Tummy Tuck

Give yourself back the stomach you once had.

Bringing a child into the world is one of life’s greatest gifts and pregnancy is one of the most beautiful moments in a women’s life. All moms would sacrifice anything for their child, including their bodies. But, for some of us, those changes can be more significant and difficult to accept in the long term. Pregnancy can result in skin excess, stretch marks and weak abdominal muscles that leave a tummy looking rounded long after their babies are born. It can make intimacy a little less comfortable, or stop you from wearing the clothes you want to wear – like a bikini or that little black dress. I was among the unlucky women whose stomach just didn’t snap back after I gave birth to my two beautiful daughters and a tummy tuck helped me take my body back!

A tummy tuck (or abdominoplasty) is a surgery whose goal is to reverse the changes caused by pregnancy. It’s also one of the procedures performed after a massive weight loss. It includes removal of the extra skin and stretch marks, tightening of the abdominal muscles to restore internal support and reconstruction of the belly button. This body surgery is often combined with liposuction of the love handles to provide an improved contour. Some patients will also combine a tummy tuck with a procedure to rejuvenate their breasts. We call this combination of procedures a “mommy makeover.”

The scar is placed low in the bikini line where it is hidden by your underwear or bikini. The length of the scar varies depending on how much skin needs to be removed, but it typically extends from hip to hip. There is also a discreet scar around the bellybutton. Accepting this scar needs to be reasonable exchange for the improvement that a tummy tuck will provide you. This is a very personal question that I can help you understand better at the time of our consultation.

For some women, with less significant post-pregnancy changes, a mini-tummy tuck may be the right choice. This procedure includes liposuction of the upper abdomen and a small skin excision in the bikini line, resulting in a shorter scar. This procedure does not allow us to tighten the abdominal muscles or move the belly button.

On a personal note, this is one of my favorite operations to perform. It is so rewarding to see the benefits that this operation gives a mom, after she has given so much of herself to her little ones. Combine with liposuction and a breast surgery for a full “mommy makeover”. A tummy tuck is an integral part of reconstruction after massive weight loss, often in combination with a buttock and thigh lift.

Abdominoplasty

This 28-year-old patient lost 77 lbs in the last 3 years. As a result, she was left with excess skin of the abdomen. She underwent an extended abdominoplasty. Her photos are 6 months post-op

Abdominoplasty

This 36-year-old young women (5’4, 125 lbs) was left with post-partum abdominal changes following the birth of her 3 children. She underwent an abdominoplasty. Her photos were taken 6 months post op.

Abdominoplasty

A 23-year-old young woman (5’6 ~ 188 lbs) lost 30 lbs in the span of a year leaving her with an undesirable abdominal pannus (overhang). She underwent an abdominoplasty. Her photos were taken 6 months post-op.

Abdominoplasty

Abdominoplasty

This 39-year-old mother of 1 (5’3 ~163 lb) lost 30 lbs on the keto diet leaving her with abdominal laxity and a diastasis post-partum. She is only 1 month post-op and will continue to evolve over the course of 6 months.

Abdominoplasty

This 45-yearold mother of twins (5’6 ~135lbs) experienced skin laxity and diastasis following pregnancy. She underwent an abdominoplasty to regain her pre-pregnancy abdomen. Her photos were taken 6 months post op

Abdominoplasty

After 3 children and a c-section, this patient was unhappy with how she looked and felt. This was a significant tummy tuck surgery and liposuction of the iliac crest/waistline to remove excess fat and loose skin.

Abdominoplasty

This 20-year-old female patient (5’7 ~150lbs) lost 150 lb at the age of 16. The weight loss left her with skin laxity and fat deposits. She underwent an abdominoplasty to remove loose skin and excess fat. Her photos were taken 6 months post-op.

Abdominoplasty

This 28 year old mother of one child came to see Dr. McGill postpartum. She had tummy tuck surgery as a way of regaining her figure after children.

Abdominoplasty

Pregnancy left this 28-year-old mother of one with significant stretch marks around her belly button and a pooch in the lower abdomen. She underwent a tummy tuck with a short inverted “T” scar in order to remove the stretch marks that were around her belly button. She’s looking forward to getting back into have bikini this summer!

Abdominoplasty

This 25 year old woman achieved an impressive 115 lb. weight loss with diet and excercise, leaving her with excess, loose abdominal skin. She is now 6 months post tummy tuck revealing the new shape that she had worked so hard to achieve. I am so happy to have been able to help her with her transformation.

Abdominoplasty

This 38-year-old patient experienced massive weight loss (38 kg – 84 lbs) following bariatric surgery. She underwent an abdominoplasty to repair her abdominal muscles and correct the lax skin.

Abdominoplasty

This 33-year-old female patient came to see me after losing over 55 lbs. She underwent an abdominoplasty with liposuction. I removed 2479g from the abdomen, 690 cc from the left backside and 700 cc from the right backside. Her after photos were taken 6 months following the surgery.

Abdominoplasty

This 51-year-old female (5’7 ~167 lbs) displayed skin laxity with an undesirable overhang. She underwent an abdominoplasty to correct her diastasis following pregnancy and remove ~1888 g of skin and fat. Her photos were taken at her pre-op appointment and 6 months following the procedure.

Abdominoplasty

After losing over 100 lbs, this 40-year-old patient underwent a circumferential abdominoplasty to address the abdomen, thighs and buttocks. The photos were taken one month after the procedure. The scar will continue to fade over the next 6-1 months.

Quick facts

How long is the the surgery?
2-3 ½ hours depending on the need for liposuction.

General or local anesthesia?
General anesthesia

Drains?
Yes, I use drains for this operation which are removed in the office around 7-10 days after the procedure.

Painful?
A tummy tuck is a surgery that requires a real investment in your recovery. For women who have had a C-section it feels very similar, as it will hurt to sneeze, cough, and belly laugh. During the first 48 hours, most patients will require strong pain killers.

When can I go home?
Most patients go home on the day of surgery, however we can arrange for nursing care the first night if needed.

When can I shower?
A shower is permitted after the drains are removed.

Recovery time?
Patients should expect to be in bed for the first 48 hours after surgery. Patients are ready to leave the house around 7-10 after surgery for short outings.

When can I go back to work?
2 weeks for an office job, up to 4 weeks for more physical work.

When can I exercise?
I allow my patients to gradually resume physical after 4 weeks.

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