Is a Tummy Tuck painful?

Your surgery is performed under general anesthesia, so you shouldn’t feel any pain during that procedure. Most patients can expect some pain and/or discomfort after a Tummy Tuck, with the worst of it being experienced within the first week. Dr. Bhat will temporarily prescribe you some oral pain medications to alleviate any discomfort and minimize swelling, as well as advise you on the best techniques for a more comfortable recovery.

How many appointments will I need?

After your initial follow-up appointment, which will take place a few days after your surgery, you should expect follow-up appointments at regular intervals for the first few weeks. Then, the frequency at which you will need to be seen decreases and you will only need to come back a few more times (at three months and six months) after that initial period to make sure you are healing appropriately. Dr. Bhat will always inform you of when you are expected back and when she feels you have achieved your best results.

How long until I see my Tummy Tuck results?

While every patient will have a different recovery experience, most patients can see the final results of their procedure in about two to three months. Remember, this is not a weight loss surgery, but you will lose some weight from the surgery. While you will be able to slowly resume working out around a month and a half post-surgery, we strongly recommend easing back into your former physical activity only after receiving Dr. Bhat’s approval.

Can I combine Tummy Tuck with other procedures?

Absolutely! A Tummy Tuck is commonly combined with other plastic surgery procedures for an overall better aesthetic. Dr. Bhat commonly recommends that Liposuction be performed in combination with Tummy Tuck to give you the best possible result. Many tummy tuck patients also utilize procedures like an Arm Lift , Breast Augmentation , or Thigh Lift to produce stunning results when paired with traditional tummy tuck procedures. A standard traditional tummy tuck itself is also frequently used in a mommy makeover . If you have a goal in mind or would like to hear the best options for combining surgical procedures, please discuss it with Dr. Bhat during your consultation and she will be happy to make her expert recommendations.

What are the risks associated with Tummy Tuck?

While a safe procedure when performed by a professional plastic surgeon like Dr. Bhat, a Tummy Tuck can have the following risk involved with the plastic surgery itself: Anesthesia risks Bleeding Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications Fluid accumulation (seroma) Infection Numbness or other changes in skin sensation Poor wound healing or unfavorable scarring Possibility of revision surgery Recurrent looseness of skin Skin loss If you experience any concerning or long-lasting reactions, please contact our clinic immediately.

Does Tummy Tuck surgery remove excess skin?

Yes. The standard tummy tuck technique and procedure will often remove stretch marks, loose skin, and excess fat, and even tighten stretched abdominal muscles. However, a tummy tuck won't correct stretch marks on the skin that is remaining.

Are Tummy Tuck patients able to keep a stable weight after their procedure?

Once you have undergone a Tummy tuck, the excess skin is permanently removed and your abdominal contour should be very close to your aesthetic goals. While your body will continue to rebuild and adapt to its new structure, you can maintain your appearance with a balanced diet and active, healthy lifestyle.

What happens if you experience weight gain after a tummy tuck?

We strongly encourage our tummy tuck patients to maintain a healthy diet. Most patients have worked hard to lose weight, and tummy tuck surgery can help provide the abdominal contour you've been dreaming of, as it will repair stretched abdominal muscles and remove excess or sagging skin in the abdomen. The tummy tuck surgery will also improve the belly button appearance. If you do gain weight after your tummy tuck and gain more loose skin, Dr. Bhat will likely advise you to get on a healthy diet to lose the gained weight. It's possible that other body contouring treatments can be done such as liposuction. If the abdominal skin and muscles do separate again, Dr. Bhat may recommend a mini or tummy tuck revision, or an extended tummy tuck — depending on the extent of the weight gain and the condition of the abdominal muscles.

What are some of the more commonly combined body sculpting procedures?

Tummy tucks are often included with mommy makeovers to address multiple areas of the body. Other more frequently combined cosmetic surgery procedures include: Liposuction Body Lift Breast Augmentation Breast Lift Breast Reduction

Do tummy tucks cause blood clots?

Tummy tuck surgery is a body contouring plastic surgery that is typically very safe. While blood clots are a very rare condition, it is a possible side effect of cosmetic surgery. During your consultation with Dr. Bhat, she'll provide a very thorough assessment of your health, current medications, and past surgeries. Together you'll develop a plan to prioritize safety.

Tummy Tuck In Tampa, FL | Ravive Plastic Surgery

Introduction

Introduction to Tummy Tuck

A toned, flat, tight tummy is desirable to many and is a sign of youthfulness and good health. However, this result can be very difficult to achieve through just diet and exercise alone, especially as we get older or after having children. Many of our Tampa Bay patients find it very difficult to achieve a toned, athletic tummy even after extensive lifestyle changes, as they may have excess/hanging skin or loose abdominal muscles. In these cases, no amount of diet and exercise will fix this. A tummy tuck, however, effectively addresses all of these problems!

As a fellowship-trained Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Deepa Bhat offers Tummy Tuck surgery for her Tampa Bay area patients as a comprehensive solution to improve the appearance of their stomachs. To learn a little more about this surgical procedure, please keep reading below.

What is Tummy Tuck?

A full Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) is a surgical cosmetic procedure that can dramatically improve the appearance of the abdomen by removing excess skin and fat, all while tightening the muscles in your abdominal wall. In a full Tummy Tuck, Dr. Bhat will also reposition your belly button in a more youthful, appropriate position.

We encourage our patients to try getting their ideal body weight to be as close to their target weight before undergoing this surgery, as it is an outpatient procedure and not a substitution for a weight loss or unwanted fat loss procedure. You will experience longer-lasting results with proper diet and exercise.

The procedure can also restore weakened abdominal muscles or separated abdominal muscles to create a smoother and firmer abdomen and abdominal contour. Even if a patient is at their normal body weight, excess tissue on their belly can protrude for many reasons, including:

Aging
Heredity
Pregnancy
Prior surgery
Significant fluctuations in weight

Woman in black bikini with back against wall - Tummy Tuck

What are the Benefits of Tummy Tuck Surgery?

Our Tummy Tuck Tampa patients have experienced some of the following examples of benefits that this surgery can provide:

Better overall flexibility
Flatter abdomen
May improve body appearance and increase self-confidence
Improved control over bodily functions
Increase tolerance for more intense exercises once excess skin is gone and core muscles are tightened
Minimize the risks for certain medical conditions
Motivates you to lose excess weight and achieve better health
Natural-looking belly button
May improve stress urinary incontinence (after pregnancy, some women find they have an issue with accidental leaks)
Removes excess abdominal skin and fat
Stronger and improved core

Who are the Best Candidates for a Tummy Tuck procedure?

In general, you may be a good candidate for a standard tummy tuck if you are:

In good overall physical health
Maintaining a stable, healthy weight
Non-smoker
Persistently bothered by the aesthetic of your abdomen
Realistic in your expectations for the procedure
Unsuccessful losing weight in the abdominal area through traditional means

What’s the First Step?

If you’re interested in treating sagging abdominal skin, weakened or separated muscles, or any other body contouring procedures, your first step is to schedule your Tummy Tuck consultation with Dr. Bhat.

Before your appointment, we encourage you to prepare yourself by defining and understanding your surgical goals as best as possible. When you come in, Dr. Bhat will evaluate your body and discuss the best method to achieve your aesthetic goals, as well as discuss any medications you are currently taking, your lifestyle and medical history, and details about any previous surgeries you may have had.

Dr. Bhat will guide you through every step of the procedure. Once she creates your surgical plan, keeping your goals in mind, and you both agree, our Patient Coordinator will help you set up your surgical date.

What to Expect on the Day of a Tummy Tuck Procedure

On the day of your surgery, you will first be administered general anesthesia, so you are comfortable and pain-free through your surgery.

Dr. Bhat will begin by making an incision just above the pubic area, which is used to remove the excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen. If you are also having Liposuction performed simultaneously, it will not only sculpt a narrower waist and hips but also improve the overall contour of the abdomen to give you a more lean, sculpted appearance.

The skin is then lifted off the abdominal wall up until the level of the ribs, to reveal the vertical muscles in your abdomen (your “six-pack” muscles). If there is a separation between them, Dr. Bhat will stitch these muscles back together to narrow the waistline and provide more strength to your abdominal wall. The excess abdominal skin or flap is then stretched down, any extra skin is removed, and a new opening is made for your bellybutton, which is then stitched in place.

Finally, the incisions are closed, dressings applied, and a temporary tube called a surgical drain may be inserted to drain excess fluid from the surgical site.

Your procedure can last anywhere from two to five hours.

Other Tummy Tuck Procedures

Mini Tummy Tuck

A mini abdominoplasty is a less invasive version of the full tummy tuck procedure and is ideal for people with less excess skin and fat. For this procedure, Dr. Bhat makes a smaller (shorter) incision along the lower abdomen and removes less fat and skin. The abdominal muscles may or may not be tightened and the belly button is not repositioned.

Reverse Tummy Tuck

A Reverse Tummy Tuck is indicated for patients that have most of their skin laxity in the upper portion of the abdomen, rather than the lower. In this procedure, the incision is made at the top/superior-most part of the belly (right underneath the breasts, at the breast-crease line), instead of along the lower abdomen as in a traditional tummy tuck.

This procedure is far less common than a traditional, full Tummy Tuck. If you think you may be a candidate, please reach out to Ravive Plastic Surgery and schedule a consultation with Dr. Bhat so that she may evaluate you and discuss your surgical options.

Tummy Tuck Recovery

After your Tummy Tuck surgery, we will monitor you in our recovery area. When you are ready to go home, you should have a relative or friend available to give you a ride home. You will be outfitted with a compression garment to wear around your abdomen to reduce swelling. Surgical drains may also be used to assist in fluid drainage.

The first few days after your abdominoplasty surgery, there will be some swelling, bruising, and discomfort in the treatment area, which is relieved with pain medication. While it will take about six weeks to fully recover from an abdominoplasty procedure, many patients can return to work and resume light activities within 7 – 10 days. Heavy lifting and strenuous physical activities should be avoided for several weeks. Your final tummy tuck results should be visible within a few months after your swelling has gone down.

Our Patient Coordinator will provide you with detailed instructions on how to care for the incisions and drains until they are removed, which usually happens just a few days after surgery.

Woman in black bra on couch - Tummy Tuck

How Much Does Tummy Tuck Cost in Tampa, FL?

The average cost of a tummy tuck in Tampa Bay, FL typically starts at $10,000 and can go up to around $15,000. The price can vary depending on factors such as the extent of skin and muscle tightening required, anesthesia costs, and any additional procedures performed simultaneously. For an accurate cost estimate, it’s best to schedule a consultation with Dr. Bhat. During your consultation, our patient coordinator will provide a detailed quote tailored to your specific needs and desired outcome.

Why Choose Dr. Bhat?

When you require a Tummy Tuck procedure, Dr. Deepa Bhat is the right surgeon for the job! After having extensive training in aesthetic plastic surgery, Dr. Bhat has become highly knowledgeable in performing the Tummy Tuck procedure with precision and artistry. Dr. Bhat is fellowship-trained in aesthetic procedures, meaning she did an additional year of training in exclusively cosmetic procedures after her seven years of training and completion of a plastic surgery residency, making her one of the few aesthetic fellowship-trained plastic surgeons in Florida!

Furthermore, Ravive Plastic Surgery is committed to delivering personalized care, taking the time to understand each patient’s unique goals and concerns to create a customized treatment plan. By choosing Dr. Bhat, you can trust that you are in the hands of a highly skilled and caring individual who will prioritize your well-being and provide you with the most natural and beautiful results possible.

Schedule Your Consultation

If you want a tighter, leaner-looking stomach but have not been able to achieve it through diet and exercise alone, a Tummy Tuck procedure could be right for you. To schedule your consultation with Dr. Bhat, please contact Ravive Plastic Surgery to set up your appointment. Improve your self-confidence and your belly’s appearance with a tummy tuck surgery in Tampa!

Schedule A Consultation

Tummy Tuck FAQs

Your procedure questions answered.

Your surgery is performed under general anesthesia, so you shouldn’t feel any pain during that procedure. Most patients can expect some pain and/or discomfort after a Tummy Tuck, with the worst of it being experienced within the first week. Dr. Bhat will temporarily prescribe you some oral pain medications to alleviate any discomfort and minimize swelling, as well as advise you on the best techniques for a more comfortable recovery.
After your initial follow-up appointment, which will take place a few days after your surgery, you should expect follow-up appointments at regular intervals for the first few weeks. Then, the frequency at which you will need to be seen decreases and you will only need to come back a few more times (at three months and six months) after that initial period to make sure you are healing appropriately. Dr. Bhat will always inform you of when you are expected back and when she feels you have achieved your best results.
While every patient will have a different recovery experience, most patients can see the final results of their procedure in about two to three months. Remember, this is not a weight loss surgery, but you will lose some weight from the surgery. While you will be able to slowly resume working out around a month and a half post-surgery, we strongly recommend easing back into your former physical activity only after receiving Dr. Bhat’s approval.
Absolutely! A Tummy Tuck is commonly combined with other plastic surgery procedures for an overall better aesthetic. Dr. Bhat commonly recommends that Liposuction be performed in combination with Tummy Tuck to give you the best possible result. Many tummy tuck patients also utilize procedures like an Arm Lift, Breast Augmentation, or Thigh Lift to produce stunning results when paired with traditional tummy tuck procedures. A standard traditional tummy tuck itself is also frequently used in a mommy makeover. If you have a goal in mind or would like to hear the best options for combining surgical procedures, please discuss it with Dr. Bhat during your consultation and she will be happy to make her expert recommendations.
While a safe procedure when performed by a professional plastic surgeon like Dr. Bhat, a Tummy Tuck can have the following risk involved with the plastic surgery itself:
- Anesthesia risks
- Bleeding
- Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
- Fluid accumulation (seroma)
- Infection
- Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
- Poor wound healing or unfavorable scarring
- Possibility of revision surgery
- Recurrent looseness of skin
- Skin loss
If you experience any concerning or long-lasting reactions, please contact our clinic immediately.
Once you have undergone a Tummy tuck, the excess skin is permanently removed and your abdominal contour should be very close to your aesthetic goals. While your body will continue to rebuild and adapt to its new structure, you can maintain your appearance with a balanced diet and active, healthy lifestyle.
We strongly encourage our tummy tuck patients to maintain a healthy diet. Most patients have worked hard to lose weight, and tummy tuck surgery can help provide the abdominal contour you've been dreaming of, as it will repair stretched abdominal muscles and remove excess or sagging skin in the abdomen. The tummy tuck surgery will also improve the belly button appearance. If you do gain weight after your tummy tuck and gain more loose skin, Dr. Bhat will likely advise you to get on a healthy diet to lose the gained weight. It's possible that other body contouring treatments can be done such as liposuction. If the abdominal skin and muscles do separate again, Dr. Bhat may recommend a mini or tummy tuck revision, or an extended tummy tuck — depending on the extent of the weight gain and the condition of the abdominal muscles.
Tummy tucks are often included with mommy makeovers to address multiple areas of the body. Other more frequently combined cosmetic surgery procedures include:
- Liposuction
- Body Lift
- Breast Augmentation
- Breast Lift
- Breast Reduction
Tummy tuck surgery is a body contouring plastic surgery that is typically very safe. While blood clots are a very rare condition, it is a possible side effect of cosmetic surgery. During your consultation with Dr. Bhat, she'll provide a very thorough assessment of your health, current medications, and past surgeries. Together you'll develop a plan to prioritize safety.

I had my very first Botox and lip filler done by Dr. Deepa Bhat. She is very caring and is the sweetest. She made the process seamless and painless! I had no anxiety over what I’m going to look like after because I knew I was in great hands of an aesthetic plastic surgeon. I LOVE the natural results! I look more youthful and refreshed. I highly recommend her!

- Angela

Dr. Bhat is an amazing surgeon (and person)! I had an extended tummy tuck and lipo 360 and I have never been happier with the way I look. I healed without issue, my scar looks fantastic and most importantly, Dr. Bhat was there for me every step of the way. I would recommend Dr. Bhat to anybody looking to gain self confidence through surgery.

- Rachel

I had the pleasure of seeing Dr. Bhat for lip filler and botox and it was a wonderful experience. She walked in the room with a warm smile and instantly put me at ease. She was very attentive and I felt that she really listened to my goals and desired outcome. She was gentle and meticulous and my lips turned out absolutely beautiful! My botox was placed perfectly as well. She made the experience easy and enjoyable. I would absolutely recommend her to anyone and will be going to see her for my future cosmetic needs!

- Amanda

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