While diet and exercise are the best ways to maintain a strong, lean abdomen, these efforts alone might not meet your aesthetic needs. And with age, you’ve probably noticed that your abdominal area has lost elasticity, making it even more difficult to keep up a toned appearance. Similarly, pregnancy can stretch the abdominal muscles to the point where they cannot return to their regular position.
When diet and exercise fail to produce the results you want, tummy tuck surgery offers a long-lasting solution. Men and women seeking a tummy tuck in Raleigh often struggle with the following:
- Excess skin due to significant weight loss or weight fluctuations
- Sagging skin and loss of elasticity due to aging
- Separated abdominal muscles after pregnancy
- Abdominal fat that doesn’t respond to diet and exercise
- Reduced self-esteem
A tummy tuck (also called “abdominoplasty”) is a surgical procedure that removes excess or sagging skin, eliminates exercise-resistant fat, and tightens the underlying muscles for a sculpted abdomen. This body contouring surgery can produce transformational results, and many patients find it to be a life-changing procedure. You deserve to feel comfortable with your body again. Discover how a tummy tuck at Diehl Plastic Surgery can restore your confidence and allow you to achieve a flat, toned abdomen.
To learn more about abdominoplasty, contact Diehl Plastic Surgery at (919) 381-5540 to schedule your personal consultation for a tummy tuck in Raleigh.
Benefits of a Tummy Tuck
Abdominoplasty can provide dramatic results for patients with excess abdominal skin and stubborn fat. As a body contouring expert, Dr. Diehl performs this procedure with artistic finesse and surgical precision to deliver truly natural-looking results.
Men and women seeking a tummy tuck in Raleigh can expect the following benefits from this procedure:
- Eliminates excess, sagging skin
- Removes pockets of stubborn fat
- Repairs and tightens separated abdominal muscles
- Sculpts the abdomen for a narrow, fit waistline
Your Consultation for a Tummy Tuck in Raleigh
Diehl Plastic Surgery’s beautiful office and welcoming atmosphere will make you feel at ease as you begin your aesthetic journey with a consultation. Dr. Cynthia Diehl is inspired by the way abdominoplasty can transform patients’ lives, and she will take the time to carefully listen to why you are seeking tummy tuck surgery.
The consultation will also include a physical examination of your abdomen so that Dr. Diehl can help you explore the best possible treatments to suit your concerns. Some patients benefit from pairing their abdominoplasty with liposuction, which helps create an ideally sculpted look. Whether you’re trying to restore your pre-pregnancy body or you’re ready for a new start after significant weight loss, Dr. Diehl will help make your cosmetic dreams a reality through abdominoplasty.
What to Expect from Tummy Tuck Surgery
Abdominoplasty begins with an incision that is made within the “bikini” line along the lower abdomen. This ensures that the resultant scar is hidden under your clothes. After the incision is made, Dr. Diehl will remove excess fat deposits and excise any excess skin. The underlying abdominal muscles are then tightened and repaired, and the skin is re-draped to provide a slim, sculpted contour. The belly button is also re-sutured so that it blends seamlessly with the newly contoured abdomen. Sometimes, liposuction of the abdominal area is also performed for additional fat removal and body contouring.
In certain cases, a “mini-abdominoplasty” may be appropriate rather than a complete abdominoplasty, particularly when excess fat and skin are located on the lower abdomen. At your abdominoplasty consultation, Dr. Diehl will work with you to develop a customized treatment plan that fully addresses your individual needs.
Meet Dr. Diehl
Dr. Diehl is driven by the desire to better the lives of her patients. Dr. Diehl is one of the few female and Spanish-speaking plastic surgeons in Raleigh. She is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and was previously certified by the American Board of Surgery. Dr. Diehl is trained in cosmetic facial, breast, and body procedures, including SmartLipo MPX, an FDA approved laser liposuction technology. She also provides non-surgical cosmetic treatments including CoolSculpting®, Thermi®, miraDry®, and injectables to patients in Raleigh and the surrounding area.
FAQs About Tummy Tuck Surgery
Your abdominoplasty will be performed on an outpatient basis in Diehl Plastic Surgery’s on-site surgical center. This beautiful, state-of-the-art surgical suite is fully accredited to meet strict standards of the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF). For optimal safety, it is staffed with a plastic surgery-trained RN and a surgical tech.
After your abdominoplasty, you will likely experience bruising and swelling for a few weeks. Dr. Diehl may place surgical drains to reduce fluid accumulation in the first few days following surgery. You may also have to wear a compression garment for a few weeks to facilitate healing and to help your body conform to its new contours.
Most patients are able to return to work about 10-14 days after surgery, as long as no manual labor or heavy lifting is required. Exercise and other strenuous activity should be avoided for around 6 weeks.
Ideal candidates for a tummy tuck in Raleigh include healthy people who struggle with the following:
- Loose or separated abdominal muscles from pregnancy and other factors
- Sagging, excess skin on the abdomen
- Abdominal fat that does not respond to traditional methods of weight loss
Patients should also be at a healthy, stable weight. It’s important to understand that abdominoplasty is not a weight-loss procedure, and you should postpone your surgery if you plan on losing a significant amount of weight. Similarly, women considering having children in the future may want to postpone their procedure as pregnancy can affect the results of abdominoplasty.
Patients can expect their results from abdominoplasty to last long term, especially when paired with a healthy diet and regular exercise.
A mini tummy tuck may be an option for you if you have small amounts of excess skin located on the lower abdomen only. However, this procedure is not available simply as a less invasive option for those who have excess fat and skin on both the upper and lower abdomen. At your consultation for a tummy tuck in Raleigh, Dr. Diehl will evaluate the extent of excess skin and fat present, and she will recommend the best procedure to achieve your cosmetic goals.
Liposuction is a procedure that removes fat deposits through a cannula (thin tube). It is most commonly performed on the abdomen, thighs, and “love handles.” A tummy tuck removes sagging abdominal skin and excess fat deposits, and it can tighten the abdominal muscles.
Stretch marks on the lower abdomen can sometimes be removed with abdominoplasty. Essentially, any stretch marks located below the belly button can usually be removed.
As with any surgery, abdominoplasty will produce scarring. However, Dr. Diehl takes great care to make the incision as meticulously as possible so that scarring is minimal. The scar will also be located in an area that is hidden by most clothing, even swimsuits. Most patients find that their abdominoplasty scar is not an issue, especially as it fades over time.
To learn more about abdominoplasty, contact Diehl Plastic Surgery at (919) 381-5540 to schedule your consultation for ThermiVa® in Raleigh.
