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Please contact our Austin and San Antonio-area tummy tuck surgeon for more abdominoplasty information.






Constance M. Barone MD

Santa Rosa Northwest
Tower One
2829 Babcock Rd., Suite 615
San Antonio, Texas 78229

Ph. (210) 807-8572
Fx. (210) 614-0408

Office Hours:
Mon - Fri: 8-5pm

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Austin / San Antonio Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) and Mommy Makeover Procedures

Our surgeon serving the San Antonio and Austin-areas utilizes tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) surgery to eliminate stubborn fat and excess skin folds in the abdominal region. Many people who consider tummy tuck surgery are relatively physically fit, but have trouble flattening the abdominal area, no matter how many stomach crunches they do or strict diets they follow. Dr. Constance Barone is a skilled plastic surgeon who can help you reach your goals and create a taut, fit-looking midsection.

Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)

Abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, is a cosmetic surgical procedure designed to eliminate excess skin and fat from the area around the stomach and provide a tighter, firmer appearance. Fat and excess skin folds that occur in the abdominal region can result from a variety of factors, including:

What can be so frustrating is that this excess fat and skin are often impossible to eliminate. Although a tummy tuck is more invasive than other fat removal methods such as liposuction, the procedure allows for more comprehensive recontouring of the midsection and tightens the abdominal muscles, making the entire area taut and fit.

Abdominoplasty Before and After Photos

Austin and San Antonio-area patients can contact our abdominoplasty surgeon for a tummy tuck consultation or for more information about this commonly performed procedure.

Abdominoplasty Candidates

Candidates for abdominoplasty should have realistic expectations of results and discuss their expectations thoroughly with Dr. Barone at the initial consult. Men and women who are considering the procedure should also be in reasonably good shape, despite having trouble getting rid of fat deposits or loose skin around the midsection. Good candidates also include women who have stretched skin due to multiple pregnancies and older patients who have lost skin elasticity.

Patients who plan to be pregnant in the future should wait until after delivery to undergo abdominoplasty, and patients who are intending to lose significant amounts of weight should also postpone the procedure.

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Tummy Tuck Procedure

A tummy tuck can be performed as an inpatient or outpatient procedure at one of our affiliated hospitals. General anesthesia or local anesthesia combined with a sedative will be used during the procedure.

Planning

Dr. Constance Barone will evaluate your health and your abdominal area during your initial consultation. She encourages frank and honest discussion about your expectations and will be equally direct with you in discussing risks and limitations of the procedure, as well as possible alternatives such as partial abdominoplasty (mini-tummy tuck), or full abdominoplasty combined with liposuction to remove fat from the hips, providing an even more recontoured midsection. All cost and financing information will also be discussed in detail during the initial consultation.

Preparation

Austin and San Antonio-area abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) patients at our plastic surgery center will receive detailed instructions to prepare for surgery. Guidelines on smoking, diet, and the use of certain medications or vitamin supplements will be provided. Patients should arrange for someone to drive them home after the surgery and to help care for them in the first few days of recovery.

The Tummy Tuck Surgery

During tummy tuck surgery, Dr. Constance Barone will make an incision from hip to hip, just above the pubic area, and then make another incision to free the navel from surrounding tissue. The skin will be separated from the abdominal wall and lifted. Next, the abdominal muscles are tightened and pulled close together to create a firmer abdominal wall and narrow the waistline. Extra skin is removed from the skin flap, which is then stretched and pulled taut. The navel is recreated and stitched into place, followed by the suturing of the skin flap.

A partial abdominoplasty is a bit less invasive, requiring a shorter incision, and may not necessitate repositioning of the navel. This may, however, cause the navel to be pulled into an unnatural shape as the skin is tightened.

A full abdominoplasty can take anywhere from two to five hours to complete, while a partial abdominoplasty typically takes about one to two hours.

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Tummy Tuck Recovery

Patients can expect the abdomen to be swollen for the first few days after abdominoplasty. Pain and discomfort resulting from the procedure can be alleviated with medication. Dr. Barone recommends that patients take short walks soon after surgery in order to prevent blood clots; however, strenuous exercise and strain to the midsection should be avoided for at least six weeks after a tummy tuck.

Surface stitches will be removed after five to seven days. Deeper stitches under the skin will be taken out in two to three weeks. Depending on the individual patient, it could take anywhere from two to four weeks before he or she begins to feel completely normal after abdominoplasty. A mild exercise program during recovery can reduce swelling and speed up healing. Although scars may appear to worsen during the first few months after surgery, this is normal. It could take up to a year before scarring flattens out and fades. Scars from abdominoplasty will never completely disappear; however, they are easily hidden under clothing and bathing suits.

Tummy Tuck Risks

While the majority of tummy tuck operations go smoothly and are performed without complication, any major surgery involves a certain amount of risk. Risks of abdominoplasty include:

Dr. Constance Barone will work with you to minimize the risk of complications. Risks can be significantly reduced by closely following Dr. Barone's instructions before and after surgery. During your initial consultation at our San Antonio center, all aspects of the tummy tuck procedure will be discussed with you.

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Mommy Makeover

A Mommy Makeover is a combination of cosmetic surgery procedures designed for mothers who wish to improve and restore their bodies after the physical toll that pregnancy often takes. While having children can be the ultimate gift, it can also result in physical changes to the body that no amount of diet or exercise can help. In addition to causing extra deposits of fat to form in the abdominal area, pregnancy stretches the skin and the underlying stomach muscles, leaving the area with stretch marks and loose, overhanging skin. The breasts can also be affected due to hormonal changes and breastfeeding, ultimately leading to breast sag.

The Mommy Makeover can address all of these problems at once, eliminating excess fat, tightening the abdominal muscles for a flatter stomach, and lifting the breasts to their pre-pregnancy position. To find out more about Mommy Makeovers click here.

Procedures

Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)

Our San Antonio and Austin-area patients will find that an abdominoplasty can treat many of the effects that pregnancy has on the midsection. When the fetus grows inside the uterus, the uterus ultimately presses on the abdominal muscle wall, pulling apart the "six-pack" muscles and often causing permanent separation. When this happens, only surgery can bring these muscles back together and restore the abdominal muscles. The sections above go into more detail as to how effective an abdominoplasty procedure can be in re-establishing a tight, fit-looking stomach.

Breast Enhancement

A number of breast enhancement procedures can be combined with other options to address breast droop after pregnancy. A traditional breast lift can be performed to eliminate excess skin and tighten the breast area, creating a firmer, "perkier" bustline. Or you may opt for breast enlargement with implants, which can add volume and new contour to the breasts. Breast enlargement not only revitalizes your bust after the effects of pregnancy, but it can also take your makeover one step further by creating a whole new body image.

Liposuction

One of the most commonly performed cosmetic enhancement procedures in the world, liposuction is used to remove excess fat deposits from virtually any area of the body. It is particularly useful for post-pregnancy patients wishing to eliminate excess fat in the flanks (love handles), thighs, and hips. Combined with other procedures, it can be an essential component in total body rejuvenation after pregnancy.

The Mommy Makeover procedure, depending on the number and extent of cosmetic surgery options you decide upon, is typically performed as a single all-inclusive operation. Dr. Constance Barone will discuss with you, in detail, what you can expect in terms of recovery, risks and benefits, alternative procedures, meeting your goals, and all other aspects of the Mommy Makeover at your initial consultation.

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Contact Our Abdominoplasty Surgeon

Our Austin and San Antonio-area abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) surgeon has an amazing success rate among patients who have undergone the procedure. Plus, the results are long-lasting for most patients, as long as they exercise regularly, follow a balanced diet, and carefully adhere to Dr. Barone’s post-surgical instructions. Please contact our San Antonio plastic surgery center to set up a tummy tuck consultation or to request further information on our Mommy Makeover cosmetic rejuvenation procedures.

Visit our sister site, baronecosmeticsurgery.com, for more information on the wide range of procedures we provide.