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Tummy Tuck in Little Rock, AR
Also known as abdominoplasty, tummy tuck surgery is a very popular body contouring solution at our practice in Little Rock. If you are looking to remove skin and tighten tissue after weight loss, get back your pre-pregnancy body, or just feel more confident about your midsection, a tummy tuck is worth a closer look.
Little Rock Trusts Suzanne Yee, MD
for Quality Surgery and Stunning Results
Dr. Suzanne Yee is a triple board-certified cosmetic surgeon who is a fellow of several prestigious organizations, including the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, the American College of Surgeons and the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery.
Dr. Yee has been practicing plastic surgery since the 1990s. She’s been a presence in the Little Rock community since 2003, having provided premium plastic surgery services to patients looking to bring out their natural beauty with surgical and nonsurgical procedures.
Dr. Yee has won many awards for her care, including being named “Best of Arkansas” by multiple publications for many years in a row and the Nurses Choice award for #1 Cosmetic Surgeon.
Is a Tummy Tuck Right for You?
While a healthy diet and regular exercise can help you lose fat and build muscle, they cannot restore lost skin elasticity or repair separated muscle tissue. Our skin retains its elasticity only up to a certain point, and it gradually becomes less elastic with age. Additionally, separated abdominal muscles, a condition called diastasis recti can occur after both pregnancy and significant weight changes and cannot be repaired without surgery.
Dr. Yee can address both loose skin and muscles during a tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, procedure at our Little Rock, AR, practice.
You may be an abdominoplasty candidate if you:
- Have had one or more pregnancies.
- Have developed drooping skin with age because of a genetic predisposition.
- Have lost a substantial amount of weight.
- Do not smoke.
- Are in good health.
- Have realistic expectations for your results.
Tummy Tuck After Pregnancy
Pregnancy causes significant stretching of the abdominal skin and muscles, particularly for women who have children at an older age or have multiple children. When the skin fails to “snap back” into place after pregnancy, it can result in sagging. In addition, the abdominal muscles often become separated or loose as a result of pregnancy. All of these issues can be addressed with a tummy tuck. Some women may also wish to include additional procedures, such as breast augmentation, as part of a comprehensive mommy makeover treatment plan.
Tummy Tuck After Weight Loss
For many men and women who choose our Little Rock, AR, practice, weight fluctuations have been a constant part of their lives. Unfortunately, gaining and losing weight can contribute to loose and wrinkled skin. If you have successfully lost weight, you may be left with sagging skin on the abdomen. Dr. Yee has experience providing surgical treatment to patients after significant weight loss. She can remove excess abdominal skin that may be preventing you from exercising comfortably and feeling confident about your weight loss.
Men and women who have reached a significant weight loss goal may also choose to combine several skin-tightening procedures, such as an arm lift or thigh lift, with their tummy tuck.
What Can a Tummy Tuck Address?
Excess Skin
Age, pregnancy and weight loss can contribute to excess skin in the midsection. Surgical treatment is the only effective way to address excess skin. With a tummy tuck, Dr. Yee can safely and effectively tighten wrinkled and loose skin to create a smoother, more toned appearance.
Separated Muscles
The abdominal wall can become loose or separated during pregnancy or following significant weight fluctuations, resulting in the appearance of a belly pouch. At our Little Rock practice, Dr. Yee can suture the abdominal wall back together to flatten the stomach and provide flattering results.
Belly Button Refinement
The belly button can become stretched or displaced as a result of weight gain and pregnancy. During a tummy tuck, Dr. Yee can move and reshape the navel for a more aesthetically pleasing appearance that complements a flatter abdominal area.
Dr. Yee’s Tummy Tuck Transformations
Your Tummy Tuck Consultation
Your tummy tuck consultation is the first step toward achieving a smoother, firmer midsection. During this appointment, you’ll meet with Dr. Yee to discuss your goals, medical history and any concerns you may have. Dr. Yee will examine your abdominal area, evaluate the condition of your skin and muscles and determine which tummy tuck technique may be best for you. This is also an excellent opportunity to ask questions about the procedure, recovery and expected results.
To make the most of your consultation, it can be helpful to:
- Bring a list of your medical history and medications. Dr. Yee will need to review your medical history and may make temporary adjustments to medications or supplements that you may currently be taking.
- Be honest about your goals. Share whether you’re looking to address loose skin, stretched abdominal muscles or both so that Dr. Yee can create a customized treatment plan that best meets your unique goals.
- Have a list of questions ready. Writing them down beforehand will help to ensure you don’t forget to discuss anything important.
- Review your lifestyle factors. Dr. Yee may discuss maintaining a stable weight, quitting smoking and other steps to optimize your results.
Tummy Tuck Techniques
Dr. Yee will customize your tummy tuck to your unique anatomy and goals, choosing the technique that will provide the most natural-looking and effective results:
- Traditional tummy tuck. A full abdominoplasty is the most common approach and involves an incision around the belly button and another horizontal incision placed low between the hip bones. This technique allows Dr. Yee to tighten loose abdominal muscles, remove excess skin and reshape the waistline for a smoother, flatter contour.
- Extended tummy tuck. Dr. Yee may recommend this technique for patients with more significant skin laxity, especially after major weight loss or multiple pregnancies. Using this method, the incision may extend across the entire abdomen and around the hips. As a result, this option not only tightens the abdomen but also addresses excess tissue along the flanks and lower back.
- Mini tummy tuck. If you only have a small amount of loose skin or mild muscle laxity below the belly button, you may be a candidate for a mini tummy tuck. This procedure requires a shorter incision placed very low on the abdomen, resulting in minimal scarring and a quicker recovery compared to a full tummy tuck.
- Tummy tuck with LipoSelection®. For patients with stubborn fat deposits in addition to loose skin or stretched muscles, Dr. Yee can combine your tummy tuck with advanced ultrasonic liposuction precise fat removal while also tightening the abdominal area.
Tummy Tuck Before & Afters
View before and after photos of real tummy tuck patients whom Dr. Yee has been able to help.
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“Huge Boost to My Self-Confidence.”
One Patient’s Journey to Confidence
How Much Does a Tummy Tuck Cost?
During your consultation with Dr. Suzanne Yee in Little Rock, she will go over your medical history and cosmetic goals. This will help her determine the best possible treatment plan for you and allow our office to give you an estimate of the cost.
Several associated services may factor into the overall cost of your procedure. Some of these include:
- Consultations and personalized care from Dr. Yee and her staff
- Use of our facilities, including our state-of-the-art surgical suite and private recovery room
- Healing supplements and bandaging
- Nursing care and lab work
- In-house anesthesiologists’ care and related anesthesiology fees
- Operating room fees
- Surgeon’s fees
You Can Afford Your New Figure
The cost of a patient’s tummy tuck procedure depends on the extent of treatment that is needed. For example, a patient undergoing the mini technique will typically have a lower cost than patients undergoing the extended technique. If additional procedures such as liposuction are performed, the total cost of treatment will increase. However, we do our best to make your procedure as affordable and stress-free as possible.
Cost
If you are a candidate for a tummy tuck, Dr. Yee will provide you with a cost estimate before you decide whether or not a tummy tuck is right for you.
Financing
We participate with several cosmetic surgery financing companies offering low- and fixed-rate interest options.
Payment Options
We accept many payment options for your convenience. In addition to financing, we accept credit cards, checks and cash.
A Slimmer Figure in a Single Procedure
Tummy tuck surgery can take anywhere from about 1 to 5 hours, depending on the technique used and the extent of correction needed. A mini tummy tuck, for example, will take significantly less time to complete than an extended tummy tuck.
Here’s an outline of what happens during a tummy tuck procedure:
1
Surgical Markings
To begin your tummy tuck, Dr. Yee will make markings on your abdomen to indicate where incisions will be placed and lifting will occur.
2
Anesthesia
Next, our experienced team of a board-certified anesthesiologist and nurse anesthetist will administer anesthesia to maintain your comfort throughout the procedure. In most cases, patients are put under general anesthesia, and they will have no recollection of the surgery.
3
Incisions
Surgery begins with a horizontal incision low on your abdomen, several inches below the navel. The length depends on the extent of lifting you require.
4
Tighten
Dr. Yee will then remove excess fat and skin tissue, tighten the underlying muscle tissue and make adjustments to the belly button.
5
Applying Bandages
The incisions will be sutured and bandaged. Dr. Yee uses advanced techniques to close incisions and minimize the appearance of scarring so you can focus on your smoother abdomen.
6
Recover
Tummy tuck surgery is performed on an outpatient basis. After a short observation period in our recovery area, you can return home on the same day as your surgery.
Tummy Tuck Recovery
During your pre-op appointment at our Little Rock plastic surgery office, we will provide you with detailed instructions to follow during recovery. They will include:
Get Plenty of Rest
Upon returning home from surgery, you will need to rest and take it easy for several days. You may need to take about 2 weeks off from work, depending on how physically demanding your job is. The side effects of any surgical procedure are typically most apparent for the first few days to a week after treatment, but will fade over time. Dr. Yee uses special medications during surgery to promote internal healing and help with pain. Exparel is a local numbing agent, and its effects last up to 2 days. Dr. Yee can also prescribe oral pain medication to keep you comfortable in the days after your procedure.
Engage in Light Activity
The day after surgery, you should try to engage in light physical activity such as walking around the house. This will help to promote healthy blood flow and prevent complications such as blood clots.
Avoid Strenuous Activity
While light walking is encouraged during the initial recovery period, you should avoid strenuous activity for at least 6 weeks after surgery or until you receive clearance from Dr. Yee. This includes picking up or carrying children, so please arrange for extra help with childcare if needed.
Attend Follow-Ups
You will return for a follow-up appointment with Dr. Yee the next day so she can ensure that you’re healing properly and understand the post-op instructions. It is very important to keep these appointments so that any potential complications can be caught and addressed early.
Dr. Yee Keeps Scarring to a Minimum
Tummy tuck patients are often concerned about the appearance of scars after their procedures. Dr. Yee uses advanced and effective techniques that greatly reduce the appearance of post-surgical scarring.
When performing surgery, Dr. Yee will make sure that any resulting scarring can be hidden with undergarments and bikini bottoms. In fact, the resulting horizontal scar is located several inches below the typical underwear line.
The length of the resulting scar is dependent on the extent of treatment needed. Dr. Yee will make every effort to keep scarring as minimal as possible without compromising your tummy tuck results.
Scar Prevention
Patients themselves play an important role in minimizing the appearance of scarring. To prevent thick, dark scars:
- Follow Dr. Yee’s instructions to minimize the risk of infection.
- Don’t smoke.
- Avoid strenuous activity while healing.
- Use skin products recommended by Dr. Yee after scars have healed.
- Avoid exposing scars to sunlight.
Your Tummy Tuck Results
You should notice an immediate difference in your body shape and contours after tummy tuck surgery. However, initial results will be hidden by swelling and bruising and will continue to develop and refine over the coming weeks and months. Around the 3-month mark, you should begin to have a clearer picture of what your final outcome will look like. It can, however, take 6 to 12 months for final tummy tuck results to fully develop. Be patient with your body as it continues to heal and your contours continue to improve.
Maintaining Your New Figure
Tummy tuck results can be very long-lasting, provided you maintain healthy lifestyle habits such as:
Eat a Healthy Diet
Preventing weight gain will reduce the risk of loose skin from developing again. A diet that is rich in leafy greens, lean proteins, beans and whole grains can help you stay within a healthy weight range. Avoid refined or simple carbs, and drink plenty of water.
Exercise Regularly
Regular exercise can help you stay at a healthy weight, and it offers many other important health benefits. Try to get at least 20 to 30 minutes of moderate exercise 5 days a week. Choose activities that keep you engaged so that you are more likely to hit your exercise goals each week.
Have Children First
Plastic surgeons always recommend that female patients wait until they are done having children before a tummy tuck procedure. If women become pregnant after this body contouring procedure, it can stretch the skin and affect the muscles, reversing the results of surgery.
Tummy Tuck FAQs
In most cases, insurance does not cover the cost of a tummy tuck, as it is typically considered an elective procedure. However, in cases where a tummy tuck is deemed medically necessary, some insurance plans may cover all or some of the cost. For more information about your specific health plan coverage, call the number listed on the back of your insurance card.
Even though a tummy tuck isn’t a weight loss procedure, it removes excess abdominal skin, which can result in losing up to 10 pounds. Depending on the extent of your abdominal procedure, you may go down a few pant sizes.
If you’re finished having children, you’ve completed a weight loss journey or you’re within 10 to 15 pounds of your goal weight, you may be ready to receive your tummy tuck. Dr. Yee also recommends living a healthy lifestyle prior to undergoing your procedure so your results are easier to maintain.
Yes! Many patients who receive a tummy tuck also undergo procedures like liposuction, breast lift or breast augmentation, sometimes during the same surgical procedure. Dr. Yee can also perform these, so you won’t have to familiarize yourself with another plastic surgeon to get the results you desire.
Potential risks after an abdominoplasty include seroma, hematomas, infections, blood clots and changes in skin sensation. Dr. Yee takes measures to minimize the potential for complications. For example, she uses TISSEEL, a fibrin sealant, to shorten healing times and reduce the risk of complications such as seroma.
Hot Topics in Tummy Tucks
- Do I Need to Lose Weight Before Getting a Tummy Tuck? Dr. Yee explains ideal weight loss targets to hit before moving forward with a tummy tuck to see the best results.
- What Goes Into the Cost of a Tummy Tuck? Understand more about what is included in the cost of a tummy tuck and why cost estimates can vary for each patient.
- Tummy Tuck after Weight Loss: What You Need to Know: Thinking about getting a tummy tuck after hitting a major weight loss milestone? Here’s how to know if you could be ready.
- How Will a Tummy Tuck Affect My Belly Button? Dr. Yee answers this commonly asked question about final tummy tuck results.
- How a Tummy Tuck after Pregnancy Can Achieve a Flatter Stomach: If you’re unhappy with loose skin or a belly pooch after pregnancy, find out how a tummy tuck may be able to help.
Telephone No.501-224-1044
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