Tummy Tuck in Dallas, TX

For adult individuals, sagging skin, loose muscles, and unwanted fat along the abdominal line can be a source of frustration despite efforts to reduce it. Significant weight loss, childbirth, and aging are the most common reasons our patients may not succeed at trying to attain a slim and tight tummy. An abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) through our team at Setty Plastics & Aesthetics is a body contouring treatment that reshapes the abdomen producing extraordinary outcomes for patients. Dallas, TX board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Naveen Setty performs tummy tuck surgeries that are tailored to the patient's needs for opportunity to have a youthful shape and restored confidence.

Tummy tuck can be successful for both women as well as men. If you have sagging skin in addition to unwanted fat in the abdomen, this cosmetic surgery can help you regain a slim and more toned figure. Before undergoing this treatment, Dr. Setty suggests that you be at a stable weight and not be a smoker. Tummy tuck surgery is not a procedure to help you lose weight — it focuses on excising the loose skin.

A form of liposuction is usually incorporated during the procedure to target fat. If your abdominal area has good skin tautness, but you still are not satisfied with the appearance of your midsection, you may consider liposuction. 

Body contouring of the abdomen is performed with a general anesthesia at an accredited medical center or hospital. There are various techniques to consider when this surgery is performed. To start, the incision type is chosen based upon the level of excess skin that should be excised. Patients with extensive loose skin might benefit most from an extended tummy tuck. A full or extended tummy tuck makes the incision from hipbone to hipbone just on top of the pubic line. Some individuals with minimal skin looseness but still feel troubled by their appearance may be better candidates for a mini tummy tuck. These patients will still get amazing results with skin tightening, but will simply have a less expansive scar. Regardless of the technique used, all tummy tucks at Setty Plastics & Aesthetics tighten the loose muscles and eliminate the sag of the tummy.

Although the risks of a tummy tuck are rare, you may experience symptoms such as fluid accumulation, poor wound healing, bleeding, numbness, blood clots, and infection in the incisions. Dr. Setty will discuss the risks and advantages of abdominoplasty with you during your surgery preparation phase.

Following this procedure, you will be carefully examined and sent home wearing a compression garment to decrease swelling. You may be given prescriptions to fill for managing your pain and to prevent infection. Walking upright will be challenging in the first few hours, so you should take it easy for a few days. Physical movement will become less painful once the tightness subsides and the incision heals. You can resume everyday functions within two weeks. Workouts can begin around 6 – 8 weeks or earlier if you are given permission by Dr. Setty. The stomach will feel tight and uncomfortable, but once healed you will look and feel normal again. 

Even with a surgical incision placed in an area that will be hidden with clothing, you will have some scarring from the surgical incision. With time, the scar will fade. We also encourage the use of a scar therapy medication (such as embrace®) that helps decrease the visibility of the scars.

Living behind loose folds of skin can be annoying and frustrating. Abdominoplasty is usually the primary way to overcome it. If you are embarrassed by the hanging skin in your abdominal region, no matter how minimal or severe, cosmetic surgery by Dr. Setty in Dallas, TX may allow you to get the body you desire. We invite you to call Setty Plastics & Aesthetics for more information.

How is pain controlled after a tummy tuck?

While narcotic pain medications will be prescribed to help manage discomfort after your surgery, I attempt to minimize the need for narcotics as much as possible. Prescriptions for 2 specific medications (Celebrex and Gabapentin) are given for you to take on the morning of surgery. These medications take effect before any incisions are made to help minimize your body’s pain response. I also inject as much local anesthetic (lidocaine) as I can to areas where incisions will be made. Again, I do this injection (while you are asleep) before the incision is made to help blunt your body’s response. Next, I inject a long acting local anesthetic called Exparel into the muscles of the abdomen during surgery. This medication can last up to 72 hours and really helps with the initial discomfort after surgery. Finally, we send you home with a muscle relaxer to take after surgery. Some of the discomfort after a tummy tuck occurs due to the muscle tightening performed. Muscle relaxers can really help alleviate that muscle spasm.

How long do I need to take off work after a tummy tuck?

I recommend that patients take at least 2 weeks off from work. If you are able to work from home, you may be able to return to some level of work after 7-10 days. If your job is more physically active, you may need as much as 3-6 weeks off work. We can discuss this further at the time of your consultation.