Tummy Tuck

Whether from having children or losing a lot of weight—or both—cosmetic changes to the midsection can detract from your confidence and quality of life. Stretched skin, a belly bulge, and pockets of fat are common complaints after pregnancy and major weight loss. Plastic surgery provides most women and men with an effective solution. Dr. Sean Hill, a highly trained and experienced board-certified plastic surgeon, can renew your abdominal area and your confidence with abdominoplasty, often called a tummy tuck, in Frisco, Texas. Patients from Plano, McKinney, Prosper, Celina, and throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex travel to Lone Star Plastic Surgery to have Dr. Hill perform their surgeries.

Tummy Tuck
 Before & After Photos

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How can a tummy tuck help?

Dr. Hill performs abdominoplasty to accomplish what you can’t do on your own with diet and exercise; he personalizes this procedure to provide any or all of the following improvements:

  • Tightening lax, sagging skin
  • Repairing stretched and separated abdominal muscles
  • Reshaping the belly button
  • Defining the waist
  • Improving a C-section scar

Dr. Hill personalizes the procedure to your unique anatomy and cosmetic goals to provide the natural-looking improvements that matter most to you.

What does a tummy tuck cost in Frisco & Plano?

In the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area, the cost of a tummy tuck varies depending on the technique used and the extent of the surgery needed to produce the best outcome. After your consultation with Dr. Hill, we provide a detailed price quote showing the final cost of your tummy tuck. You can take it home and review it without any pressure.

Am I a candidate for a tummy tuck?

Women and men are typically good candidates for a tummy tuck if they are:

  • In good health and at or near their goal weight
  • Have maintained a healthy BMI for several months
  • Are not planning future pregnancies

At your private consultation, Dr. Hill will review your medical history, perform a physical exam, and have an in-depth conversation with you about what you hope to change with cosmetic surgery.

Dr. Sean Hill

DR. SEAN HILL

Dr. Hill is a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in plastic surgery of the face, breasts, and body using proven, modern techniques. His approachable, lighthearted personality fosters positive, open communication with patients.

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What happens during tummy tuck surgery?

Dr. Hill performs tummy tuck procedures as outpatient surgery using a general anesthetic. He will personalize one of the following techniques for your unique needs:

  • Mini tummy tuck addresses the abdominal area from the belly button (navel) to the pubic bone. This option is performed through a small incision just above the pubic bone. It is appropriate for a select few patients who typically have a minimal amount of sagging skin and concerns are limited to the lower abdomen.
  • Traditional tummy tuck fits the majority of patients because it improves the upper and lower abdomen, above and below the belly button. This technique also repairs stretched and separated abdominal muscles to flatten a belly bulge and slim the waist, and it revises a misshapen belly button. The incision runs horizontally between the hip bones, but low enough to be concealed by underwear and swimsuits. A second incision encircles the inner navel.
  • Extended tummy tuck includes the same improvements from a traditional tummy tuck, and also addresses lax skin and excess fat all the way around the waist. Dr. Hill typically uses this technique for patients after massive weight loss.

Can my tummy tuck be combined with other procedures?

Dr. Hill takes care to approach the abdominal area in three dimensions; therefore, he often combines abdominoplasty with liposuction of the upper abdomen and flanks (love handles), and occasionally the lower abdomen or lower back. Breast augmentation or a breast lift can also be combined with a tummy tuck and liposuction for what’s called a mommy makeover.  This combination procedure is a wonderful option for women who are looking to address multiple areas at once.

Tummy tuck vs liposuction surgery

A tummy tuck and liposuction are fundamentally different procedures. In fact, Dr. Hill often combines liposuction with a tummy tuck to enhance the results. View the comparison below and learn more in this blog post.

Tummy Tuck

Repairs and tightens separated muscles

Removes excess skin

Contours the midsection

Requires a long, horizontal incision low on the abdomen

Liposuction

Removes stubborn fat pockets

Doesn’t address concerns about excess skin

Removes fat in the midsection and other areas of the body

Requires minimal incisions

Is a tummy tuck very painful?

While discomfort should be expected after a tummy tuck, Dr. Hill injects an opioid-free medication called Exparel® into the abdominal area during surgery. This advanced, long-lasting medication controls pain for several days after surgery, a time when pain levels are typically elevated. He has found Exparel so effective, his patients sometimes can be too active due to the lack of discomfort. 

What is tummy tuck recovery like?

Although you won’t be able to stand completely upright for a few days, it’s important to get up throughout the day and walk slowly (with a slight bend at the waist) beginning the night of surgery to prevent blood clots and other complications from developing. 

Recovery Timeline

While patient experiences vary, expect recovery to progress according to the following general timeline:

  • Drains removed: 7 to 10 days
  • Return to nonstrenuous work: 2 weeks
  • Stand upright: 2 weeks
  • Resume light exercise: 3 to 4 weeks
  • Stop wearing compression garments: 3 to 4 weeks
  • Resume strenuous exercise: 6 to 8 weeks
  • Results become visible: 4 to 5 months
  • Achieve final results: about 1 year

Make sure to follow Dr. Hill’s post-op instructions closely. If you have questions or concerns during your recovery, we encourage you to contact our office.

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How long before I see the final tummy tuck results?

Even though you’ll notice immediately a difference in your body’s contours, the final results of a tummy tuck emerge as the residual swelling and bruising dissipate. Patients who closely follow our post-surgical instructions are likely to see those results sooner. It can take several months for the last of the swelling to resolve and about a year for the scar to fade.

Will my tummy tuck scar be noticeable?

The incision Dr. Hill makes for a tummy tuck is made very low on the abdomen, just above the pubic area. This is an area that’s covered by even the smallest bikini bottom, so it won’t be seen. We also can recommend ways to help minimize the appearance of scars.

What is a drainless tummy tuck?

For appropriate patients, Dr. Hill uses the drainless tummy tuck technique. This minimizes the risk of a postsurgical complication called seromas, which occur when fluid accumulates in the small space between the layer of fat below the skin and the muscle that’s created during a traditional tummy tuck. Drains are inserted to siphon this fluid, but they require patients to clean them. For some patients, that’s the least favorite part of recovery. In a drainless tummy tuck, Dr. Hill uses dissolvable quilting sutures that bind the fat to the muscle and eliminate the space.

Tummy Tuck FAQs

Is tummy tuck surgery worth it?

In spite of the more challenging recovery period, the majority of Dr. Hill’s patients say that their increased confidence and comfort definitely make having a tummy tuck worth it.

I’ve heard that I won’t be able to stand up straight right after surgery, is this true?

Yes. Tightness caused by abdominal muscle repair, swelling, and the removal of excess skin makes it difficult to stand up straight for the first 1 to 2 weeks after abdominoplasty. Dr. Hill recommends sitting, sleeping, and standing in a hunched-over position until tissues relax, the discomfort subsides, and the incision has time to heal.

Can I still get pregnant after a tummy tuck?

One of the topics Dr. Hill discusses with patients during a tummy tuck consultation is whether they’re planning to have more children. That’s because it’s possible to have children after a tummy tuck, but pregnancy and childbirth likely will compromise the results of the procedure. He recommends that women who intend to have more children postpone getting a tummy tuck until after they no longer want additional children.

Will I lose a dress size with an abdominoplasty?

While weight loss is typically not significant, most tummy tuck patients lose 2 to 3 dress sizes and look like they lost weight once recovered.

How long does a tummy tuck last?

The results of a tummy tuck can last for years if the patient maintains a healthy lifestyle. If a patient gains a significant amount of weight or gets pregnant again, for example, it’s unlikely the stretched skin will shrink back to fit the contours created during the tummy tuck.

How safe is a tummy tuck?

Patient safety is Dr. Hill’s main concern and he discusses the risks of tummy tuck surgery with all patients. For patients who are in good overall health, abdominoplasty can be performed safely with minimal risk of complications. Of course, no elective surgical procedure is completely risk-free, and Dr. Hill explains the complications that could happen during and after the procedure.

Are you ready to rejuvenate your midsection?

To find out how Dr. Hill can help you have the firm, youthful abdomen you want, request a consultation using our online form or call our office at (214) 937-4879 to schedule an appointment.

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