Tummy Tuck / Abdominoplasty

Great candidates for this procedure are women and men who maintain a healthy diet and exercise program but still experience loose or folds of excess skin and a protruding abdomen.

A Tummy Tuck / Abdominoplasty is a major surgical procedure to remove excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen, and most importantly, tighten and reposition the muscles of the abdominal wall.

Women who have had multiple pregnancies, or who have accomplished substantial weight loss and have stretched the skin and muscles beyond the point at which they can return to their original form, will receive wonderful benefits from this surgery.

The procedure flattens and tightens the abdominal area and, for those who have lost skin elasticity, it will remove, tighten and reshape the skin that is left behind, achieving a more attractive abdominal profile and a curvy, more beautifully flattering figure overall.

Typically, this procedure takes three to four hours under regional anesthesia (peridural).The incision is made low on the abdomen and can be hidden by even the most revealing swimwear or clothing. Once the excess skin and fat are removed, internal ligaments are tightened and firmed up with every effort made to preserve a natural and youthful looking belly button. If needed, surgeries like liposuction, fat transfer to the buttocks and hips or a tubal ligation can also be performed at this time. Dr. Carmina will discuss everything with you when doing your evaluation and again before your surgery.

Tummy Tuck variations

We offer Modified, Traditional, Extended and Circumferential Tummy Tucks.

Modified also referred to as a Mini Tummy Tuck is for patients with a small amount of excess skin in the abdominal area.

Traditional or typical TT is the removal of excess fat and skin along with the tightening of the muscles of the abdominal wall to create a flat and firmer midsection.

Extended and Circumferential is an extension of the Traditional TT and usually is for after weight loss patients or women who have had various pregnancies.

You can rely on the expertise and thousands of hours of experience as a surgeon that Dr. Carmina has, you can also have complete confidence in her evaluation and selection of the very best surgical options for you.

What to expect after surgery

Following a Tummy Tuck / Abdominoplasty you will stay the first night in the clinic, and then 7 to 14 days close by to begin your recovery program. We highly recommend you stay in our Beauty Care Recovery House with our professional 24 hour nursing team and a daily visit from Dr.Carmina.

Drains may be placed for several days then painlessly removed. Your after care, just as your surgery, is designed for your personal needs. Within 24 hours you will be able to walk and move around and possibly shower on the second or third day after surgery. Moderate pain is typical for the first four to five days and is easily controlled by medications. Bruising is unusual and swelling will be moderate for the first to the third week. Some swelling may linger near the incision for several months. Many everyday activities can be resumed within the first week and most by four to six weeks.

You will receive your recovery program instructions when leaving to return home.

Please remember that your Recovery Care is extremely important to the outcome of your surgical procedure and should be in the hands of medical professionals for the first 7 to 14 days depending on the patients individual needs.

One of your most important decisions regarding a Tummy Tuck / Abdominoplasty surgery is the choice of your plastic surgeon. As with all procedures performed here at Beauty Enhance, our fully accredited facility, you can feel safe and secure with Dr. Carmina Cardenas, Board Certified Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgeon.

Dr. Carmina performs her surgeries meticulously, with safely her 1st priority, using the latest technology combined with her artistic ability, always offering the finest care and service to all of her patients.

The results of this procedure can be thrilling, like a dream come true. You will have a flatter and firmer abdomen, and a beautifully curvy contoured waistline, fitting better in clothing resulting in a more youthfully beautiful body.

Dr. Carmina Cardenas requires a BMI (Body mass index) of 30 or below in order to be a safe candidate for any plastic surgery procedure, post-bariatric patients are required to be 1 YPO from bariatric surgery and have at least 3 consecutive months of steady weight in order to be eligible.

Patients are typically candidates for:

1. Breasts Women
2. Tummy Tuck
3. Liposuction
4. Butt Augmentation

A combination of regional anesthesia and IV sedation (twilight) is used where the patient is not unconscious, but sedated, this allows the anesthesiologist to monitor oxygen levels in blood, this is especially important when performing the repair of the abdominal wall muscles, as the patient need to breathe by itself, something that cannot be achieved with general anesthesia.

A local anesthetic is injected into the epidural space of the lumbar or sacral region of the spine, the anesthetic will wear off a few hours after the procedure without the negative effects that general anesthesia typically produces such as nausea, vomiting, etc.

Will you be awake, during the procedure?  Yes and no. During the entire procedure, you will be conscious, which means you can respond to commands such as opening and closing your mouth. Although, during twilight sedation, you will be in a drowsy, dream-like state.

Although Plastic Surgery is an elective procedure it is still a real surgery and therefore there is always a potential risks of complications as in any other major procedure,  DVT (deep vein thrombosis), PE (pulmonary embolism) or VTE (vein thromboembolism) which is a combination of the two are the most fatal risks and therefore you should discuss this with Dr. Cardenas thoughtfully, other potential risks may be but are not limited to:

The honest answer is NO, but risks can be reduced considerably if doctor and patient work together; You’ll be provided with a list of pre-operatory exams that need to be performed prior to surgery and a protocol of actions that you will need to follow in order to reduce the risks, but the patient must always be aware that risks cannot be eradicated completely.

Remember AWL and especially post-bariatric patients are at a greater risk of complications, therefore, pre and post operative instructions must be followed with diligence.

The risk of fatal complications in plastic surgery (when following the recommended standards) is less than 1%, meaning that Plastic Surgery is very safe; As shown in the previous chart, other complications may happen and are more frequent, is plastic surgery worth it even after considering those risks?

Plastic Surgery is a very personal decision; therefore, it is very important that you have a comprehensive understanding of the risks involved and the benefits that plastic surgery may bring to your life,  the following  chart represent the improvements in the overall quality of life that patients who underwent surgery with Dr. Cardenas over the last 3 years reported.

1. Following pre and post operative instructions diligently.
2. Having a discussed emergency plan that both parts can follow in the event of a complication (Supportive PCP at home, family of friend’s support group that can help you at home in case that you need to travel back).
3. Constant and open communication and collaboration.

All our patients have a PROTECTION PLAN included that can cover up to $3,500 dlls in expenses for treatment in the event of a complication that requires the patient to return to our facilities.