Tummy Tuck in Atlanta

A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is ideal for patients experiencing excess, sagging skin or weakened, stretched, or protruding abdominal muscles, despite maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine. Many of our Atlanta tummy tuck patients are women who have either experienced significant weight loss, or a loss of abdominal tone due to pregnancy and childbirth.

In fact, women who have had one or more pregnancies are often excellent candidates for tummy tuck surgery in Atlanta.

In order for a tummy tuck to be both safe and effective, you must already be in good physical health. During your personal consultation, we will discuss your aesthetic goals in detail and create a comprehensive treatment plan to best address those goals.

A tummy tuck surgery takes 2 to 3 hours to complete. During this time, you will be under general anesthesia and should not feel any pain while we complete your procedure. Additionally, we use a nerve block called “exparel” to help with post operative discomfort. This block lasts 4 days and significantly helps with the healing process.

There are a few things you can do to prepare for a tummy tuck at Artisan Plastic Surgery:

• Since you’ll be under general anesthesia for the tummy tuck, you can’t eat anything after midnight the night before surgery.
• It’s essential to stop taking blood thinners, NSAIDs or supplements for at least two weeks leading up to your surgery.
• Have a friend take you home after your surgery.
• You’ll probably need help the first night after surgery.
• Please discontinue all diet pills or injections, which may cause complications. Patients on these injections must also be on a liquid diet for 24 hours prior to surgery. A liquid diet includes: water, black coffee, Jello, clear broth, and popsicles. Failure to comply with this instruction will result in your surgery being canceled or rescheduled.
• No smoking as nicotine reduces blood flow to the skin and can cause significant complications during healing.
• No alcoholic beverages for one week before and at least one week after surgery. Alcohol can interfere with anesthesia and affect blood clotting.
• For all body procedures use a germ inhibiting soap, such as Dial, Safeguard, or Lever 2000 every time you shower for one week prior to surgery. This is pre-operative only. Post-operative you may resume your regular soap or body wash.
• Report any signs of cold, virus, infection, or pustules on the skin appearing prior to surgery.
• Please shampoo your hair on the morning of surgery. This is to decrease bacteria on the skin and decrease the risk of infection.
• After your shower on the morning of surgery, do not apply any of the following to your skin, hair, or face: makeup, creams, lotions, hair products, sprays, perfumes, powder, antiperspirant or deodorant. Use of these products can introduce bacteria to the skin and increase the risk of infection.
• Do not take any cough or cold medications prior to surgery without contacting the medical staff at our office first.
• You may not take Xanax or any other medication for anxiety the morning of surgery. Doing so will result in your surgery being rescheduled or canceled.
• Take a thorough shower the morning of surgery with your germ-inhibiting soap.
• You may brush your teeth the morning of surgery, but do not swallow any water.
• Do not wear contacts to surgery. Please bring your glasses.
• Do not wear any jewelry. Any jewelry that cannot be removed will be taped.
• Do wear comfortable loose-fitting clothes. For procedures above the waist, you will need a button-up or zip-up top; you are unable to lift your arms above your head. For procedures below the waist wear something loose and easy to pull on.

There are a few things you should do after a tummy tuck surgery:

• You must have a responsible adult drive you home from surgery. You will not be allowed to drive yourself or be released to a rideshare or taxi.
• You must have a responsible adult stay with you for a minimum of 24 hours after surgery. It is not recommended that you be left alone during this period.
• The effects of anesthesia can persist for around 24 hours. Please exercise extreme caution before engaging in activities that could be harmful to yourself or others.
• You may drive after anesthesia only when you have discontinued the pain medication, and when you experience no pain or discomfort with this activity.
• Most patients can drive around 2 weeks after surgery, but this is variable. We request you remain within a reasonable traveling distance of the office for 1 week post-op.
• Drink plenty of fluids to help rid the body of the drugs used in surgery. Eating foods that are bland and soft for the first few days after surgery may be best tolerated; preferably foods with protein, which helps promote healing.
• Avoid the consumption of alcoholic beverages at minimum for 24 hrs after surgery and for as long as pain medications are being used.
• Do not smoke for at least the first 14 days post-op to avoid complications with healing.
• Take only medications that have been prescribed to you by our physicians for your post-operative care and take them as directed. Remember to take post-operative medications with food to avoid nausea. Your pain medication may make you feel dizzy or groggy, therefore, have someone else administer your medications to you according to the proper time intervals. You can expect moderate discomfort which should be helped by the pain medication(s).

When to call us (404-851-1998):

• If you have severe pain not responding to pain medication incisions that are red or hot to the touch.
• If you experience a fever (temperature at or above 100.4 F)
• If you have excessive bleeding or the bandages feel too tight, please call the office.
• If you experience any rash or hives on your skin, wheezing or tightness in the throat or chest, stop taking all medications and call the office immediately, as this may be a sign of a serious drug allergy.
• If you have calf pain or swelling in one leg. This can be a sign of a blood clot requiring immediate attention.

You should notice immediate results in the appearance of your abdomen after tummy tuck surgery. However, it may take 3 to 4 weeks for the full recovery process. Your results will continue to improve and become noticeable as the swelling subsides.