Tummy Tuck
In Mishawaka, IN

Tummy tucks are one of our most popular procedures for patients who want to dramatically improve the appearance of their abdomen after major weight loss or following pregnancy. When our bodies go through changes such as these, typically the abdominal region can no longer return to its original, youthful form.

Benefits

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Benefits of a Tummy Tuck

Do you find yourself with unwanted, excess skin on your tummy? You are not alone—this is a common frustration experienced by many of our patients at The Centre, P.C.

Excess abdominal skin can be caused by a variety of factors including genetics, diet, exercise, age, pregnancy, and certain medical conditions. If you are concerned about your abdominal area for cosmetic or medical reasons, you may be the ideal candidate for a tummy tuck.

A tummy tuck, also called an abdominoplasty, is a popular surgical procedure among both women and men who desire a flatter, tighter, and more contoured abdomen. A tummy tuck offers dramatic results by removing extra skin and tightening the abdominal muscles in order to make a protruding abdomen flat again.

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Candidates

mishawaka woman sitting on bed pinching tummy before a tummy tuck

Am I a Candidate For a Tummy Tuck?

For patients who want to dramatically enhance the appearance of their abdomen, a tummy tuck can be the ideal procedure. This surgery is designed to help patients who want to feel good when looking in the mirror – especially from a side view!

Prior to your surgery you will meet with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons. You will be required to:

  • Avoid nicotine products for at least 4 weeks before the procedure and 4 weeks after
  • Avoid Motrin, Aspirin, and other blood thinning medications for 7 days prior to the procedure
  • Maintain a healthy and balanced diet

Following all pre and post-operative instructions carefully will help you reduce the risk of complications and ensure a smooth recovery.
Depending on the complexity of the procedure, an abdominoplasty can take between two to five hours under general anesthesia.

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Before & Afters

Testimonials

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Real Patient Testimonials/Reviews

Techniques

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What to Expect During Your Tummy Tuck

Your surgeon will make a horizontal incision typically from hip bone to hip bone, lift the abdominal skin from the abdominal muscles, and the abdominal wall will be surgically repaired with permanent sutures to help shape and define the waist. The belly button will then be repositioned and sutured in place, the excess abdominal skin will be discarded, and drainage tubes will be inserted to remove excess fluid. The incision will then be closed with dissolvable sutures and surgical grade skin glue.

You will also be provided with a few compression garments to help control swelling. The drains will be removed in our office about a week or more after surgery. The end result: a smooth, tight, flat abdomen.

Recovery and Aftercare

Recovering from a tummy tuck requires patience and adherence to your surgeon’s instructions for the best outcomes. Immediately after the procedure, you will likely experience some discomfort, swelling, and tightness in the abdominal area. Pain is typically manageable with prescribed medication.

During the first 4 weeks, it’s important to limit activity and rest while wearing your compression garment to reduce swelling and support your healing tissues. Walking short distances can help improve circulation and prevent blood clots. Most patients can resume light activities within two to four weeks, but strenuous activities and heavy lifting should be avoided for six weeks or more.

Follow-up appointments will be scheduled to monitor your progress and remove drains, usually within 7–14 days post-surgery. Scars will continue to fade over time, and silicone scar strip treatments may be recommended to aid healing. By closely following all aftercare instructions, you can enjoy a smoother recovery and optimal results.

Risks and Considerations

As with any surgical procedure, a tummy tuck carries some risks. Common risks include infection, bleeding, scarring, and anesthesia-related complications. While rare, more serious complications like blood clots or poor wound healing can occur. Our experienced surgeons take every precaution to minimize these risks and ensure your safety throughout the process.

Before your surgery, we will review your medical history and discuss potential risks in detail to help you make an informed decision. It’s essential to follow all pre and post-operative instructions, such as activity restrictions, cessation of all nicotine products and taking certain medications to reduce the chance of complications. Additionally, maintaining a stable weight and leading a healthy lifestyle after surgery can help preserve your results and minimize the likelihood of needing a revision procedure in the future.

If you have concerns about the risks or how they might apply to your unique situation, our team is here to provide guidance and address your questions during your consultation.

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Call The Centre, P.C. Today!

If you have excess abdominal skin that prevents you from living your best life, a tummy tuck may be right for you! Our experienced board-certified plastic surgeons can improve the appearance of your abdomen and bring back your confidence. Schedule a consultation with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons today to find out how a tummy tuck can transform your body and your life.

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FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

A tummy tuck is performed by making an incision just above the pubic area. The length of the incision will depend on the type of tummy tuck that you decide on. Another incision is made around the navel or belly button. The skin is then separated from the abdominal wall to reveal the abdominal muscles. The muscles are tightened by using a permanent stitch. This allows the surgeons to be able to achieve the flattest abdomen possible. The skin is then pulled over the abdomen and as much excess skin as possible is removed. A new incision is made for the navel. Finally, the incision is closed, and a bandage is applied. A temporary drain will be placed in the pubic region to help drain excess fluid that accumulates during and after the procedure. This drain will be removed approximately 7 to 14 days following your surgery.

The tummy tuck procedure can be broken down into four types of tummy tucks offered at The Centre, P.C.

A mini-abdominoplasty, or mini- tummy tuck repairs the lower abdominal wall and involves removal of excess skin. The mini- tummy tuck leaves the smallest scar. However, ideal candidates have very little excess skin and fat deposits in the abdomen.

A standard tummy tuck tightens the entire abdominal wall muscles and removes excess skin, leaving a scar that extends from hip bone to hip bone across the lower abdomen. The scar is easily concealed below the bikini line.

An extended tummy tuck tightens the entire abdominal wall and removes excess skin from the flanks along with the abdomen. This procedure leaves a scar which extends around to the flanks.

Finally, a circumferential tummy tuck tightens the abdominal muscles and removes excess skin from the abdomen, flanks, and back/trunk. The incision is placed around the entire lower body.

Your plastic surgeon will evaluate your health and assess your abdominal region at your consultation to help determine which type of tummy tuck would be most suitable for you. One of the plastic surgeons at The Centre, P.C. will see you at your consultation and one additional appointment will be scheduled prior to your surgery.

After your tummy tuck, moderate pain and discomfort are expected. Many women compare it to the pain felt following a c-section. You may not be able to stand straight immediately following surgery, but you will be able to walk slowly shortly after surgery. A support garment will be worn to help reduce swelling and provide extra support to the abdomen. Within several weeks post-op, you should be able to move around more freely.

Like all scars, your tummy tuck scar will be red and raised at first but fades beautifully over time. Our surgeons purposely make their incisions just above the pubic region, so you are able to wear low-cut bottoms or bathing suits. We also provide you with silicone scar strips to help speed up healing and minimize the scars appearance.

Many abdominoplasties are successfully performed by a qualified plastic surgeon. As with all procedures, there is always a possibility of certain risks and complications. Complications such as infections and blood clots are rare but can occur. Infections are treated with antibiotics and close monitoring by our surgeons. Poor healing can cause a larger scar than necessary, which may require a second procedure.

All risks and complications can be minimized by carefully following your surgeon’s instructions.

If you have had a tummy tuck and you are considering adding a new addition to the family, it is natural to be concerned. You might be worrying about any potential negative effects or risks that your tummy tuck procedure would have on your pregnancy. Additionally, you may be wondering if your tummy tuck will prevent you from having more children in the future.

While our board-certified plastic surgeons do highly recommend that you should choose to have a tummy tuck only after you have completed your family, it is key to understand that your tummy tuck will not prevent you from having children in the future, nor does it put you at a heightened risk for pregnancy complications. If you have been asking yourself whether you can have children after a tummy tuck, read on to learn more.

If you have had a tummy tuck, you should understand that you are generally not at a heightened risk for future pregnancy complications. All pregnancies, regardless of whether they happen before or after you have this surgery, can have complications. Patients who get pregnant following their tummy tuck procedure have an equally high chance of carrying a healthy, full-term pregnancy as women who have never had an abdominoplasty.

You may be concerned about the potential negative effect that your tummy tuck can have on your future pregnancy and family planning. Additionally, you might be anxious about potentially wasting your beautiful tummy tuck results and the money that you have spent to get them. These are very real concerns.

Unfortunately, pregnancy typically results in weight gain and abdominal stretching. You could once again have excess skin and a protruding abdomen. These issues will likely require surgical correction and revision in order to restore your original tummy tuck results. It is very likely that, if you do become pregnant following abdominoplasty, you may elect to have a revision procedure in the future.