Tummy Tuck
(Abdominoplasty) in Raleigh & Cary, NC

In the right hands, an abdominoplasty is a very safe procedure. When moving forward with this procedure, we highly recommend selecting a board-certified surgeon.

An abdominoplasty will not typically cause stomach issues. More commonly, many patients find they feel full faster when eating meals. This is due to the tight muscle plication. Otherwise, there are no changes to the stomach.

Yes, an abdominoplasty is considered an outpatient surgery. This means there is no overnight hospital stay required, and patients leave the surgical center on the same day as surgery. With assistance right after anesthesia, our patients can walk on their own the day after their tummy tuck procedure.

Yes, you can continue to lose weight after an abdominoplasty. Many patients find that their body responds to exercise in a new and improved way. For some patients, weight loss after an abdominoplasty can provide an even better aesthetic result.

Abdominoplasty is a great procedure to address one or multiple aesthetic concerns of the abdomen. Tummy tucks can address excess abdominal skin, loose abdominal skin, and/or loose abdominal muscles after pregnancy or weight loss. Through skin excision and muscle plication, abdominoplasty can transform an abdomen that has undergone major changes. Patients can generally consider their results to be “permanent” if there are no major lifestyle changes (major weight fluctuations, pregnancy, etc.)

Because abdominoplasty includes skin excision, there is a scar associated with the procedure. Most often, it is a low-positioned, transverse incision that is typically covered by most underwear and swimsuits. In some cases, there may be other incisions needed to provide a better aesthetic outcome and maximum improvement. Because every patient has a different skin tone and heals differently, scars can sometimes be difficult to predict. However, with proper care, most scars tend to heal quite well.

Prior to any cosmetic surgery, we want patients to be the best versions of themselves. We encourage realistic goals for our patients. We strongly recommend patients be at or near their goal weight prior to moving forward with any elective cosmetic surgery.

Yes, an abdominoplasty procedure includes a corset tightening and repair of the diastasis recti. This gap between the vertical muscles of the abdomen widens with childbearing or weight gain and does not typically go away. An abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, corrects and tightens abdominal muscles that have been stretched.

At CARE Plastic Surgery, our double board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Brian Coan, performs abdominoplasty as an outpatient surgery. This means that patients can go home on the same day as their surgery. We have two AAAASF-certified operating rooms where the procedures are performed. We utilize both local anesthetic and MAC anesthesia (IV sedation) to provide the ultimate comfortable experience for the patients perioperatively. Dr. Coan lifts the abdominal flap, plicates the abdominal muscles with sutures, excises any excess skin, and pulls the abdominal skin as flat as possible to provide an optimal aesthetic appearance.

After surgery, you should abstain from alcohol for several weeks. Alcohol can impede your bodys ability to heal, negatively affecting your results. Dr. Coan will give you the best estimate of when you can resume drinking alcohol after your surgery.

While abdominoplasty is not a weight loss procedure, our patients find exercise to be more enjoyable after a tummy tuck. Additionally, patients tend to prefer a slimmer waistline, less loose skin, and tightened abdominal muscles. Patients also report achieving better results with exercise when they resume a normal exercise routine after a tummy tuck. Finally, many patients report a feeling of satiety and early fullness after an abdominoplasty procedure. This comes from the narrowing and tightening of the abdominal wall. It is similar to how having a tight belt on could limit how much you feel like eating during a large Thanksgiving meal.

We advise patients to wait until 6 weeks after surgery to resume normal activity and exercise.

Patients with loose abdominal skin and/or diastases recti are good candidates for this procedure. Diastasis recti is the partial or complete separation of the large abdominal muscles. It is quite common after pregnancy, but it can also occur after rapid and dramatic weight gain. An abdominoplasty corrects these concerns, as they do not respond to normal exercise.

Yes, our surgical patients are not only able to walk but encouraged to walk with assistance immediately after the procedure. In the following days and/or weeks, most patients will be instructed to walk slightly bent over at the waist to ensure a more comfortable recovery process.

We strongly recommend patients be at or near their goal weight prior to moving forward with any elective cosmetic surgery. We recommend surgical patients be at a body mass index (BMI) of about 30 or below for optimal patient safety and best outcomes.

Abdominoplasty does not impact an individual's ability to become pregnant post-operatively. However, due to the nature of the procedure, we recommend patients be certain they are done with childbearing to prevent recurrent diastasis recti which may warrant a second tummy tuck.

Yes, we have many male patients who undergo abdominoplasty procedures. Oftentimes, men who have lost a significant amount of weight can be candidates for abdominoplasty due to abdominal wall and skin laxity issues from previous weight fluctuations.

Patients must refrain from any activity that will significantly increase heart rate or blood pressure, including exercise, for 6 weeks after a tummy tuck. Additionally, patients wear a compression garment during this time. After the six-week mark, patients are cleared to resume all activity restrictions.

While complications are rare, they are possible, which is why we strongly recommend patients comply with postoperative instructions. Possible complications include delayed wound healing, localized infection, swelling, bruising, sensation changes, and minor asymmetries. Our CARE team will be with you every step of the way during your post-operative journey.

A tummy tuck surgery does not address all stretch marks directly. However, by removing excess skin and tissue from the abdomen, stretch marks in that area may be incidentally removed.

The duration of a tummy tuck surgery can vary. On average, an abdominoplasty can take approximately 2-3 hours but can vary depending on the patient’s anatomy, Dr. Coan’s recommendations, and the addition of other procedures performed at the same time. Keep in mind procedures times must also take administering anesthesia into account.

At CARE Plastic Surgery, we use monitored anesthesia care, or MAC anesthesia for all procedures, including abdominoplasty. MAC anesthesia differs from general anesthesia in that sedation is controlled through intravenous administering of medications through an IV, allowing the patient to breathe on their own without intubation. Patients awake from anesthesia easier and have a much lower likelihood of post-operative nausea.