Considering a Tummy Tuck?

Having children, weight loss, and aging can change the appearance of your tummy. Many men and women are considering abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) surgeries to turn back the clock and feel more confident about the way they look with and without clothing. Which abdominoplasty is right for you?

When considering any cosmetic procedure, it's important to understand the key points before moving forward with the procedure. Make sure you understand how the procedure works, so that you know if a tummy tuck will help you reach your goals. You plastic surgeon should take the time to explain the procedure fully, so that you can move forward with confidence.

There are different types of tummy tuck procedures, and they differ based on the length of the incision and whether they work to flatten the tummy above the belly button.

A mini tummy tuck uses a shorter incision and flattens the tummy below the umbilicus only. It's important to know that this type of tummy tuck is good for only a very small fraction of women. Most women benefit from a full tummy tuck.

A full tummy tuck has a bikini-line incision and a second incision around the belly button. Don't worry, you keep your own belly button! The belly button incision allows your board-certified plastic surgeon to tighten the abdominal wall and remove skin from the upper portion of the abdomen. 

You may have heard the term "extended tummy tuck"or "270° tummy tuck." These terms refer to tummy tucks that use a longer bikini line incision to remove more excess skin from the hips, flank, and love handle areas. These tummy tucks aren't needed for everyone, but they're great for some women who need a little extra skin removed.

A tummy tuck is one of Portland plastic surgeon Austin Hayes' favorite procedures. He almost always adds liposuction of the waist and love handle area to create a beautiful hourglass shape. He also uses a specialized technique, called progressive tension sutures to minimize the use of drains, remove more skin, and to give you the thinnest scar possible. Check out our abdominoplasty photo gallery to see dramatic results.

For the best plastic surgery results, choose your plastic surgeon carefully. Make sure that they specialize in cosmetic surgery and are board-certified by the American Board of plastic surgery.