WHAT CAN I EXPECT DURING A TUMMY TUCK PROCEDURE?
A tummy tuck is done at our surgical facility in Palo Alto. During a tummy tuck, you’ll be fully asleep under general anesthesia. Dr. Boudreault will prescribe pain medication for you at the time of your pre-operative visit, so you can manage any initial discomfort after your surgery. You may need to sleep on your back or in a reclined position for the first 2-3 weeks. You’ll be asked to wear a compression garment for up to 24 hours a day for at least the first week to reduce swelling as you heal. For minimal tummy tuck revisions and smaller procedures, you may be offered a moderate and more gentle sedation, instead of general anesthesia.
HOW LONG IS RECOVERY TIME?
Recovery from a tummy tuck varies from person to person, but we generally see our patients take about 2-3 weeks of downtime. Factors that may affect your recovery time include:
- Age
- General health
- Type of tummy tuck
- Post-surgery care
We understand there are several factors in coordinating time to relax at home for your recovery, and Dr. Boudreault can provide you with a doctor’s note for you to request ample time off from school or work. After the procedure is complete, Dr. Boudreault will be there every step of the way in your aftercare process to ensure a speedy recovery, but generally, most patients will begin feeling themselves again after 3 weeks.
WHAT DOES A TUMMY TUCK TREAT?
A tummy tuck removes loose skin and excess fat and tightens the weak fascia of the abdominal area. It tightens the abdominal muscles that tend to loosen over time due to age, weight gain and pregnancy. A tummy tuck can also remove stretch marks by removing the excess skin in the lower abdomen below the belly button. If you’ve previously had a C-section, Dr. Boudreault will assess if he can remove your C-section scar with this procedure.
If you’ve had fat removed from your abdomen (liposuction), you may decide to have a tummy tuck because liposuction only removes surface-level fat but does not remove any excess skin. A tummy tuck can also be done in combination with other body contouring cosmetic procedures, such as breast surgery.
HOW SOON WILL I SEE RESULTS?
For more significant skin and fat removal, changes will be noticed immediately after surgery. Initial swelling will be present post-procedure and can obscure the results initially. Patients are also required to wear a compression garment for two weeks after surgery before transitioning to a lightly compressive garment, like Spanx®, to minimize swelling. Swelling after surgery is the most common reason for any delay in seeing your final results, but most swelling will resolve after the first 1-2 months. After any residual swelling fully subsides, your final results are expected to be seen by 9 months, and most before/after photos we take are taken at 3-6 months post-procedure.
HOW MUCH DOES A TUMMY TUCK COST?
The average cost of a tummy tuck is $9,000–$16,000, depending on the complexity and technique used for each individual basis. This is the total average cost that includes anesthesia and facility fees. If you would like to finance your abdominoplasty, our patients occasionally apply through CareCredit or Alphaeon. Many patients have also applied for credit cards with longer terms at 0% interest.
Join our many patients who’ve had their tummy tuck procedure to achieve the flat stomach that they now feel confident to reveal.