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).

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

For post-weight-loss patients, Dr. Unger or Dr. Amaka may also recommend a circumferential abdominoplasty or a body lift to tighten loose skin at the hips, buttocks, or thighs. Nashville Plastic Surgery Institute’ founder, Dr. G. Patrick Maxwell, helped pioneer body lift procedures and has extensive experience in these operations, which generally yield dramatic results and extremely grateful patients.

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

There are three major categories of patients that come for 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.

As skilled and renowned body contouring surgeons and innovators in new plastic surgery approach, Dr. Unger and Dr. Amaka are passionate about providing natural, aesthetically pleasing results in every procedure. They will assess your shape carefully, review your health history, and explain your options before crafting an individualized surgical plan focused on your needs.

Sagging 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.

Dr. Unger and Dr. Amaka place the incision for a tummy tuck strategically low and “bikini” friendly. The belly button is positioned carefully, and an “innie” belly button is created. The use of silicone therapy and scar gels following surgery are methods that 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 time 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 in the recovery of patients. 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, as it is the LONG-TERM results that are important. How 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.