TUMMY TUCK PHOENIX, AZ & GILBERT ARIZONA

Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Gilbert, Mesa, Glendale, Paradise Valley and surrounding Arizona

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Also known as abdominoplasty, tummy tuck surgery is procedure that helps both men and women achieve a firmer, well-toned belly when diet and exercise is not reducing the . Tummy tuck cosmetic procedures are especially popular with new mothers and women who have lost a significant amount of weight and thus have loose skin on their belly. Dr. LaBarbera helps patients in Gilbert, Scottsdale, Phoenix, and other Arizona areas attain a more toned abdominal profile by removing loose skin and fat, all while tightening the abdominal muscles in the process.

The most common reasons why patients require tummy tuck surgery by a plastic surgeon include:

Deterioration of skin elasticity as a result of aging
Heredity conditions
Pregnancy
Major weight loss
Weakened abdominal muscles due to pregnancy

Dr. Jude LaBarbera performs abdominoplasty to help patients feel confident about themselves with or without shirt on. When searching for the best option for tummy tuck Gilbert, Mesa, Phoenix, and Scottsdale AZ can provide, we encourage our patients to do their research by viewing our before and after gallery on our website and on Dr. LaBarbera’s Instagram. The tummy tuck procedure may also benefit women who are unable to wear some outfits because they are conscious about an excess skin promoting a sagging stomach.

Ideal Candidates for a Tummy Tuck

You may qualify for a tummy tuck if:

You are in relatively great shape but are bothered by belly fat or abdominal skin that won’t respond to diet or exercise.
You have stretched your abdominal muscles and skin through multiple pregnancies
You want a younger and firmer looking stomach
You have stomach skin that is sagging as a result of rapid weight loss or muscle loss
You are irritated by the appearance of your stomach

This procedure is also commonly used to improve loss of skin elasticity, which frequently occurs with weight gain or loss. An added bonus to the procedure is that some stretch marks may be removed with the excess skin during the surgery. However, abdominoplasty is not recommended for stretch mark removal in itself. Use your consultation visit with Dr. Jude LaBarbera to ask all the important questions before you settle to move forward with the procedure.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF Tummy Tucks IN PHOENIX, GILBERT, AND MESA AZ AREA

As one of the highly skilled board-certified plastic surgeons in Arizona, Dr. Jude LaBarbera offers various tummy tuck options for his patients.

Full Tummy Tuck

This is usually the best tummy tuck option Phoenix AZ patients tend to inquire. It is an excellent choice for patients who want to flatten their abdomen above and below the belly button. During the full tummy tuck surgery, the plastic surgeon makes a horizontal incision between the hips, and around the belly button. The next step is to remove excess skin and fat tissue, then pull the remaining abdominal muscle and skin tightly over the belly. The surgeon will then reposition the belly button and close incisions with sutures.

Full tummy tuck surgery may be the best option for healthy men and women who have extra-large midsection skin, or weakened abdominal muscles. A full tummy tuck procedure is performed under general anesthesia, and most patients need to prepare for a recovery time of 2 – 4 weeks before resumption of normal activities.

Extended Tummy Tuck

This is the most invasive of all abdominoplasty procedures. This procedure will target the full abdomen, as well as the hips and love handles, and is generally a great option for individuals with overall good health who wish to totally reshape the upper body. Your Gilbert tummy tuck surgeon will create a horizontal incision stretching across the lower abdomen and extending farther out on each side than a traditional tummy tuck. Surplus tissues will be removed, and the remaining abdominal muscles tightened. The surgeon will then use liposuction to get rid of excess fat in the love handle and hip regions. The final step is to reposition the belly button and then close the incision. Patients usually need 3-4 weeks in recovery before they can resume normal activities after an extended tummy tuck surgery. When researching the best options for tummy tuck Gilbert AZ can provide, we encourage our patients to view our tummy tuck before and after pictures gallery on our website.

Mini Tummy Tuck

A mini tummy tuck is less invasive than a full abdominoplasty. You may qualify for a mini tummy tuck if you are a patient who wishes to address the abdominal area below the belly button. Many slender patients with a “belly pooch” (small lower abdomen bulge) qualify for a mini tummy tuck. The plastic surgeon will create a small horizontal incision below the belly button, then extract excess skin before tightening abdominal muscles and closing the incision. For a mini tummy tuck Scottsdale patients can expect it to be less invasive, thus repositioning of the belly button is not needed. Mini tummy tucks are usually performed under general anesthesia and patients typically just require 1 week in recovery before they can resume normal activities.

Fleur De Lis tummy tuck

The Fleur De Lis tummy tuck is typically performed on post bariatric patients who have a substantial amount of excess skin. Usually these patients have lost 100 pounds or more. This procedure removes the skin horizontally just like a traditional tummy tuck, but it also removes skin vertically. It is often performed in tandem with a full body lift, which is the removal of excessive skin in multiple areas of the body. This highly specialized tummy tuck procedure has two incision placements. One will be horizontally on the lower abdomen (just like a traditional tummy tuck) and the other will be vertical on the midline. When the incisions join, they will appear to form an upside down “T” or Fleur De Lis. Once the loose skin and fat are removed, the plastic surgeon will pull the adnominal muscles together if necessary.

PLUS SIZE ABDOMINOPLASTY

A Tummy Tuck on Plus Size individuals is for patients who have high BMI. This is for patients from 150 pounds, 220 pounds, or even 250 pounds. While there are still requirements for plus size women and men, Dr. LaBarbera is trained to perform plus size abdominoplasty on overweight individuals who’s weight loss efforts are not producing necessary results for a standard tummy tuck.

Featured Patient Galleries

Extended Tummy Tuck on Plus Size Patient in Gilbert, Arizona

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After Surgery

Tummy tuck surgery is an outpatient surgery procedure that is performed under general anesthesia and highly recommended to be performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon. In some cases, depending on the complexity of the treatment and the patients healing ability, overnight stay may be required. Just like with all surgical body contouring procedures, there are some risks involved. This why it is important to choose a board-certified plastic surgeon to comprehensively discuss the procedure to get the safest and best tummy tuck in AZ. During your in-person consultation, Dr. LaBarbera will ask questions about your medical history, diet, and exercise routine. This helps set the path for a smooth operation, candidacy, and minimize the risk of complications. We will also encourage you to ask us all your questions and concerns so that we may give you peace of mind about the process.

After patients have undergone the surgery and the excess fat and skin has been removed, patients need to rest within the first 48 hours to help their skin and stomach muscles heal. During the healing process, the plastic surgeon will provide pain medications to resolve any discomfort during the first few days post-surgery. Dr. LaBarbera is highly trained and recognized for his minimal scarring from surgery, and to help reduce them even further, he will put the patient on a regimen to help reduce tummy tuck scars. A compression garment will also be provided to offer extra protection. After the first two days, (48 hours) patients are encouraged to move around in order to ensure proper blood circulation and reduce the risk of complications such as blood clotting. In the healing process, a full recovery after an abdominoplasty may require up to 6 weeks.

Planning for a tummy tuck in Arizona

The cost of a tummy tuck will vary from one patient to the other – depending on factors such as whether they need full tummy tuck, mini tummy tuck, Fleur-De-Lis, Extended, or Plus Size tummy tuck surgery. The average cost of a tummy tuck in Phoenix varies from patient to patient. This does not include any household items or help the patient may need for comfort after the surgery. Insurance does not cover the cost of abdominoplasty because it is considered a cosmetic procedure. Dr. Jude LaBarbera performs tummy tuck surgery in Phoenix, Mesa, or Gilbert with supported by a team of highly professional and licensed staff.

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Average Cost

Varies

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Procedure Time

Varies per patient

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Recovery Time

6 Weeks

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Insurance

Not Covered

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Tummy Tuck FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Liposuction or Tummy Tuck?

Plastic surgeons use abdominoplasty to help remove excess skin and fat and tighten abdominal muscles. If you are getting liposuction in Phoenix, it removes excessive fat deposits in troublesome areas such as the the abdominal area. If a patient needs both, they may inquire about plus size tummy tuck surgery. During your initial consultation in Scottsdale, Mesa AZ, Paradise Valley, Glendale, Phoenix, Gilbert AZ, and surrounding Arizona with Dr. LaBarbera, he will conduct a thorough assessment and determine whether you will best be served by a liposuction, abdominoplasty, or both.

How bad is the scarring?

Since incisions are part of all surgical cosmetic surgery, scars are inevitable after tummy tuck surgery. Dr. Jude LaBarbera uses his immense experience to minimize scarring. In some cases, incisions will be placed in areas that can be concealed below the bikini line. Dr. LaBarbera also encourages patients to practice his post-surgery scar treatment plan that can help make scars less visible.

How long does a mini tummy tuck take to heal?

It takes on average of two weeks to heal from a mini tummy tuck. Depending on the patients core abdominal strength prior to surgery and natural ability to heal if could take more or less time. With all cosmetic surgery patients are advised not to smoke before the procedure and during the recovery phase.

Jude LaBarbera MD Plastic Surgery of Scottsdale & Gilbert has provided this website for informational purposes only. This website does not constitute formal medical advice. Please contact our office to schedule your plastic surgery consultation to further discuss your medical needs. Serving Gilbert, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Glendale, and other surrounding cities in Arizona, including Paradise Valley, Chandler, and Mesa AZ.

RESOURCES

WebMD: Tummy Tuck
Preparation Check List
Full Recovery Timeline