Abdominoplasty in Fort Worth: Scar and Results

No, it will not help with weight loss. The goal is another: to remove excess stretched skin and the fat apron and restore the muscle wall of the abdomen. Surgery is done when weight is stable; if it is still changing, see a dietitian or endocrinologist first.

Yes, there will be a scar: it's the unavoidable price of removing excess skin. For a classic tummy tuck the incision runs hip to hip across the lower abdomen, hidden below the underwear or swimsuit line, and for a mini tummy tuck it is much shorter. Over time the scar fades and grows thin.

Removing sagging skin and the fat apron is exactly what this surgery does: they are removed completely, and stretch marks below the navel go with them. The surgeon pulls the upper abdominal skin down, so the tummy ends up smooth without an extra lift.

No, nothing hurts during the procedure, since a tummy tuck is performed under general anaesthesia. Tightness and soreness come in the first days and are relieved with painkillers prescribed by the doctor; the discomfort noticeably eases by the end of the first week.

After a tummy tuck the restrictions are the same for all patients. In the first 2–3 weeks, physical exertion, heavy lifting and sudden movements are not allowed. For at least a month, avoid sauna, steam bath, pool, tanning beds, alcohol and smoking. Sport resumes gradually and only with the surgeon's approval. Another 4–8 weeks in compression garments.

The minimum age is 18 and contraindications must be absent. There is no upper limit: every case at our clinic is considered individually, after an examination and health assessment.

The difference is the extent of surgery. A mini tummy tuck is performed for a small excess of skin below the navel, with a shorter incision, the navel not moved and faster recovery. A classic tummy tuck removes the whole-abdomen skin-and-fat apron, includes moving the navel and allows full-length diastasis repair of the muscles.

There are three stages in recovery: you can return to office work after 2–3 weeks, swelling and tightness pass by 1.5–2 months, and at 6–12 months the final result and scar are assessed as the tissues fully adapt.

Skin that has been removed doesn't regrow, which makes that part of the result permanent. The abdomen will only stretch again with significant weight gain, so maintain a stable weight. A pregnancy after a tummy tuck is possible, but it stretches the repaired muscles — surgery is therefore planned once your family is complete.

Yes, preparation is required: 7–10 days before a tummy tuck, stop smoking, alcohol and medicines that affect blood clotting, and have a pre-surgery check-up — blood tests, ECG, leg vein ultrasound, GP and anaesthetist consultations. Complete it in advance, not the day before.

The answer is the same for everyone: first changes are visible 2 weeks after surgery, once the main swelling subsides. Then come two checkpoints: 1.5–2 months for an interim result and 3–6 months for the final contours.

Yes, a hospital stay is needed: after a classic tummy tuck, 1–2 days under medical supervision; after a mini tummy tuck one day is usually enough. Recovery continues at home, and the surgeon monitors it at scheduled check-ups.

The same list applies to everyone before a tummy tuck — blood and urine tests, coagulation panel, biochemistry, infection tests, ECG, chest X-ray, leg vein ultrasound and a GP's report. Your surgeon provides the exact list at the consultation; tests are usually valid for 10–14 days.

No, not everyone needs a repair — it is done only when the rectus abdominis muscles are actually separated. The surgeon sees diastasis at the examination and, if in doubt, confirms it by ultrasound. The separated muscles are brought together during the same surgery, with no separate procedure needed.

A tummy tuck does not forbid pregnancy, but order is important: first childbirth, then the surgery. If it's the other way round, skin and muscles stretch again and part of the result is lost. Surgeons advise: if you plan a child, wait at least a year after the procedure.

Yes, it is mandatory: recovery is worse without the garment, which supports the tissues and reduces swelling. It is worn around the clock for the first 3–4 weeks, then for about another month during the day. The exact period is named by the operating surgeon.