Technically known as an abdominoplasty, a tummy tuck in Houston is a surgical procedure to remove excess fat and skin and tighten weakened, separated stomach muscles. This surgery is performed to restore a smoother, firmer profile to the abdominal area, often after pregnancy as part of a mommy makeover or after significant weight loss.

Am I a good candidate for a tummy tuck in Houston?

The ideal client for a tummy tuck in Houston has loose, excess abdominal skin and fat, along with loose muscles in the abdominal wall, resulting in an abdomen that bulges outward. These issues usually are not treatable with diet and exercise alone.

You may also benefit from tummy tuck surgery if you have significant stretch marks below the belly button, as these are removed in the procedure. If you want a flatter belly and want to look better in clothing or a bikini, you may be a good candidate for a tummy tuck.

What can I expect with tummy tuck surgery?

Our Houston abdominoplasty operations are typically performed as an outpatient procedure. The surgery takes approximately two to three hours. Most patients return home the same day.

During the tummy tuck operation, an incision is made from hip bone to hip bone (transversely) across the lower abdomen beneath the underwear line. Dr. Lind takes great care to place this incision as low as possible so that it can be easily hidden by a two-piece bikini bottom or your underwear. An incision is also made around the belly button.
Excess skin and fat below the belly button are removed, and some may also be removed from above the belly button. This will oftentimes get rid of a lot of the stretch marks, especially ones beneath the belly button.
The abdominal muscles are tightened to flatten the stomach.
Liposuction is performed in some cases to remove excess fat from the flanks.
If excess skin and fat is a problem in the love handle or hip area, an extended incision might be appropriate to correct it (a high lateral tension abdominoplasty).

Before & After

What is recovery like after a tummy tuck in Houston?

Typically two surgical drains are placed. Their purpose is to drain any post-operative fluid accumulation that may occur. Pain medication will be prescribed to manage discomfort as well as a muslce relaxer. It is important that you begin walking around the house the night of your surgery.

For the first few days, you will need assistance getting around the house. As the days go by (usually by day seven to ten), you will start to feel better, and will be able to move about much more easily.

Your first follow-up appointment will be within ten days post-op. The surgical drains may or may not be removed at that time, depending on how much fluid remains. All sutures are buried, and do not need to be removed.

You may return to light-duty work in one to two weeks. Do not lift anything heavier than the weight of a full milk jug (including picking up small children) for six weeks. You should be able to return to full activity and exercise in six weeks but no direct core work for three months.

How much does a tummy tuck cost?

Tummy tuck pricing generally ranges from $9,500 to $12,000, depending on the extent of the work performed and on whether any other cosmetic procedures are undergone in tandem. Costs to consider are the surgeon’s fees, facility fees, anesthesia fees, and postoperative garment fees, among others. Dr. Lind can provide a detailed quote for you at the time of your private consultation. Financing is available to help you achieve your body sculpting goals sooner rather than later.

Why choose the Lind Institute of Plastic Surgery for a tummy tuck?

Dr. Lind is a reputable, double board-certified plastic surgeon with a highly trained staff. He delivers superior body sculpting results in a luxury, state-of-the-art setting equipped with the most cutting-edge technology on the market today. Dr. Lind completed a demanding three-year plastic surgery fellowship at the prestigious Cleveland Clinic in Florida and spent time refining his skills under the guidance of among the most pioneering minds in plastic surgery from Miami to Boca Raton. He was awarded the Cleveland Clinic Florida Caregiver Celebrations Appreciation Award for providing outstanding patient care.

FAQ

Will my incision lines be visible after a tummy tuck?

Dr. Lind carefully places the incisions so that they are concealed by your clothing. In rare cases, if the skin is too tight, a small vertical scar will remain where the belly button skin is closed. This leaves a scar with an inverted “T” look where the small vertical scar joins the transverse lower abdominal scar, but this is a rare circumstance and will be discussed with you before any decision is made.

How should I prepare for tummy tuck surgery?

It is important that patients undergoing a tummy tuck operation are not active smokers. If you are a smoker, you should stop at least six weeks before your surgery is scheduled. All blood thinning and anti-platelet medications should be stopped at least two weeks before the operation if approved by the prescribing physician.

Does a tummy tuck offer any other benefits to the patient?

Getting a tummy tuck can also have some other benefits. Some patients can experience a significant improvement in urinary incontinence and/or in back pain.

What is the difference between a tummy tuck and liposuction?

Liposuction is a fat removal technique that can be used to trim, sculpt, and reshape different areas of the body, such as the waist, hips, belly, thighs, buttocks, male chest, bra rolls, double chin, and neck. It is not effective for removing redundant skin folds or tightening the muscles.

Abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck surgery, is performed to firm and rejuvenate the stomach, removing excess skin and fat while pulling the underlying muscles taut. A tummy tuck comes with more downtime than liposuction. However, the two procedures are often performed together to create a more youthful physique overall.

Can a tummy tuck be combined with other procedures?

Abdominoplasty can be well paired with liposuction to achieve outstanding body sculpting results and a tight, trim figure. It is also a major component of a mommy makeover procedure, a solution for moms after pregnancy who wish to regain an attractive, slender look.

Tummy Tuck Houston