What is a Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)?

A tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, is a comprehensive plastic surgery procedure designed to reduce excess skin and fat, restoring a firmer, flatter abdomen. At Des Moines Plastic Surgery, our board-certified plastic surgeons specialize in tummy tuck procedures tailored to your unique needs.

Is A Tummy Tuck Right For You?

Ideal candidates for a tummy tuck are individuals who:

  • Have excess or hanging skin around the abdomen.
  • Experience localized fat deposits in the midsection.
  • Have stretched or separated abdominal muscles (diastasis recti).
  • Are in good health, non-smokers, and at or near their ideal weight.

It’s important to note that a tummy tuck is not a substitute for weight loss. The best results are achieved when patients are at a stable weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Some patients are candidates for CoolSculpting or skin tightening with Sofwave, both treatments are done at our non-surgical treatment clinic Coachlight. .A consultation is the best way to find out which solution or solutions will work best for you.

Tummy Tuck Before procedure

Before – A tummy tuck can help remove excess fat and stretched out abdominal skin, resulting in a firmer, flatter tummy.

Tummy Tuck after results

After – A tummy tuck can help remove excess fat and stretched out abdominal skin, resulting in a firmer, flatter tummy.

Before & After Gallery

Tummy Tuck Before and After Performed by Dr David Robbins
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The Tummy Tuck Procedure

During the procedure, a horizontal incision is made just above the pubic area. Through this incision, excess skin and fat are removed, and underlying muscles are tightened. The surgery typically takes 2 to 3 hours and is performed under general anesthesia in our fully accredited operating suite.

In some cases, liposuction may be combined with a tummy tuck to address excess fat in the flanks, enhancing the overall contour of the midsection.

Recovery and Results

Post-surgery, patients can expect some swelling and discomfort, which can be managed with prescribed medication. Most individuals return to normal activities within 2 weeks, but strenuous exercise should be avoided for about 6 weeks. The results are long-lasting, especially when accompanied by a healthy lifestyle.

Schedule Your Tummy Tuck Consultation

To learn more about our Tummy Tuck treatment in West Des Moines, Iowa, contact us during business hours to schedule a consultation with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons.

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Watch A Real Patient Story About Tummy Tuck Surgery

Tummy Tuck Frequently Asked Questions

To perform tummy tuck surgery, Dr. Robbins will need to make a horizontal incision just above your pubic bone and below a c-section scar if you have one. Another incision is made inside the navel (to address the upper abdomen). Through these incisions, Dr. Robbins will be able to reshape the underlying tissue. He will also tighten the abdominal muscles to produce a firmer, flatter midsection.

At Des Moines Plastic Surgery™, your surgery will be performed in our fully accredited operating suite located at our facility. Tummy tuck surgery is an outpatient procedure that requires general anesthesia. The time necessary to complete surgery varies between 2 and 3 hours.

Liposuction is sometimes combined with tummy tuck surgery to address excess fat. Liposuction is often performed on the flanks to contour your midsection and redefine and contour your love handles. After a tummy tuck, the stomach area is nice and flat, but the flanks (love handles) may be more pronounced. Liposuction of that area will contour your midsection and provide a more dramatic result.

You will need to make time in your schedule not only for surgery, but for recovery. The extent of your procedure, as well as your overall health and level of physical fitness at the time of surgery will determine how much time is necessary for recovery. Most patients require at least two weeks off from normal routines like work and social activity. Strenuous exercise and heavy lifting should be avoided for at least a month. A tummy tuck is more difficult to recover from than other surgeries because you use your midsection more than you think. Getting out of a chair, walking up stairs, getting out of bed, etc. are all normal daily routines that use your stomach muscles. These are very common activities you will need help with the first several days after surgery. Dr. Robbins offers abdominal never blocks that help, but do not completely eliminate, pain.

This is a common question. These three procedures are very different and treat different concerns. Because liposuction only targets unwanted fat, skin elasticity is usually a major deciding factor for most patients. If you do not have a significant amount of sagging skin, or you aren’t bothered by a small amount of post-surgical skin laxity, you may want to consider abdominal liposuction on its own however, liposuction does not “tighten” skin. It is best for those with good skin tone, no skin laxity and no strech marks.. CoolSculpting is another option for fat reduction. It is a non-surgical solution that targets pockets of exercise-resistant fat. There are no needles and no downtime. Like liposuction, CoolSculpting does NOT tighten loose skin. Please see our CoolSculpting website for additional information and watch videos explaining the process.

However, if you’ve lost a significant amount of weight or if you’ve undergone multiple pregnancies, a tummy tuck may be necessary to address loose skin, stretched abdominal muscles and persistent fat deposits that remain despite diet and exercise. At your cosmetic consultation with Dr. Robbins, he will exam you to determine what is best for you and your personal goals.

If you’re overweight or obese, a tummy tuck may sound like a quick fix. Though not technically considered a weight loss tool, tummy tuck surgery can reduce unwanted fat and skin from your abdomen. In order to be a candidate for cosmetic surgery, your BMI (Body Mass Index) must be less than 35. While a tummy tuck can technically be performed on those who are overweight or obese, the results are likely to not be ideal and the risks are too high. At Des Moines Plastic Surgery™, Dr. Robbins prefers candidates for surgery who are at their ideal weight. As a result, the results will be ideal. If you are planning to lose weight, it is best to do that first and then come in for a consultation. We offer nonsurgical weight loss treatments with tirzepatide, which has been very popular and successful. Please call 515.221.9999 for more information.

Absolutely not. In recent years, tummy tuck surgery has seen a surge in popularity among male patients, especially those who have undergone major weight loss.

Because abdominoplasty surgery is not a one-size-fits-all procedure, its cost varies. The techniques involves, the amount of time required to perform the surgery, and the amount of tissue removed all play a role in determining the price of a tummy tuck.

Learn More About Tummy Tuck Surgery
In Des Moines

Do you wish you had a tight abdomen with no excess skin? Then it may be time to consider tummy tuck surgery in Des Moines. Our board certified plastic surgeons specialize in a variety of body contouring procedures. To set up your cosmetic consultation today, please call us at 515.221.9999 or see next available tummy tuck consultation appointments and schedule conveniently online.

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