Cosmetic Body Surgery

Abdominoplasty

The Tummy Tuck

Abdominoplasty, or "tummy tuck", is a cosmetic procedure to improve the shape and appearance of the abdomen. During this operation, Dr. Holcombe removes excess skin and fat in the abdomen, and he tightens the muscles in the abdomen to improve the contour of the waistline.

Who is a good candidate?

If you have excess skin and fat on the abdomen and would like to restore a more youthful, pleasing contour to your abdomen, a tummy tuck may be a good fit for you.

We will review your medical history and goals during your consultation to determine if this is the right procedure for you. Maintaining a stable weight prior to surgery is important, as tummy tuck is not a replacement for healthy weight loss. You should also quit smoking and avoid smoking for 6 months prior to surgery to make this procedure as safe as possible.

Your Consultation

During your initial consultation, we will review your goals, show you "before and after" photos, describe the surgery in detail and answer any questions you may have so that you can make an informed decision about surgery. We will also review your medications and medical history to evaluate the safety of this elective procedure.

Recovery

You will have surgical drains in place after this operation, so we will see you regularly in clinic (on Tuesdays and Fridays) until the drains can be removed. Most patients return to work about 2 weeks after surgery depending on the nature of their jobs. There will be a longer amount of "down time" from exercise, but you can usually start to resume regular activity within 4-6 weeks from surgery.

THE SCAR

All surgeries create a scar, but Dr. Holcombe will keep the tummy tuck scar as low as possible so that it can best hide in a bikini. You can expect a scar that spans the length of your abdomen and sits just above your pubic bone and between your hip bones. We will show you photos prior to the surgery so you can visualize the scar. We will give you wound care instructions and aftercare instructions to help you heal in the best possible way.

Liposuction

Liposuction is a procedure that uses a slender cannula to extract deposits of stubborn fat to create a more slender and contoured appearance. This can be done alone or in combination with one of our other procedures. We can perform liposuction on a variety of locations including the abdomen, waist, midsection, hips, and thighs.

Liposuction is best for people who are close to their desired weight but would like improved contour in areas that have not improved with healthy diet and exercise. We will discuss the procedure during your consultation to determine if it is a good fit for you.

Preparing For Surgery

Surgery Location

We most often operate at St. Joseph Outpatient Surgery Center with you going home the same day. If you have high risk medical conditions or if your surgery is more extensive, St. Joseph Hospital is another location where we operate. We will let you know the location of your surgery on the day of your consultation.

Checking In

Please be prepared to check into the surgery location at least one hour before your scheduled surgery time.

Eating and Drinking

You will need to be fasting for at least 8 hours prior to the surgery, and some medications may require you to fast up to 12 hours prior to surgery. You will receive specific instructions prior to your procedure date.

Medications

Please provide us with a complete list of your medications during your initial consultation, and please let us know if you have any changes to your medication prior to surgery. This will allow us to give you the best instructions to prepare for surgery and recovery.