Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) in Jacksonville

No, you won't lose weight with it. Its task is to remove excess stretched skin and the fat apron and restore the muscle wall of the abdomen. The surgery requires a stable weight; while your weight is still changing, see a dietitian or endocrinologist first.

Yes, there will be a scar — you can't remove excess skin without one. In a classic tummy tuck the incision crosses the lower abdomen from hip to hip and stays below the underwear or swimsuit line; a mini tummy tuck needs a much shorter one. Over time the scar fades and thins out.

This is exactly what the surgery is for — the sagging skin and fat apron are removed completely, and stretch marks below the navel go along with them. The surgeon pulls the upper abdominal skin down so the tummy ends up smooth, no extra lift required.

No, a tummy tuck is painless for the patient, because general anaesthesia means nothing is felt during the procedure. In the first days tightness and soreness appear, and painkillers prescribed by the doctor relieve them; the discomfort eases noticeably 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.

Patients must be 18 or older and have no contraindications. There is simply no upper limit: at our clinic each case is weighed individually after an examination and health assessment.

It all comes down to the scope of surgery. A mini tummy tuck treats a small excess of skin below the navel, with a shorter incision, no navel repositioning and faster recovery. A classic tummy tuck removes the skin-and-fat apron over the entire abdomen, involves moving the navel and allows diastasis repair along the full length of the muscles.

Recovery follows three milestones — office work after 2–3 weeks, the end of swelling and tightness by 1.5–2 months, and assessment of the final result and scar at 6–12 months, when tissues have fully adapted.

The removed skin does not grow back, so this part of the result lasts permanently. Your abdomen will stretch again only if you gain significant weight, so keep your weight stable. After a tummy tuck pregnancy is possible, yet it stretches the repaired muscles, and so surgery is planned when 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.

It's the same for all patients: the first changes show 2 weeks after surgery, when the main swelling goes down. After that there are two checkpoints — an interim result at 1.5–2 months and the final contours at 3–6 months.

Yes, it is needed: a classic tummy tuck requires 1–2 days in hospital under medical supervision, while one day is usually enough after a mini tummy tuck. You recover further at home, and the surgeon monitors progress at scheduled check-ups.

The pre-tummy-tuck list is the same for everyone: blood and urine tests, coagulation panel, biochemistry, infection tests, ECG, chest X-ray, leg vein ultrasound and a GP's report. Tests are usually valid for 10–14 days, and the surgeon gives the exact list at the consultation.

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 it is confirmed by ultrasound. The separated muscles are brought together during the same surgery, with no separate procedure needed.

After a tummy tuck, pregnancy is not forbidden, but keep the order: childbirth first, then surgery. Otherwise skin and muscles stretch again, losing part of the result. Surgeons give one piece of advice: if you are planning a child, wait at least a year after the procedure.

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