GET A TUMMY TUCK TODAY!
How many crunches, leg lifts, or extended planks have you done with minimal results? How long have been on that stationary bike or treadmill and still have yet to see results? You feel good, you just don’t look that way in the mirror. Especially around your mid-section!
You’ve lost the weight, but that extra bit of belly just hangs there. No tone, just hanging skin and extra body fat. You’ve done everything you can do, but you may need a little help. You know what you want your mid-section to look like, and you’ve worked hard to get really close to your vision. Now it’s time to supplement your hard work with modern medicine. A tummy tuck in Atlanta is just the ticket.
Aging, pregnancy, and obesity can loosen the skin of the abdomen and cause your muscles to lose tone. And the great eateries in and around Atlanta don’t help! In addition, aging tends to cause most people to store excess fat on and around the abdomen.
A tummy tuck (or abdominoplasty) is a surgical procedure to remove excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen and tighten loose abdominal muscles.
Atlanta-based plastic surgeon Patricia Yugueros, MD, is skilled at tummy tuck surgery aimed to reduce, tighten, and smooth your abdomen for a younger-looking physique!
Luna Plastic Surgery
A tummy tuck done right here in Atlanta, GA can dramatically improve the appearance of your abdomen and:
- Tighten loose abdominal skin
- Correct bulging on the lower abdomen
- Tighten loose and weakened abdominal muscles
- Reduce or eliminate a protruding abdomen helping your clothes to fit better
- Minimize stretch marks on the abdomen
Tummy Tuck Atlanta – Your Consultation
Dr. Yugueros will discuss your desires, expectations, and concerns, including the limits and risks of abdominoplasty. After reviewing your medical history, she will examine your abdomen and body contours. She will then explain the tummy tuck procedure and take pictures. Dr. Yugueros will inform you of the necessary type of abdominoplasty you require to achieve your desired look.
The more information you have, the better prepared for the consultation you will be. The internet is a great resource for tummy tuck Atlanta information, but unfortunately, it has outdated and confusing information as well. Dr. Yugueros recommends these three sites, that are informative and concise:
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons – official website of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons
- American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery – official website of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons
- RealSelf.com – a website where patients ask questions of real plastic surgeons.
Your consultation will take about an hour and include:
- Completing a health information and demographics form
- Completing and signing a consent form
- Completing an insurance form
- Digital images that will help depict the results you can expect
- Before and after pictures of people who have had the same procedure
We invite you to call our Atlanta office to answer any tummy tuck questions you might have, but didn’t ask during your consultation!
Tummy Tuck Atlanta – Suitable Candidate
The best candidates for abdominoplasty are men and women who are in relatively good shape and have been able to maintain a healthy weight but struggle to lose excess skin and/or stomach fat with weight loss or exercise. A tummy tuck will remove the annoying skin and fat with an aesthetic surgical process. It should be noted that a tummy tuck Atlanta is not a weight loss process, but it is a procedure to shape and contour your form.
Pregnancy will stretch, separate, and loosen the vertical muscles of your abdomen, so a tummy tuck should not be considered until no future pregnancies are planned.
Tummy Tuck Atlanta – Procedure Options
Full Tummy Tuck Surgery
A full tummy tuck is a surgical procedure that involves tightening muscles and removing excess fat and loose skin in the abdominal wall. A tummy tuck can be performed in concert with liposuction to improve your body contours.
A full tummy tuck is done under general anesthesia and usually is completed after 2 or 3 hours.
Dr. Yugueros will make an incision just above the pubic area. The incision is typically made where it will be hidden by bathing suits or undergarments. It is important to understand that there will be a scar. However, over time, it will partially fade.
Another incision is made around the navel to free it from the abdominal tissue. Then, the skin and fat layers are lifted upwards exposing the abdominal muscles. Dr. Yugueros will suture these muscles closer together, which creates a flatter, firmer tummy and a slimmer waistline.
After the muscles are tightened, the layer of skin and fat will be stretched over the abdominal wall, and a new hole will be created for your naval. Excess skin and fat that hang beyond the original incision are removed.
To allow fluid to escape while you heal, drainage tubes are placed in the abdomen through tiny holes arranged in the incision. The incisions will be sutured and bandages applied.
You will need to wear a compression garment to reduce swelling and provide comfort and support while you heal. Drainage tubes are usually removed within a week or two after the surgery, and sutures will dissolve on their own.
As with any major surgery, pain, swelling, and bruising are normal, and will typically subside within several weeks after surgery.
Your scar will fade considerably over time, and with proper diet and exercise, you can enjoy a firmer, flatter abdomen for years.
Mini Tummy Tuck
A partial, or mini tummy tuck is less complex than a full tummy tuck, because the naval is unaffected, and the incisions are smaller. It involves removing loose fat and skin just below the naval. A mini tummy tuck performed with liposuction will be effective for a slimmer firmer waist, and improved body contours.
A Cautery device will be used to separate the fat layers that lay above the abdominal wall from the wall itself.
To expose the muscles of the lower abdomen, the abdominal tissue is lifted upward. Dr. Yugueros will suture these muscles to pull them closer. The results will be a firmer, tighter stomach, and a slimmer abdomen.
After the muscles are tightened, the layer of skin and fat will be stretched over the abdominal wall. Excess skin and fat that hang over the incision will be removed.
Drainage tubes will be placed in the abdomen through tiny holes arranged in the incision, allowing fluid to escape while you heal. The incisions will be sutured and bandages will be applied.
You will likely need to wear a compression garment to minimize swelling and provide comfort and support while you heal. Drainage tubes are usually removed within a week or two after the surgery, and sutures will dissolve on their own.
Pain, swelling, and bruising are normal and will subside within several weeks. Scarring will fade with time, and with proper exercise and diet, you will enjoy a firmer, flatter abdomen for years.
Atlanta Tummy Tuck Recovery and Results
Dr. Yugueros will give you detailed instructions to prepare for, and recover from your tummy tuck procedure.
After surgery, your incisions will be bandaged. To take home, Dr. Yugueros will give you an elastic bandage for support. Your stitches will dissolve in a couple of weeks.
You can expect some swelling, bruising, and discomfort/pain for a week or two after surgery. Prescribed, or over-the-counter pain medication will help you feel more comfortable as you heal. Some patients elect to have a pain pump placed at the surgical site to deliver local anesthetic for the first few days after surgery. This approach, in combination with oral pain medications and muscle relaxants, is an effective way to control pain.
Dr. Yugueros will ask you to sleep sitting up for the first few nights so that you will not stretch your incisions. A lounge chair or recliner for the first few nights is a good option for sleep because it’s easier for you to get up and down.
Most tummy tuck patients return to work and normal activities a month after their procedure, but until that time, there should be no heavy lifting or strain on the abdominal muscles. With the swelling, it will take a few months before you see the final results of your tummy tuck procedure.
The abdominal scar from a tummy tuck subsides over time. Although it is likely to appear dark pink or brownish initially, the scar will gradually fade. Depending on your skin type, the scar may become almost invisible in time.
The incision for a tummy tuck is usually made low on the abdomen, within the bikini line. For this reason, most clothing, including swimwear, hide the incision line.
Your results will be enjoyed for several years if you live a healthy lifestyle, and maintain your optimal weight.
Tummy Tuck Atlanta – Choosing a Surgeon
Choosing a surgeon for any surgery is of paramount importance. It is vital for your plastic surgeon to have the right qualifications and credentials. These include board certification, and in good standing with the various medical boards. It also includes education, experience, and satisfied patients.
Don’t forget the support staff. Make sure they are professional, friendly, and caring. These will be the people to lean on during your recovery. Make sure you are comfortable with the entire team.
It is important to do your research and visit with the doctor personally. It is important to visit the facility where the surgery will take place. Don’t rush! You should take the time to get well informed.
Why Luna Plastic Surgery & Medical Spa?
Dr. Yugueros earned her medical degree in Cali, Colombia. She then completed her General Surgery residency as well as her Plastic and Reconstructive surgery training at the prestigious Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, specializing in Abdominoplasty, Breast Augmentation, Breast Lifts, Liposuction, Breast Reconstruction, Buttock Augmentation, Facelift, and Blepharoplasty. She is currently Chief of Plastic Surgery at EJCH, and has been for five years.
Dr. Yugueros is a Diplomate of the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is a member of many local and national scientific societies, including the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. She has presented her academic work in several national and international venues, and has written extensively, and contributed to many journal articles and book chapters in the field of plastic surgery as well as hand and microvascular reconstructive surgery. Dr. Yugueros has also been the recipient of prestigious awards by the American College of Surgeons, and the Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation (PSEF) from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
Dr. Yugueros is married to Dr. Juan Sarmiento, a hepatobiliary surgeon with a teaching appointment at the Department of Surgery of Emory University. She also has two lovely daughters. As a native of the Latin culture, Dr. Yugueros is one of the few Hispanic plastic surgeons in Atlanta and is fluent in both English and Spanish.
Tummy Tuck Cost in Atlanta, GA
Your comfort with financing is among our highest priorities at Luna Plastic Surgery Center. To help you achieve your tummy tuck Atlanta goals, we work with CareCredit, a healthcare financing company that will respond quickly to your requests with interest-free loans and manageable payment options. Please visit the CareCredit website to learn about their convenient financing options.
We also accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express.
Ask about our Gift Certificates for Luna Plastic Surgery. Please call (678) 892-7820
Make an Appointment for Your Tummy Tuck Atlanta
Contact our Atlanta, GA office today for your tummy tuck Atlanta consultation. Take that first step and call (678) 892-7820, Email: info@lunaplasticsurgery.com, or go to the Contact page for your consultation today
Before and After
Abdominoplasty Combined Procedures (Mommy Makeover) by: Dr. Patricia Yugueros
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