Achieve a sculpted and well-toned abdomen with a tummy tuck in Tampa.
Tummy Tuck Tampa
The Purpose of Tummy Tuck Surgery
Tummy tuck surgery is designed to revitalize the physique after pregnancy, aging, or massive weight loss. It not only removes excess skin folds from the midsection but can also tighten weakened or separated abdominal muscles, expanding your wardrobe options and enhancing your self-image.
What can an abdominoplasty do for you?
Picture yourself in your pre-pregnancy jeans. Or imagine a silhouette that reflects the age you feel, instead of the number of years on your ID. Abdominoplasty – or tummy tuck – is a surgical procedure used to create a flatter, narrower abdomen. A tummy tuck:
- Removes stubborn fat from the abdomen
- Reduces excess skin caused by aging, major weight loss or pregnancy
- Is appropriate when diet and exercise alone don’t deliver desired results
- Eliminates stretch marks on the lower abdomen
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Awake Tummy Tuck
It is possible to do certain types of this procedure under local anesthesia. Dr Markelov uses rapid recovery protocols and no drains for the majority of his abdominoplasty procedures.
Benefits of abdominoplasty
With a tummy tuck, you can achieve a more sculpted, streamlined silhouette. Advantages include:
- Restores weakened or separated muscles
- Improves the appearance of a C-section scar
- Boosts self-confidence
- Expands wardrobe choices
Dr. Markelov believes that everyone should be able to wear any outfit with confidence. Too often, pregnancy or extreme weight loss results in unforeseen changes to the body that can’t be satisfactorily addressed through diet and physical activity.
Determining your candidacy
A tummy tuck could be appropriate for you if:
- You are a non-smoker in good overall health
- You have excess abdominal skin from weight loss, aging, or pregnancy
- You have maintained the same weight for at least six months
- You have realistic expectations for your outcome
Although an excellent solution for excising excess skin, a tummy tuck will not:
- Substitute for a nutritious diet and regular exercise
- Be a solution for stretch marks located above the belly button
- Maintain integrity through additional pregnancies
If you plan to have one or more children in the future, speak with Dr. Markelov about delaying your procedure.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a tummy tuck?
What are the types of tummy tucks?
What is the difference between tummy tuck and liposuction?
How are the muscles of the abdomen repaired during a tummy tuck?
How long is the tummy tuck procedure?
What is the recovery like?
What kind of scars will I have?
What is a tummy tuck?
A tummy tuck is a procedure that allows for the repair of the muscles of the abdominal wall and removal of loose or excess skin following pregnancy or extreme weight loss. A tummy tuck can also remove or reduce the visibility of stretch marks on the abdominal area.
What are the types of tummy tucks?
There are three types of tummy tucks. For patients with a minimal amount of excess weight and skin, a mini tummy tuck may be appropriate. 'Mini' refers to the amount of skin that will be removed. A regular tummy tuck is ideal for patients with a larger amount of skin excision. Most of the time, this procedure involves relocation of the belly button. A 'fleur de lis' tummy tuck is for patients who have an excessive amount of loose skin to be removed. This involves making both horizontal and vertical incisions.
What is the difference between tummy tuck and liposuction?
This is a common question. Where a tummy tuck reconstructs the muscles underneath and removes excess skin, liposuction only removes excess fat. Liposuction will not remove or reduce loose, hanging, or excess skin.
How are the muscles of the abdomen repaired during a tummy tuck?
Dr. Markelov uses permanent stitches to tighten the abdominal muscles. These stitches are made of medical-grade nylon and will not dissolve over time. They are located inside your muscles and are not visible.
How long is the tummy tuck procedure?
Your visit should take around 3 ½ hours, in total. Arrive at the office 30 minutes before the scheduled surgery time. The procedure itself takes approximately 2 1/2 hours. The remaining time will be spent in post-operative recovery and preparing you to go home.
What is the recovery like?
You will be required to limit your physical activity and stay slightly bent at the waistline for two weeks after your tummy tuck, so we suggest planning to take two weeks off of work. After two weeks, you should be able to stand up straight and return to work as long as it’s not a physically taxing job. You will have a draining tube for one week and wear a compression garment for six weeks following your surgery.
What kind of scars will I have?
A regular tummy tuck usually leaves a thin, scar approximately 15-20 cm (6-8 inches) long that is low enough to be hidden by underwear or a bikini bottom. In some cases, the scars can be longer and extend across the abdomen and over to the back, depending upon the amount of skin being removed. Tummy tuck incisions are made low on the abdomen so they can be easily covered by clothing and bathing suits. A fleur de lis tummy tuck leaves the same scar as a regular tummy tuck with the addition of a vertical scar up the abdomen.