After Weight Loss Tummy Tuck

A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is a useful way to address excess skin on the abdomen. It is a cosmetic surgery that can remove the sagging skin that comes from significant weight loss. A tummy tuck can give you a flatter and tighter midsection, as well as strengthen the abdominal muscles. 

At Advanced Concepts in Plastic Surgery, Dr. Suresh Koneru provides tummy tucks for patients in the San Antonio area. He is a board-certified plastic surgeon who has been delivering life-changing results for over 25 years. For more information, call (210) 499-5900 or contact us online.

Before and After Photos

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About Tummy Tucks

Weight loss can be a massive achievement. It can improve your health, appearance, and confidence. Unfortunately, it can sometimes lead to unwanted issues. If your skin is not able to conform to the new size of your abdomen after significant weight loss, you can be left with excess skin. This excess skin can sag, fold, and bunch in undesirable ways. This happens because the skin stretches along with the buildup of excess fat during weight gain. If the skin stretches too much, it cannot go back to its original form when the weight is lost. Having excess abdominal skin as a result of weight loss can lead to psychological and functional issues. ⁽¹⁾ Luckily, a tummy tuck procedure can treat this problem.

The first part of a tummy tuck involves the surgeon making incisions on the abdomen to remove excess fat and tissue beneath the skin. The second part involves using sutures to tighten the abdominal muscles. Surgeons remove the excess skin using the incisions and then pull the remaining skin tightly over the abdomen before they close them. This results in a slimmer midsection that is flat and firm. 

Benefits of Tummy Tucks

Tummy tucks can be a significant advantage for patients who have gone through the trouble of losing weight but still suffer from excess skin. They can help patients achieve the appearance that they deserve after all of their hard work in losing weight. Patients have renewed self-confidence and boosted self-esteem with the improved appearance that a tummy tuck can bring them. They feel comfortable wearing tight-fitting clothes and have no reluctance to wear a swimsuit. Receiving a tummy tuck from Dr. Koneru will help you look and feel better. 

Who is a Candidate for a Tummy Tuck?

A good candidate for a tummy tuck at Advanced Concepts in Plastic Surgery will have excess skin and tissue on their abdomen that they want to get rid of. They will be willing to undergo surgery to achieve their dream body. If this sounds like you, then a tummy tuck might be the right choice. 

If you need a tummy tuck due to weight loss, you are likely already in good health. Regardless, it will help to be as healthy as can be so you can heal properly and appreciate the benefits of this procedure. If you plan on losing more weight, you should wait to receive a tummy tuck. Having plateaued at your target weight will help Dr. Koneru to give you the best possible results. You should also have realistic expectations about what a tummy tuck can achieve for your appearance. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle will be the key to long-lasting results. 

Personal Consultation

At your personal consultation, Dr. Koneru will determine if a tummy tuck is right for you. He will ask you about the goals you have for your body. He will examine your body and let you know what cosmetic surgery can do to achieve them. He will also ask you some questions about any current medical conditions or allergies that you have. Let him know which medications and supplements you take. If you have had any previous surgeries, please tell Dr. Koneru about them as well. He may run some medical tests and recommend the best course forward for you. If he feels that a tummy tuck is the best option for you at this time, he will create a personalized plan for your treatment. At the end of your consultation, we can schedule your procedure appointment and give you instructions on how to prepare. To schedule your consultation, call (210) 499-5900 or fill out this form.

Preparation

Following your preparation instructions closely will help to ensure your treatment goes smoothly. They will include guidelines for your medicine, diet, and lifestyle, which Dr. Koneru will recommend based on your consultation. 

Here are some general tips for preparing for cosmetic surgery:

Tummy Tuck Procedure

At Advanced Concepts in Plastic Surgery, Dr. Koneru creates a personalized treatment plan for you that may include a drainless procedure. As a modern approach to traditional tummy tuck surgery, this method offers several key benefits that enhance the overall patient experience. Unlike conventional abdominoplasty procedures that utilize surgical drains to remove excess fluids, drainless abdominoplasty eliminates the need for these tubes altogether. This advancement not only streamlines the recovery process but also reduces the risk of complications associated with drain usage, such as infection and pain. Tummy tucks are also outpatient surgeries, which means you can go home on the same day instead of staying overnight.

What Kind of Anesthesia? 

A TAP block, short for Transversus Abdominis Plane block, is an advanced regional anesthesia technique designed to provide effective pain management for surgical procedures involving the abdomen. Dr. Koneru administers TAP blocks for long-term pain management that lasts up to 3 postoperative days. With the use of Exparel, a non-opioid medication, your recovery is more comfortable and has been shown to require less use of narcotics.

Fleur-de-Lis Tummy Tuck

For patients who have experienced significant weight loss, Dr. Koneru may need to make one long hip-to-hip incision below the belly button and a shorter vertical incision above to remove enough excess skin. ⁽²⁾ Through these incisions, he will remove excess tissue and any excess fat that remains. He will also use sutures to tighten up the muscles, improving the firmness of your midsection. Finally, he will remove the excess skin and close the incisions with your remaining skin in its new and tightened position. 

Circumferential Body Lift

A circumferential body lift extends the horizontal incision even further until the entire lower waist and back are included. During this surgery, Dr. Koneru addresses the abdomen, lower back, and often the lateral thighs by removing tissue from all the way around the lower body. This procedure results in a combination tummy tuck and buttock lift, improving your overall contour. It is reserved for those who have lost a large amount of weight and have excess tissue that extends toward the back. 

Recovery

What is FRAPS?

Dr. Koneru recommends a step-by-step recovery process called Fast Recovery After Plastic Surgery (FRAPS). The main goals of this protocol are to reduce the need for narcotic medication, shorten your hospital stay, and speed up your overall recovery time to get you back to your normal activities as soon as possible.

Although FRAPS will help considerably, recovery from your tummy tuck procedure will still require some downtime. Taking the time to rest and relax will help you heal and improve your results in the long run. For the first few days after your surgery, you may experience some redness, bruising, and swelling in your treatment area. Feel free to stand and take short walks to keep your blood flowing, as this will encourage healing. Most patients return to work one to two weeks after their surgery. This will depend on the physical demands of your job and the rate of your recovery. You should wait at least a month to resume strenuous activities or until you are fully recovered. 

Z Wave

To increase collagen production and promote circulation after your procedure, Dr. Koneru recommends receiving Z Wave acoustic wave body contouring treatments. With the use of sound waves, this treatment is non-invasive and effective in firming the skin, reducing swelling, and improving your results. 

Results

It may take up to six months for the swelling from your surgery to go all the way down. Until this time, you will not be able to see the final results of your tummy tuck. However, you should be able to see a noticeable improvement in your appearance immediately afterward. Your abdomen will be slimmer, tighter, and smoother. These results will be long-lasting, and leading a healthy lifestyle will help to prolong them. 

Additional Procedures 

At Advanced Concepts in Plastic Surgery, we offer additional procedures that can improve the results of your tummy tuck.

Liposuction

Liposuction is a cosmetic surgery that removes excess fat from the body. It can address fat that has built up in pockets and remains stubborn against diet and exercise. The procedure involves a surgeon making small incisions and using medical suction to remove fat cells.  Dr. Koneru often combines liposuction with tummy tuck procedures to remove excess fat from the abdomen before he tightens the skin. 

Mommy Makeover

A mommy makeover is a combination of procedures that can help to improve the appearance of women who have undergone pregnancy, lost weight, or are showing signs of aging. By combining multiple cosmetic surgeries within one procedure, mommy makeovers provide efficient, effective results. Procedures that Dr. Koneru often combines within mommy makeovers include breast lift, breast augmentation, breast augmentation with lift, tummy tuck, liposuction, and labiaplasty. 

How Much Does a Tummy Tuck Cost in San Antonio?

The cost of your tummy tuck treatment will depend on the extent of your cosmetic needs. To find out more about how much tummy tucks cost at Advanced Concepts in Plastic Surgery and to book your consultation with Dr. Koneru, call (210) 499-5900 or visit our contact page.

FAQ

References

1. Jacobs JMS, Schechner S, Jacobs JS. Abdominoplasty Following Massive Weight Loss. Seminars in Plastic Surgery. 2006;20(01):015-023. doi:https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2006-932445 
2. Mitchell RTM, Rubin JP. The Fleur-De-Lis Abdominoplasty. Clinics in Plastic Surgery. 2014;41(4):673-680. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cps.2014.07.007