A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, can be an essential step in your journey to a firm, fit, sculpted abdomen. Your abdomen may have been affected by aging, pregnancy, or weight fluctuations. Dr. Khalifeh is considered the most accomplished, board-certified plastic surgeons performing tummy tuck surgery.
Abdominoplasty is a surgical procedure often called a tummy tuck. A tummy tuck restores a firm, sculpted look to the abdomen. The surgery involves removing excess fat and skin from the lower abdomen, as well as tightening the underlying muscles for a natural-looking, youthful outcome. When under the care of Dr. Khalifeh, your surgery is custom-tailored to reflect your unique issues and the right procedure for you could be a mini tummy tuck, full tummy tuck, or a “belt lipectomy.”
A standard abdominoplasty surgery takes approximately two to three hours to perform. It is often combined with liposuction to produce a beautifully sculpted waistline. The surgery addresses the interface between the fat and the muscles, elevating the skin and fat off muscles in the pubic area, extending to the rib cage. The navel is left attached to the abdominal wall muscles.
The second step involves tightening the underlying muscles to create a firmer abdominal structure. The third step is the precise excision of excess skin and fat. The fourth step is a reapproximation of the skin, an advanced surgical technique to minimize scarring. A surgical drain is left in place to allow for the shedding of excess fluid during the early stages of healing. The final step involves the recreation of the umbilicus (relocating the belly button) placed in the perfect location at the lower-midpoint of your abdomen.
Take the time to review real-world “before and after” images of patients who have had tummy tuck surgery from Dr. Khalifeh. The first step in restoring a sculpted, firm abdomen is to schedule a private consultation.
*Tummy Tuck Before and After Photo Disclaimer: there’s no guarantee of specific results and that the results can vary
Many women who have been left with excess fat on the abdomen after having children may consider Smartlipo, a minimally invasive form of liposuction. Smartlipo can produce beautiful results, but if you have excess stretched skin and tissue, Smartlipo alone cannot achieve the slimming, firming, restructuring outcome of tummy tuck surgery.
A body lift is a more extensive surgery, called a belt lipectomy or body lift, which will repair the abdomen, buttocks, and thighs. A body lift is the appropriate procedure for those who have had a dramatic weight loss, either through diet and exercise or bariatric surgery, and have a larger quantity of excess skin, fat, and tissue.
A traditional tummy tuck procedure may be performed using intravenous sedation (twilight sedation) or general anesthesia, although general anesthesia is the most common form of anesthesia.
A belt lipectomy/body lift is performed in a hospital, under general anesthesia. Complete sedation is needed, no matter what form of tummy tuck procedure is being performed, to ensure the abdominal muscles remain relaxed during surgery. This allows Dr. Khalifeh to complete the tummy tuck procedure more quickly. However, Dr. Khalifeh may use local anesthesia on occasion when performing a mini tummy tuck procedure.
If you have at least one of the following conditions, you are likely an ideal candidate for a tummy tuck procedure:
To be safe for surgery you should be:
Preparation for a tummy tuck requires:
The majority of tummy tuck surgeries require a repositioning of the navel. This leaves your abdomen looking more natural. A new navel may be sculpted, or the existing navel is relocated to the most attractive, natural position.
As we age, our abdominal muscles become looser. During your tummy tuck procedure in Washington DC, Dr. Khalifeh will remove any pockets of excess fat. He will also remove extra skin and tighten lax abdominal muscles to create a firm, sculpted look. Loose or split abdominal muscles are repaired to create a toned, firm appearance, and the waistline is slimmed.
If you have stretch marks, Dr. Khalifeh may be able to improve or even eliminate their appearance during the skin removal process of your tummy tuck procedure. Any of your stretch marks that are located a little below your navel can usually be removed. Many times, any remaining stretch marks will appear less prominent after your tummy tuck procedure.
After the abdominal muscles are repaired and tightened, excess skin is removed. Dr. Khalifeh may use liposuction to remove excess fat before suturing the area.
Once your surgery is complete, Dr. Khalifeh will suture your incisions. A surgical drain will be placed to speed the healing process and limit any pain from fluid buildup under the skin. The surgical drain is typically removed about a week after your surgery the stitches within two weeks. Your abdomen will be protected with a compression garment to minimize bruising and swelling and support the tissues so they heal smoothly.
Depending on the tummy tuck technique, the recovery time can range from one to four weeks.
Dr. Khalifeh is the ideal choice of a plastic surgeon for your tummy tuck because he has a proven track record with natural tummy tuck procedures. He has performed hundreds of complicated body contouring procedures for a wide roster of distinguished clients in the Washington DC area, including media personalities, celebrities, government officials, and other public figures—clients who demand natural-looking results that don’t betray signs of cosmetic work.
Dr. Khalifeh treats each patient as an individual with their unique sets of goals and expectations. Instead of following through with a cookie-cutter treatment template, he understands your specific concerns and goals to curate a personalized treatment plan. He doesn’t aim to establish an arbitrary vision of universal aesthetics but rather provide the ideal aesthetic results as per your definition. If you want a lean, sculpted, and chiseled abdomen without worrying about unsightly scars or potential complications, please schedule a consultation with Dr. Khalifeh today.
Scarring is inevitable, but Dr. Khalifeh’s carefully planned incision locations will minimize the visibility of your surgical scars. At first, scars from your surgery will be visible and red; with proper scar healing, they will heal and become thin, silver lines.
Tummy tucks, and related procedures such as panniculecotmies, can be sometimes combined with hernia surgeries. In some ways, the tummy tuck muscle tightening over a hernia can help reinforce the repair and make the hernia less likely to recur. For large hernias, we work with general surgeons who are experts in bowel surgery so that we protect the bowels during surgery and free up the bowels so we may stitch the hernia. Sometimes, an absorbable reinforcing bioengineered layer is used as well to provide extra strength during the repair. To undergo combined surgeries, you must be in good health, as it does prolong the duration of the surgery.
Health insurance does not cover a cosmetic abdominoplasty. In select cases, depending on your health history (with your primary care physician), some aspects of your surgery may be covered.
You will need some patience, as you cannot return to exercise for four to six weeks, although you will likely feel well enough to return to work or social activities within seven to ten days. You will have to refrain from sex for about three to four weeks to ensure your incisions have fully healed.
I had a tummy-tuck and a lipo-section done, and I feel and look great. Dr. Khalifeh is a true professional. I highly recommend him to any women that wants to ge...
Dr Khalifeh preformed a tummy tuck on me about 6 weeks ago and I could not be more pleased with the results or the care that I have received! It took me about a...
I had a tummy-tuck and a lipo-section done, and I feel and look great. Dr. Khalifeh is a true professional. I highly recommend him to any women that wants to ge...
Dr Khalifeh preformed a tummy tuck on me about 6 weeks ago and I could not be more pleased with the results or the care that I have received! It took me about a...
I had a tummy-tuck and a lipo-section done, and I feel and look great. Dr. Khalifeh is a true professional. I highly recommend him to any women that wants to ge...
