The localized weight gain and subsequent loss that occurs with pregnancy and childbirth is tough on a woman’s body. The weight is gained in such a central location that after delivery and loss of any remaining baby weight the skin usually cannot tighten back down to its former degree of tautness. The same can happen if a person gains and then loses a good deal of weight.
The result is a stomach pooch that is basically impossible to remove with changes in diet and exercise. Fortunately, Dr. Richard D’Amico & Dr. Julie Ferrauiola can perform tummy tuck surgery to remove excess skin and tighten separated stomach muscles, giving you a flat stomach and a slimmer contour. Call (201) 567-9595 to schedule a consultation at our office in Englewood, NJ to learn more about the procedure and find out if you are a good candidate.
What is a Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)?
Board-certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Richard D’Amico specializes in body contouring surgery. He performs abdominoplasty, often called a tummy tuck, to help women and men have a flatter, younger-looking abdomen and a slimmer waistline. A tummy tuck can address all 3 layers of the abdominal wall – the skin, the fat, and the muscle. Dr. D’Amico & Dr. Ferrauiola can also customize the procedure to enhance only 1 or 2 layers as needed*. After carefully reviewing your cosmetic concerns, he will make this decision with you at your consultation.
Am I a Good Candidate for a Tummy Tuck?
Ideal candidates for abdominoplasty are healthy men and women who have sagging, stretched abdominal skin and lax or separated abdominal muscles caused by:
- Weight gain and loss: If you have lost weight through diet and exercise or surgical assistance (such as LAP-BAND® surgery or gastric bypass), Dr. D’Amico recommends that you lose most of the weight you desire before undergoing a tummy tuck. If you are not at your ideal weight, Dr. D’Amico & Dr. Ferrauiola can use liposuction to remove some of the fat that has collected on the torso and allow the tummy tuck to be performed sooner.
- Pregnancy: Tummy tuck procedures are particularly popular for women who have had children. You should wait at least 6 months after your last pregnancy to allow the abdominal skin and muscles to naturally tighten as much as possible. If you are planning future pregnancies, it’s usually best to wait and have the tummy tuck afterward. Another option is a Mommy Makeover, which generally incorporates a tummy tuck along with liposuction and a breast enhancement procedure such as a breast lift or breast augmentation. These combined procedures help restore your body’s contours and undo the changes of pregnancy.
- Natural aging: Dr. D’Amico also performs a Menopausal Makeover, which is a comprehensive program of diet, exercise, and localized body contouring to remove unwanted changes many women experience with menopause.
Abdominoplasty Before & After
Types of Tummy Tucks
Dr. D’Amico & Dr. Ferrauiola personalize each tummy tuck to the unique needs and aesthetic goals of the patient. His surgical techniques include:
- Complete Tummy Tuck – This is appropriate for the majority of patients because it renews the entire abdominal area. With this technique, Dr. D’Amico & Dr. Ferrauiola remove excess skin and fat above and below the belly button, and he repairs and tightens abdominal muscles. This technique requires an incision that runs between the hip bones low enough to be concealed by underwear and swimsuits. A second incision is hidden within the natural creases of the belly button.
- Mini Tummy Tuck – Also known as a limited abdominoplasty, this involves a shorter incision than the complete tummy tuck, running just above the pubic bone. This technique tightens the abdomen below the belly button and is appropriate for a small number of patients. The recovery period after a mini tuck is usually shorter than for a complete tummy tuck.*
If your concerns are mostly below your belly button, then a mini tuck may suit your needs, but most people get better results from a complete tuck. Dr. D’Amico & Dr. Ferrauiola will discuss the advantages of each option with you and share his recommendation.
How Dr. D’Amico Performs a Tummy Tuck
Dr. D’Amico & Dr. Ferrauiola performs abdominoplasty procedures in his nationally accredited (AAAASF), on-site surgical facility under appropriate anesthesia. For most patients, he makes an incision in the groin area (bikini line) and lifts the skin to expose the muscle layer. He repairs any separated muscles and re-drapes the skin, removing the excess before applying sutures. He can usually remove any stretch marks that were below the belly button along with the excess skin. Depending on your unique cosmetic needs, Dr. D’Amico & Dr. Ferrauiola may use liposuction to remove excess fat on the waist and flanks to put the finishing touches on your new contour.
What Procedures Can Be Combined with a Tummy Tuck?
You may have heard of a mommy makeover. This isn’t a specific procedure; it’s simply a moniker to describe the combination of a tummy tuck, breast lift (with or without augmentation), and liposuction into a single surgical session. Dr. D’Amico & Dr. Ferrauiola combine these procedures to address all of the areas impacted by pregnancy, delivery, and breastfeeding.
Otherwise, a tummy tuck can be combined with a thigh lift or buttocks lift. For these procedures the lower incision is extended around the flanks and to the back. A thigh lift will also involve an incision in the groin area in some cases.
Enhancing Your Postoperative Comfort
In the past, because of the surgical manipulation of abdominal muscles required during this procedure, significant postoperative pain was a deterrent for some potential patients. Fortunately, the pain can now be virtually eliminated with the use of what we refer to as the “pain pump,” which is a tiny catheter inserted at the time of surgery.
The pain pump drips numbing medication right onto the affected muscles, which are typically the cause of most of the post-surgical pain, 24 hours a day to relieve virtually all the muscle pain and avoid the need for heavy drugs or oral narcotics. This means a more comfortable, quicker, and better quality of recovery!
Abdominoplasty Recovery
After tummy tuck surgery, you will wear an abdominal support garment continuously for several weeks to provide support and minimize swelling. During surgery, 1 or 2 surgical drains are inserted into the skin near the groin. This prevents the build-up of fluids that the body naturally produces as part of the healing process. These small tubes are usually removed within 1 to 2 weeks as fluid production decreases *.
It’s important to stand and begin walking within a day or 2 of surgery to promote healing and prevent blood clots from forming in your legs. For the first several days, expect to walk slowly and carefully, slightly bent forward. Most patients feel ready to return to work in about 2 weeks. You will need to avoid heavy work or strenuous exercise for 4 to 8 weeks. The final outcome will depend on the resolution of swelling, but it is usually seen in 4 to 6 weeks*.
Will I Have a Scar After a Tummy Tuck?
A tummy tuck actually involves the longest incision in cosmetic surgery. In most cases, the incision stretches from hipbone to hipbone. This is necessary to remove excess sagging skin across the entire stomach area. Dr. D’Amico & Dr. Ferrauiola descend the incision down to the upper pubic area so that it can be hidden under a bathing suit bottom or underwear. But there will be a scar. Over time it will fade and become less and less noticeable.
If I Plan on Having More Children Can I Still Have a Tummy Tuck?
During his tummy tuck consultations, Dr. D’Amico & Dr. Ferrauiola stresses that the potential patient be sure she does not want to have any more children after this surgery. Why? The localized gain and loss of weight will stretch the skin and create the same sagging that merited the surgery in the first place. You’ll lose your results. Plus, it’s likely you will stretch and distort the incision scars.
Bottom line? If you think there’s even a chance that you may want to have another child, now is not the time for a tummy tuck.
Why Choose Us
- Best of both worlds
- Collaborative Effort
- Young Perspective
- Male & Female perspective
- Getting 2 complimentary points of view
- Work together on consult and surgery
Abdominoplasty Risks
Abdominoplasty is major surgery, so there are post-operative risks such as infection, excessive bleeding, poor incision healing, and a reaction to anesthesia. These are rare. Due to the length of the incision with a tummy tuck, the biggest risk is an uneven incision scar. That’s where Dr. D’Amico & Dr. Ferrauiola’s surgical expertise comes into play. He has been a board-certified plastic surgeon for over 30 years and his vast experience will ensure the best result.
Some additional risks and side effects include the following:
- Unsightly scarring
- Loose skin
- Asymmetry
- Numbness
Due to some of these risks, some patients choose to undergo a revisional surgery. While some of these effects could sound daunting, it is best to know all the possible results and outcomes before making a final. Dr. D’Amico & Dr. Ferrauiola will brief you on all the risks and benefits of a tummy tuck during your pre-operative appointments.
Schedule a Consultation
The first step in achieving your cosmetic goals is to request a consultation with Dr. D’Amico & Dr. Ferrauiola, serving the New York metro area. To find out how a tummy tuck in New Jersey can improve your body contours, request a consultation with Dr. D’Amico & Dr. Ferrauiola using his online form or call (201) 567-9595 to schedule an appointment.
* = Results may vary
