Tummy Tuck in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Abdominoplasty, known more commonly as a "tummy tuck," is a surgical procedure to remove excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen and also commonly tighten the muscles of the abdominal wall. The procedure can dramatically improve the appearance of a protruding abdomen and smooth and enhance its shape.

The extent of ‘tummy tuck’ varies from a full abdominoplasty, which involves a horizontal incision at the panty line and around the belly button to a mini abdominoplasty with a shorter incision at the pubic hairline only. The extent of necessary muscle tightening, liposuction, and skin tightening all determine which type of abdominoplasty is the best for each patient.

The best candidates for abdominoplasty are men or women who are in relatively good shape, but are bothered by an abdominal fat deposit, a persistent ‘pooch’, or loose abdominal skin that won't respond to diet or exercise. The surgery is particularly helpful to women who, through pregnancy, have stretched their abdominal muscles and skin beyond the point where they can return to normal. Loss of skin elasticity in older patients, which frequently occurs with slight obesity, can also be improved. Patients who intend to lose a lot of weight should postpone the surgery. Also, women who plan future pregnancies should wait, as vertical muscles in the abdomen that are tightened during surgery can separate again during pregnancy. As with all surgeries, abdominoplasty does have risks, and these will be discussed extensively during your consultation with Dr. Jones.

The process:

In your initial consultation, Dr. Jones will extensively discuss your goals with surgery, evaluate your health, and carefully examine you to determine the most appropriate procedure. He will then discuss the various options with you and what can be achieved with each, including their specific risks. He will also review before and after pictures with you as necessary to further display what can be achieved. All facets of the surgical workup are covered during the initial consultation and afterwards patients are prepared for the scheduling process. Some will require further medical workup such as labs, imaging, medical clearance, etc. as needed.

Complete abdominoplasty usually takes two to three hours, depending on the extent of work required. Mini abdominoplasty may take an hour or two. Most patients are allowed to return home or somewhere within 30 minutes of the office the night of surgery, but some do require admission to the hospital.

For the first few days, the average patient will experience some swelling and pain, which can be controlled by medication. Most will have drains at this time, which are commonly removed within one week. Maintenance of a light diet during the early periods is important as the pain medication and surgery can slow down your intestines. Afterwards, patients will commonly see results in 2-4 weeks, and some may take 8 weeks or longer. The incisions will continue to flatten, soften, and fade for a period of one year. Average return to work is approximately 2 weeks.

Contact Oklahoma Plastic Surgeon Dr. Justin Jones to learn more about a Tummy Tuck in Oklahoma City.