drink plenty of water
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet
- Limit sodium intake
- Walk every day to increase circulation and promote healing
