Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) in Nashville

No, it won't make you lose weight. It has a different aim — to take away excess stretched skin and the fat apron and rebuild the abdominal muscle wall. The operation is done at a stable weight; if your weight is still shifting, see a dietitian or endocrinologist first.

Yes, a scar is unavoidable — that is the price of removing excess skin. With a classic tummy tuck the incision crosses the lower abdomen from hip to hip and sits below the line of underwear or a swimsuit; with a mini tummy tuck it is much shorter. The scar fades and thins over time.

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

No, the patient feels no pain during the procedure: a tummy tuck is done under general anaesthesia, so nothing is felt. Tightness and soreness appear in the first days and are relieved with painkillers prescribed by the doctor; by the end of the first week the discomfort eases noticeably.

The same restrictions apply to everyone after a tummy tuck. For 2–3 weeks, avoid physical exertion, heavy lifting and sudden movements. For at least a month, sauna, steam bath, pool, tanning beds, alcohol and smoking are ruled out. Sport resumes step by step, with the surgeon's approval only. Compression garments are worn for another 4–8 weeks.

From 18, and only without contraindications. As for an upper limit, there is none: our clinic considers every case 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.

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.

That part of the result is permanent: removed skin does not grow back. Significant weight gain is the only thing that will stretch the abdomen again, so keep your weight stable. Pregnancy is possible after a tummy tuck, but it stretches the repaired muscles, so surgery is planned after your family is complete.

Yes, it is required. 7–10 days ahead of a tummy tuck, give up smoking, alcohol and medicines that affect blood clotting. You'll need a pre-surgery check-up: blood tests, ECG, leg vein ultrasound, plus GP and anaesthetist consultations. Complete it early, not on 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 stay in hospital is needed. A classic tummy tuck means 1–2 days under medical supervision; for a mini tummy tuck, one day is usually enough. At home recovery continues, and the surgeon monitors it at scheduled check-ups.

Before a tummy tuck everyone follows the same list: blood and urine tests, coagulation panel, biochemistry, infection tests, ECG, chest X-ray, leg vein ultrasound and a GP's report. The surgeon gives the exact list at the consultation; tests are generally 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 it is confirmed by ultrasound. The separated muscles are brought together during the same surgery, with no separate procedure needed.

You can get pregnant after a tummy tuck, but the order matters: childbirth should come first, then surgery. Otherwise, the skin and muscles stretch again and you lose part of the result. Surgeons have one piece of advice: if you plan a child, wait at least a year after the procedure.

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