Classic and Mini Tummy Tuck in Milwaukee

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 — the unavoidable price of removing excess skin. In a classic tummy tuck the incision runs across the lower abdomen from hip to hip and sits below the underwear or swimsuit line; in a mini tummy tuck it is much shorter. Over time the scar fades and becomes thin.

Yes — removing the sagging skin and fat apron is exactly what the surgery is for. They are removed fully, with the stretch marks below the navel. By pulling the upper abdominal skin down, the surgeon leaves the tummy smooth without any extra lift.

No, the patient feels no pain during the procedure — it is done under general anaesthesia, so nothing is felt. In the first days there may be tightness and soreness, which painkillers from the doctor relieve; by the end of the first week the discomfort eases noticeably.

The rules after a tummy tuck are the same for everyone. For the first 2–3 weeks you avoid physical exertion, heavy lifting and sudden movements. Sauna, steam bath, pool, tanning beds, alcohol and smoking are out for at least a month. Sport is resumed gradually, with the surgeon's approval only, and compression garments are worn for another 4–8 weeks.

The minimum age is 18, and only without contraindications. There is no upper limit at all: at our clinic each case is considered individually, after an examination and health assessment.

The scope of surgery makes the difference. For a small excess of skin below the navel, a mini tummy tuck is done: shorter incision, navel stays in place, faster recovery. The classic version removes the skin-and-fat apron across the whole abdomen, moves the navel and makes it possible to repair diastasis along the full length of the muscles.

Three milestones mark recovery: after 2–3 weeks you can do office work, by 1.5–2 months swelling and tightness pass, and at 6–12 months, with the tissues fully adapted, the final result and scar are assessed.

Removed skin doesn't come back, so that part of the result is permanent. The abdomen will stretch again only with significant weight gain — keep your weight stable. Pregnancy is possible after a tummy tuck, but it stretches the repaired muscles, so the surgery is planned once your family is complete.

Yes, you need to prepare. Smoking, alcohol and medicines affecting blood clotting are stopped 7–10 days before a tummy tuck. A pre-surgery check-up is needed — blood tests, ECG, leg vein ultrasound, GP and anaesthetist consultations — and should be done in advance, not the day before.

For everyone the answer is the same. The first changes appear 2 weeks after surgery as the main swelling subsides, followed by two checkpoints: the interim result at 1.5–2 months and the final contours at 3–6 months.

Yes, a hospital stay is necessary. After a classic tummy tuck you spend 1–2 days under medical supervision; after a mini tummy tuck one day is usually sufficient. Then recovery continues at home, and the surgeon monitors it 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 every patient needs a repair — only those whose rectus abdominis muscles are actually separated. The surgeon sees diastasis when examining you, and if unsure confirms it with ultrasound. The separated muscles are joined in the same surgery; a separate procedure isn't needed.

Pregnancy after a tummy tuck isn't forbidden, but the order matters: childbirth first, then surgery. Otherwise the skin and muscles stretch again and part of the result is lost. Surgeons give one piece of advice: if you plan a child, wait at least a year after the procedure.

Yes, you must wear it — without the garment recovery is worse, as it supports the tissues and reduces swelling. Around the clock for the first 3–4 weeks, then in the daytime for about one more month. The exact period is set by the operating surgeon.