Tummy Tuck in Nashville

Name: Tummy Tuck
Brand: Nashville Plastic Surgery Institute
Rating: 5 (200 reviews)

A smooth, firm abdomen enhances the entire body’s appearance of fitness and vitality. However, despite regular exercise, you may still struggle with lax abdominal muscles or excess skin in your midsection, which can affect your physique overall.

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Get New Body Contours with a Belly-Flattening Abdominoplasty in Nashville, TN

Abdominoplasty in Nashville is sought out by both men and women seeking improvement in their midsection. Dr. Jacob Unger has received extensive accolades for his innovative approaches to body contouring, including tummy tucks, breast augmentation, and more.

A tummy tuck is not a weight loss surgery and is most ideally performed on individuals who are close to or at their ideal body weight.

Tummy tucks are very gratifying procedures. Patients get to feel the liberation of going shopping, picking out something on the rack, and having it fit.

Find out more about the benefits of a tummy tuck in Nashville when you request a consultation with Dr. Jacob Unger or call to get in touch with the office by phone.

What is a Tummy Tuck?

A tummy tuck can firm and flatten the body after pregnancy or weight loss, restore the position of torn or sagging abdominal muscles, tighten and smooth loose abdominal skin, and remove lower-abdominal fatty deposits.

The most common type of tummy tuck is a traditional one, which involves repositioning the belly button to its anatomically correct position on the abdominal wall.

A mini-tummy tuck involves removing excess skin from the abdomen below the belly button (umbilicus) without repositioning the belly button.

A tummy tuck at Nashville Plastic Surgery Institute accomplishes several changes that work together for a flatter, more toned abdomen. Our reliable results make it one of the most commonly performed cosmetic surgeries in the United States each year.

What Does a Tummy Tuck Involve?

A standard tummy tuck in Nashville has three different components, which can be customized to fit your lifestyle and needs and achieve maximum improvement for your shape. These include the following:

Muscle Tightening

Weight fluctuations and childbearing can overstretch and tear the abdominal muscles. Your surgeon will restore the muscles or their fascial cover to their original position as necessary by stitching them together for a retightened contour. In some healthy patients, this step can be minimized to speed up the recovery process.

Fat Removal

Many patients will choose to combine a tummy tuck with liposuction for smoother results that show off their natural muscle tone.

Skin Tightening

Muscle tightening and fat removal result in a tight and flat abdomen as well as a slimmer waistline, so your plastic surgeon will tighten and trim away excess skin and reposition the point where the belly button comes through the skin (the belly button itself will not move).

For post-weight-loss patients, Dr. Unger may also recommend a circumferential abdominoplasty or a body lift to tighten loose skin at the hips, buttocks, or thighs. Nashville Plastic Surgery Institute’s founder helped pioneer body lift procedures, using techniques that all NPSI surgeons have since adopted.

During your consultation, we will examine you, discuss your goals, and decide together on the plan that best suits your needs.

Tummy Tuck Before & After

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What Makes a Good Tummy Tuck Candidate?

There are three major categories of patients that seek out a tummy tuck: Those who have had stretching of the skin and separation of the midline rectus muscles and resultant bulging following pregnancy and childbearing, those who have lost a substantial amount of weight and have loose and saggy skin resulting from weight loss and desire improvement in this area, and patients with stubborn skin and fat in the midsection that persists despite efforts to diet and exercise.

The following describes good candidates for a tummy tuck:

Loose, excess skin over the abdomen
Bulging of the mid-abdomen due to midline muscle separation (rectus diastasis)
Excess skin and stubborn fat deposits over the abdomen and sides
Abdominal changes after pregnancy with stretching of the skin and bulging due to separation of the midline muscles
Excess skin after weight loss

What Happens Before a Tummy Tuck?

As a skilled and renowned body contouring surgeon and innovator in new plastic surgery techniques, Dr. Unger is passionate about providing natural, aesthetically pleasing results in every procedure. He will assess your shape carefully, review your health history, and explain your options before crafting an individualized surgical plan focused on your needs.

Lax abdominal tissues have many different causes, and customization and accuracy are key factors in your surgical success. When you meet with your plastic surgeon, you can be confident that their extensive experience in a full selection of body contouring techniques and years of surgical experience offers you safe, high-quality options and results that accurately match your objectives.

tummy tuck infographic

What Are Tummy Tuck Surgery Details?

Dr. Unger places the incision for a tummy tuck strategically low in a bikini-friendly location. The belly button is positioned carefully, and an “innie” belly button is created. Silicone therapy and scar gels are used following surgery to assist with the healing process.

The surgery takes two to four hours. Surgery is performed under general anesthesia at a fully accredited surgical facility. The incisions are closed in multiple layers with absorbable sutures that dissolve over time. Surgical tape is placed over the outermost incision, and you will be placed in a garment.

Generally, recovery for a tummy tuck is two weeks. You will be advised to stay away from work for that period. If your work involves heavy lifting with no light-duty option, you may be required to be off of work longer. You are restricted from heavy lifting (greater than 5 lbs) for six weeks. You will initially be slightly bent at the waist after your tummy tuck surgery. Gradually, each day, you will straighten up until you are completely straight. This process takes about one to two weeks.

You will remain in your first-stage garment for three weeks. You will be placed in a second-stage compression garment after this point. You will be advised to remain in a compression garment for a total of three months.

Tummy tuck recovery is generally one of the most difficult recoveries for patients. This is mostly due to muscle repair. We use Exparel, which is a long-acting pain medicine injected at the time of surgery. This lasts about three to five days. This greatly helps patients recover. It is important that you have a good support system and someone who will be able to help you with simple things such as meals, getting in and out of bed, and other activities common to daily living.

We will continue to follow you and monitor your long-term recovery. After the initial post-operative period, during which you will be seen fairly regularly, your follow-up appointments will be yearly. For us, the relationship does not end after surgery; we value your long-term results and well-being. How our patients look and feel months and years after surgery is as important—if not more important—than how they look and feel weeks after surgery.

Frequently Asked Questions Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

Will I Need Liposuction?

The majority of patients benefit from liposuction with the tummy tuck. Dr. Unger utilizes liposuction with tummy tuck to enhance the contour and results.

How Long Should I Remain Bent/Hunched Over After Surgery?

You will be slightly bent at the waist just after surgery, as we will remove as much skin as possible. Each day for about one to two weeks you will straighten up incrementally until you are completely straight.

Will My Scar Be Visible?

We position the tummy tuck incision so that it can easily be hidden by the bottom of a two-piece swimsuit. Dr. Unger use silicone therapy after the procedure to maximize healing and results.

Is The Belly Button Scar Visible After Surgery?

We position and suture the belly button carefully and create an “innie” belly button so that the scar is essentially imperceptible.

What concerns can a tummy tuck address?

A tummy tuck can improve a protruding abdomen caused by loose skin, separated abdominal muscles, and localized fat deposits. It is commonly chosen after pregnancy or significant weight loss to create a flatter, firmer midsection.

What is the difference between a traditional tummy tuck and a mini tummy tuck?

A traditional tummy tuck removes excess abdominal skin and typically includes repositioning the belly button, while a mini tummy tuck focuses on excess skin below the belly button and does not require belly button repositioning.

Can a tummy tuck be combined with other body contouring procedures?

Yes. Many patients choose to combine a tummy tuck with liposuction to enhance body contouring results and create a smoother, more defined abdominal appearance.

How is the tummy tuck incision placed?

The incision is strategically placed low on the abdomen in a location that can typically be concealed beneath most underwear or swimwear styles. The procedure also includes careful shaping of the belly button for a natural appearance.

What type of anesthesia is used during tummy tuck surgery?

Tummy tuck surgery is performed under general anesthesia in a fully accredited surgical facility. The procedure generally takes between two and four hours, depending on the extent of correction required.

How long does follow-up care continue after a tummy tuck?

Patients are monitored closely during the initial recovery period and continue with long-term follow-up appointments. After early post-operative visits, annual evaluations help ensure lasting results and ongoing well-being.

Abdominoplasty at NPSI

Dr. Jacob Unger, a board-certified plastic surgeon, offers tummy tuck in Nashville to create a flatter, more toned abdomen. This procedure removes excess skin and fat while tightening weakened abdominal muscles for a smoother contour. Dr. Unger’s meticulous approach ensures natural-looking, personalized results tailored to your goals.