Advanced Plastic Surgery Institute
1981 E. Bonanza Ct. Suite 102
Gilbert, AZ 85297
Phone: (480) 466-7355
Monday-Thursday: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Patients searching for a plastic surgeon in Phoenix choose to travel to Gilbert for tummy tuck surgery because of Dr. Olson and Dr. Marks’ background, training, experience, and consistent results. You can read more about our surgical fees and your financing options on our Patient Resources page.
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The cost of a tummy tuck varies depending on the extent of the procedure. Dr. Olson and Dr. Marks combine liposuction with most tummy tucks, and the cost of the surgery increases when liposuction is needed for multiple areas.
Pregnancy is the most common reason women get a tummy tuck, but loose skin after weight loss is another big motivator for both women and men. When the abdominal muscles and skin become permanently stretched, surgical correction is typically the only solution. A tummy tuck can:
Enhancing a single aspect of your appearance can inspire you to address other areas you wish to improve. Ask us about combining your treatment for a more complete and stunning transformation.
All tummy tucks remove excess skin, and some also repair stretched abdominal muscles, but there are variations in the procedure. With their advanced training and knowledge, our plastic surgeons will advise you on which option would work best for your concerns. Here are some of the different kinds of tummy tucks:
Also called a traditional tummy tuck, this option is the most commonly performed tummy tuck. It addresses the entire abdomen from the sternum to the pubic area. The incision, which can be easily covered by underwear or a bathing suit, spans across the lower abdomen, roughly from hip to hip. A second incision encircles the bellybutton’s inside edge and is used to free it from the abdominal skin. If the underlining abdominal muscles were separated during pregnancy, your surgeon will pull them back together and secure them in place with sutures to shape and flatten the abdomen. Dr. Olson and Dr. Marks then smooth the abdominal skin down and remove the excess. The bellybutton is brought through the skin, reshaped (if necessary), and sutured in place.
This variation, which is appropriate for very few patients, treats only the lower abdomen below the bellybutton. It involves a smaller horizontal incision and no incision around the bellybutton. Scars are smaller and less recovery time is required.
Some call this technique, which is common after massive weight loss, an extended abdominoplasty, belt lipectomy, or body lift. The extended tummy tuck continues the full tummy tuck incision around the entire midsection above the buttocks to the lower back. In addition to removing a band of skin all the way around the abdomen, this technique removes excess skin on the outer hips and buttocks. A second incision is placed around the inner bellybutton with this technique as well. Visit our Post-Weight Loss Surgery page to learn more.
While liposuction is frequently used to complement a tummy tuck, it can be performed on its own. Here’s how to know which procedure is right for you.
A tummy tuck can:
Liposuction is highly versatile, offering the following benefits and limitations:
Pairing a tummy tuck with liposuction yields excellent results, including:
Patients usually go home on the day of surgery. You will need to have a trusted adult drive you home and assist you for the first few days. If you have young children, it’s important to have someone at home with you to care for them. Other considerations during recovery include:
The results of your tummy tuck should be noticeable immediately and continue to improve over the following year. If liposuction is performed, swelling may persist for 4 to 6 weeks in those areas. Dr. Olson and Dr. Marks’ tummy tuck patients are consistently happy to have firm, flat, more youthful-looking abdomens again. They often feel more comfortable and confident in an expanded choice of clothing options, including bikinis.
One of the most appealing things about tummy tuck surgery is that its results are likely to last as long as you want them to. In order to preserve their results, our plastic surgeons advise our tummy tuck patients to avoid significant weight fluctuations after surgery, including additional pregnancies. By sticking to a healthy lifestyle and maintaining your weight, excess skin and fat won’t reappear, and your abdominal muscles will stay strong and toned. Although tummy tuck surgery doesn’t stop the aging process, it can significantly improve the condition of your abdomen when diet and exercise fall short.
Although all surgical procedures, including tummy tucks, leave scars, Dr. Olson and Dr. Marks will take care to place the incision as low as possible to make the scar easily concealed by most underwear and swimsuits. The extent of scarring depends on the technique used and how your body heals. Our plastic surgeons will discuss scar prevention and treatment with you. Patients usually feel that the scar is well worth the improvements they gain from this procedure.
Although a healthy diet and regular exercise routine can go a long way toward improving the look of your body, these healthy habits can’t always give you the firm, toned look you want — especially when excess skin is involved. For many people, pregnancy or a rapid, substantial weight loss (such as that which occurs after bariatric surgery) can leave behind a layer of sagging skin that’s impossible to reduce without surgery. During a tummy tuck, Dr. Olson and Dr. Marks remove this skin and often tighten loose or weakened abdominal muscles for a deep, balanced improvement.
Tummy tuck surgery is not a weight loss procedure, and it’s not appropriate for people who are significantly overweight. For patients who are overweight, our plastic surgeons typically recommend attempting diet and exercise adjustments before plastic surgery. However, the results of tummy tuck surgery can often help people keep their weights low by motivating them to maintain healthy lifestyles, a great ancillary benefit. If you’re unsure of your candidacy, Dr. Olson and Dr. Marks can help you determine whether the surgery is a good match for you during an in-person consultation.
Dr. Olson and Dr. Marks offer 3 distinct versions of tummy tuck surgery to meet the diverse needs of their patients. A full tummy tuck is the standard procedure that improves the look of the entire abdomen, from the sternum to the pubic area. It typically requires a horizontal incision that extends from hip to hip and an incision around the navel. Our surgeons perform the mini tummy tuck in Gilbert, AZ, using a smaller incision. This version focuses on the area below the navel for a more targeted improvement. Finally, an extended tummy tuck, also known as a body lift, is a more invasive procedure that lifts and tones the entire midsection, including the back, buttocks, and thighs. During your consultation, our plastic surgeons perform a thorough physical evaluation and makes a recommendation based on your specific concerns.
Yes! In recent years, a combination operation called a mommy makeover has steadily increased in popularity. This procedure typically combines a tummy tuck, breast enhancement, and liposuction into a single surgery for a significant improvement of the areas most affected by pregnancy and childbirth. A mommy makeover is completely customizable and may also include facial procedures or another type of body contouring for personalized results. Our plastic surgeons are excited about the possibilities this procedure can offer their patients.
Because tummy tuck surgery typically involves removing excess skin to create a tighter contour, it is possible that some tattoos can be altered or removed completely by the surgery. Similarly, tummy tuck surgery can also remove abdominal stretch marks and C-section scars. If you’d rather not alter the look of your tattoo, talk to Dr. Olson and Dr. Marks during your consultation. They may be able to adjust their surgical technique to suit your needs.
Allow our plastic surgeons to make your goal of a trimmer abdomen a reality with a tummy tuck. Contact our Gilbert office at (480) 466-7355 or request a consultation online.
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