How to Get Better Tummy Tuck Results

When people come to me for a tummy tuck at my Fairfield, CT, practice, I know they will be happy with their smoother, firmer abdomens after surgery. Like most good plastic surgeons, I get rid of extra skin, tighten lax or separated abdominal muscles, and even perform liposuction to improve their midsections.

But I am not happy with adequate tummy tuck results, I want outstanding tummy tuck results for my patients. I want them to have inconspicuous scarring, a natural looking belly button, and a slimmer waist, abdomen, and flanks. There are a few things I have chosen to do differently that enable me to create this caliber of results for my tummy tuck patients.

Candidate Selection

I tailor each tummy tuck to the individual patient, and each patient is unique. However, there are some criteria that must be met in order for you to enjoy the best results from your tummy tuck. Ideally, the best time for a tummy tuck is when you have reached your desired weight and maintained it for a while. If your BMI is too high, you’re at risk for numerous complications. Also, if you’re still losing weight after your procedure, you could end up with additional skin laxity.

Women should also be finished having children before undergoing a tummy tuck because future pregnancies could reverse the results.

Incision Placement

Scarring is perhaps the top concern I hear from prospective tummy tuck patients. The incision is a long one—typically spanning from hip bone to hip bone—and if it’s too high, it will be visible in underwear or a 2-piece swimsuit. I have modified my technique to utilize a very low tummy tuck incision, designed to be hidden even by the tiniest of bikini bottoms.

Liposuction

I typically perform aggressive liposuction as part of the tummy tuck operation. That means I sculpt the lower lateral abdomen, the upper abdomen, and the waist and flanks for optimal improvement. This gets rid of “love handles” or a “muffin top” and enhances the look of the new, flatter abdomen.

Liposuction is performed to get rid of stubborn fat and create optimal contours; it is not intended as a weight loss procedure.

Belly Button Precision 

The unnatural looking belly button can often be a tell-tale sign of a tummy tuck. The surgeon must make a belly button incision to release the umbilicus and pull down the skin. Sometimes the resulting scar and shape of the belly button are less than ideal.

I make sure to pay special attention in order to create a natural-looking and attractive “inny” belly button. I begin by taking great care in sculpting the tissues around it. Then I perform the inset and suturing of the new belly button so that the scar is concealed inside.

To see these enhancements for yourself, view my gallery of before-and-after photos. If you are interested in abdominoplasty, request a consultation or call our office at (203) 336-9862.

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