Tummy
Tuck
Achieve a contoured abdomen
A tummy that protrudes or sags doesn’t just affect how your clothes fit — it can make you feel like a stranger in your own body. Whether it's the result of pregnancy, weight loss or aging, many people find themselves struggling with excess skin or fat and weakened abdominal muscles that make it hard to achieve a flat, toned stomach despite diet and exercise.
At PURE Plastic Surgery, we understand. Our tummy tuck procedure offers a permanent solution for restoring a firmer, contoured midsection that slims your silhouette, complements your natural body shape and helps you feel more confident about your appearance. This procedure is popular among both men and women and can provide lifelong results when paired with a healthy lifestyle, so you can finally achieve the flat tummy you’ve always wanted.
What is a Tummy Tuck?
A tummy tuck — also formally known as abdominoplasty — is a surgical procedure that removes loose skin and unwanted fat from the midsection and tightens the underlying muscles to sculpt a more toned appearance. This procedure is particularly beneficial after childbirth or weight loss, which can cause loose, sagging skin that doesn’t respond to diet or exercise. A tummy tuck can improve your body contours and help you achieve a flatter stomach.
A tummy tuck also repairs the abdominal muscles following pregnancy, which can separate and lead to a stubborn belly “pooch” that remains after you’ve returned to your pre-baby weight. Known as diastasis recti, this condition affects more than half (60%) of postpartum women.
At PURE Plastic Surgery, our team specializes in performing tummy tucks with precision and care, tailoring each procedure to meet the unique needs of our patients. Whether you're looking to restore your pre-pregnancy figure, achieve more youthful contours or address changes after weight loss, a tummy tuck can help you reach your goals with lasting results.
Ideal candidates for a Tummy Tuck
Tummy tucks are an excellent option for patients bothered by excess skin and fat in the midsection that hasn’t responded well to diet and exercise. If you’re in optimal health, at a stable weight and finished having children, a tummy tuck is a great procedure to consider. At PURE, ideal candidates for abdominoplasty meet the following criteria:
- Bothered by excess skin and fat above or below the belly button
- Have weakened or separated abdominal muscles that cause the stomach to bulge
- Uncomfortable in certain types of clothing styles or bathing suits
- In good overall health with no medical problems that could complicate recovery
- Non-smokers, or willing to quit before surgery for optimal healing
- Are at or near your weight loss goals; healthy BMI
A tummy tuck is also a great option for those who have undergone bariatric surgery or lost weight through diet and exercise and are looking to improve their body contours. If you meet these criteria and are considering abdominoplasty, the next step is to schedule a consultation at PURE Plastic Surgery. Our team will assess your needs, concerns and goals to determine the best approach for achieving a firmer, more toned midsection.
Preparing for a Tummy Tuck
It’s important to understand that abdominoplasty is a major surgery, but there are several things you can do to prepare yourself and ensure a safe, effective outcome. Our team recommends completing the following steps before coming to Miami for your tummy tuck procedure:
- Having a consultation with one of our care coordinators or board-certified plastic surgeons. Consultations can be done virtually or in person at our Miami office.
- Schedule an appointment with your primary care physician to complete lab work and ensure that you’re healthy enough for surgery.
- Finish losing weight and maintain a healthy BMI to ensure the best results.
- Arrange your travel plans if you’ll be visiting us from out of town. This includes packing any supplies you may need for your recovery.
- Find a ride to and from surgery, as the effects of anesthesia can cause drowsiness, and you’ll be unable to drive in the hours after your procedure.
Stop smoking at least four weeks before your procedure to ensure optimal healing.
What should I expect at my consultation?
If you’re thinking about undergoing abdominoplasty, it’s imperative that you meet with our team to discuss the details of the procedure and your expected results. We will listen carefully to your concerns and goals during this time to determine if a tummy tuck is right for you. If you opt for an in-person consultation, we may also take measurements of your midsection. We recommend coming prepared with a list of questions to get the most out of this initial meeting.
At your consultation, you’ll also receive the following:
- A breakdown of the different types of tummy tucks and how they work
- Before and after photos to help you understand the expected results
Tummy Tuck
Options
At PURE, tummy tucks are not a one-size-fits-all procedure. Your surgery will be personalized just for you, using the technique that will provide the best results. Our team will help you choose between a full, mini, extended or fleur-de-lis tummy tuck, depending on your unique needs.
Mini Tummy Tuck
A mini tummy tuck is used when patients only need to tighten the lower abdomen. This technique utilizes a shorter horizontal incision just above the pubic bone, through which loose skin is tightened to create a firmer appearance. A mini tummy tuck works well for addressing stretch marks and the stubborn belly “pooch” that remains after pregnancy. It is the least invasive technique and offers a quicker recovery time, but results may be less dramatic.
Full (Standard) Tummy Tuck
A full tummy tuck is a classic surgical technique that focuses on both the top and bottom of the abdomen. It involves making an incision above the pubic region and around the belly button to access the underlying tissues. Excess skin is removed, the muscles are tightened, and the incisions are closed. The navel may also be repositioned to ensure natural-looking results.
Extended Tummy Tuck
An extended tummy tuck is a surgical technique that can provide dramatic results for your abdomen. This procedure removes extra skin from the entire abdominal area, your hips, and part of your lower back. The horizontal incision will be longer than the other options. Liposuction can be used in conjunction with the normal removal of excess skin and fat. Muscles will also be tightened. The recovery time can take up to six weeks, but the results are very noticeable.
Fleur-de-Lis Tummy Tuck
This technique is designed to remove excess skin and fat from the abdomen, typically after significant weight loss. Unlike a traditional tummy tuck, it involves both horizontal and vertical incisions, allowing for greater skin tightening for patients with extensive laxity. The vertical incision addresses excess skin in the upper abdomen and flanks, while the horizontal incision contours the lower abdomen, resulting in a more sculpted and toned midsection.
Drainless Tummy Tuck
The drainless tummy tuck is an advanced technique that uses progressive tension sutures to eliminate the need for post-operative surgical drains. At PURE, Dr. Wegerif is an expert in drainless tummy tucks and has perfected the procedure, making it his signature approach. His expertise ensures patients achieve optimal results and a smoother, more comfortable recovery.
What to expect during a Tummy Tuck
Abdominoplasty is an outpatient procedure performed at our state-of-the-art surgical facility in Miami, Florida. Since it is a major surgery, general anesthesia is used. However, for less invasive techniques like the mini tummy tuck, local anesthesia with sedation may be an option.
On the day of your surgery, you’ll meet with your anesthesia team and be given instructions for pain management. Once the anesthesia has been administered, your surgeon will make an incision low on the abdomen so it can be easily concealed by clothing or swimwear. Then, excess skin, fat and tissue will be removed from the midsection to create firmer contours.
Next, the abdominal muscles will be tightened in their new position. If your belly button needs to be relocated, it will be moved at this time. Depending on your treatment plan, liposuction may also be performed for additional sculpting and contouring of the flanks. Once an optimal amount of correction has been achieved, your surgeon will close the incision with sutures. Finally, you’ll be wrapped in a compression garment and brought to the recovery area for monitoring.
If your surgery is more involved, like with an extended tummy tuck, it could take up to three hours to finish. Other less-invasive tummy tucks techniques will take considerably less time.
Tummy Tuck recovery
Your tummy tuck recovery should go very well. It’s normal to experience some bruising, discomfort and swellness after your surgery. Surgical drains may be placed in the abdomen to prevent excess fluid from accumulating unless your surgeon performs a drainless tummy tuck. At PURE, Dr. Wegerif is known for his drainless tummy tucks, a technique that involves layering the sutures in a specific way to eliminate the need for post-operative drainage tubes.
After your procedure, you’ll be wrapped in bandages and a compression garment to promote healing and reduce swelling. Most patients are ready to return to work seven days after surgery but you should expect the full recovery process to take up to six weeks or more. Our team will send you home with aftercare instructions and advise you on resuming normal activities.
It is extremely important that you don’t lift anything until cleared by your surgeon. If you have young children, we recommend planning for a full-time caretaker while you heal. Older children can be cared for normally about a week after the procedure. It can also be helpful to have someone assist you with household chores and other tasks during your recovery.
As with any surgery, you’ll want to monitor for various side effects that can occur after a procedure like a tummy tuck, including:
- Leg pain, swelling or soreness, which may indicate deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Bleeding
- Post-op fever
- Heart palpitations/chest pain
- Excessive pain
- Strange drainage from the incision sites
- Pain in other parts of the body
- Incisions that don’t heal completely
- Shortness of breath
If you experience any concerning symptoms, seek emergency help at your nearest hospital. If you have any non-emergency-related questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to us at any point during your recovery. Our goal is to ensure you have the best experience possible!
Tummy Tuck results
The results of a tummy tuck are truly transformative, providing patients with a flatter, firmer, and more contoured midsection. Immediately after the procedure, you'll see a significant improvement in the appearance of your abdomen, with excess skin and fat removed and the underlying muscles tightened. However, it is important to understand your final outcome will develop over several weeks to months as swelling subsides and the body heals.
Your results will be long-lasting and, in many senses, permanent. Excess skin and fat removed by your surgeon won’t come back, but weight gain or future pregnancies can negatively impact your new contours. Waiting until you’re finished having children and maintaining a healthy lifestyle ensures you’ll continue to enjoy your results for many years.
My overall experience with Dr. Earle and his staff has been beyond amazing. From my initial consultation, thru the surgery and post op, they have been caring, attentive and responsive. Dr. Earle is truly a master of his work. I am so happy that I chose him for my procedures and I would recommend him 1000% over. He and his staff care for their patients. They don’t make you feel like you’re just a dollar sign. I felt very comfortable and relaxed. The saying You get what you pay for is evident with Pure Plastic Surgery.
The staff at pure is absolutely amazing!
I just had my procedure with Dr. Earle, I did an extensive search to find nothing but the best Dr. Earle. He is knowledgeable, caring and professional, the entire team made my experience very smooth and pleasant. From the first call and afterwards; I felt reassured I have chosen an excellent practitioner. The results were beyond my expectations and they took care of details I’ve never experienced before with other surgeons. You are in good hands with Dr. Earle and his entire team, excellent care and results!!! Thank you !!!
I am happy and satisfied with Dr Earle and his entire team. Pure Plastic has created an impact on my esthetic concepts. My results are incredible. I have a new natural body with the curve that I wanted. I have received phone calls and video Zoom meetings with the nutritionist post-op and the pharmacist. It’s been a whole team working along with me. I recommend Dr Earle, and all I can say is Thank you 😊
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