Considering a Tummy Tuck? Here’s everything you need to know:
June 4, 2019

Abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck surgery performed by Dr. Shaw can create a firm, contoured abdomen.

As we get older, our bodies go through normal physical changes, such as childbirth and weight fluctuations which can create excess skin and fat to accumulate around and in our middle section.

Diet and exercise can help erase some of the effects of the aging process on your middle, but unfortunately for most, it will not be successful in reclaiming the waist of your youth. An abdominoplasty is a perfect solution for this.

Dr. Shaw performs two types of Abdominoplasty- A traditional Tummy Tuck, and a Mini Tummy Tuck. Dr. Shaw will discuss the best option for you at your consultation.

Tummy Tuck

Good abdominoplasty candidates have loose abdominal skin and muscles usually from pregnancy or weight loss. This procedure is often combined with other procedures like breast augmentation and breasts lifts (also known as a Mommy Makeover). People who have lost a significant amounts of weight and have excess abdominal skin and tissue are also good candidates for a tummy tuck.

A traditional Tummy Tucksurgery will usually require two to three hours to complete depending on the extent of the tummy tuck procedure. During your Tummy Tuck surgery, Dr. Shaw will carefully trim excess skin and fat away from lower abdominal areas and the abdominal muscles are plicated in a corset fashion to create a toned, flat, and athletic appearance.  Drains are often placed under the skin and brought out the ends of the incision. This helps prevent any fluid buildup after surgery and hasten the recovery process and improve results. The incisions are then closed in multiple layers with absorbable sutures that do not need to be removed.  If needed, additional liposuction can be performed on the incision ends to improve contour.

Mini Tummy Tuck

In select patients, a mini tummy tuck is a great option. During a mini tummy tuck, a limited skin excision can be performed, which can then be combined with direct liposuction of the abdomen. The umbilicus is not cut out but may be relocated a little lower.  The abdominal wall is tightened before completing the procedure. Although the scar length is shorter, the final result is usually not as tight and so most candidates for a tummy tuck elect to undergo the traditional abdominoplasty.

What to Expect

On the day of your surgery, Dr. Shaw will meet you in the pre-op area to answer any questions and draw some strategic markings that guide him in surgery.  These will help ensure that incision placement is ideal and as symmetric as possible.  Your surgery will be performed under general anesthesia by a board-certified anesthesiologist.

Interested in a Tummy Tuck? Call our office to schedule your consultation today! (480)767-1900

About Dr. Shaw

Dr. Lawrence Shaw is a double board certified plastic surgeon in Scottsdale, Arizona with over 30 years of aesthetic surgical experience. Dr. Shaw’s excellent reputation is attributed to his uncompromising commitment to the highest standards of patient care, rational decision making and meticulous surgical technique. He has thousands of satisfied patients throughout Arizona, the United States and beyond.

Dr. Shaw is the founder and medical director of The Spa at The SHAW Center which has grown into a Premier Medical Spa offering non-invasive, anti-aging services ranging from advanced skin care, neurotoxins, injectable facial fillers, non-invasive fat reduction, cryotherapy, IV infusion therapy, to lasers for vaginal rejuvenation, hair removal and skin rejuvenation.

About The SHAW Center

At The SHAW Center, over the last 30 years, Dr. Shaw has created an environment to attract the best team possible to promote innovation and exchange ideas to fulfill our mission.

Dr. Shaw’s vision is to deliver the utmost in surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic care and patient experience. We strive to be the plastic surgery and medical aesthetic spa of choice where we consistently meet or exceed our patient’s expectations. Caring for our patients, assessing and realizing aesthetic goals in a safe, comfortable environment is always our top priority.

We provide compassionate personalized care that extends well beyond the treatment and recovery period leaving our patients with a positive lifelong lasting impression. It is personally gratifying to see how many patients from the 80’s and 90’s are still our patients and now referring their children to me and our office. Our patients truly become “patients for life” and part of The SHAW Center family.

We invite you to come meet me and our incredible team to explore and realize your aesthetic dreams!

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If you’re dreaming of lying on the beach this summer in a teeny bikini showing off a perfectly flat stomach, it’s not too late to make that dream come true.
We at The SHAW Center believe you should feel confident when you rock your swimsuit regardless of your size. But we also understand that you’ll feel your best when you have the body you desire.
Enter abdominoplasty – or a tummy tuck. This surgical procedure removes excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen and tightens the muscles of the abdominal wall, creating a beautifully sculpted stomach.
The tummy tuck is ideal for women who’ve experienced pregnancy or a large amount of weight loss and have loose skin they can’t get rid of despite diet and exercise. It is also ideal for people who are experiencing loss of skin elasticity due to age.
A tummy tuck is a surgical excision of excess skin around the abs. An ellipse of skin is removed between the navel and the hairline of the mons area, eliminating C-section scars as well. The skin above the navel is lifted off the abdominal wall muscles up to the level of the rib cage, then pulled down to the level of the mons and closed. During the procedure, the abdominal wall muscles are tightened, resulting in a narrower waistline.
A tummy tuck procedure lasts about two and a half to three hours and does require some recovery time. Most patients can return to work after two weeks and to more strenuous activity after four to six weeks (sometimes more).
If you’re considering getting a tummy tuck here at our office, please consider this testimonial one of our happy patients posted on Realself.com:
“Dr. Shaw and his team are absolutely amazing! Some may say that plastic surgery is only skin deep, but I completely disagree. After having my son later in life (I was 38) and he was just over 9 lbs. (and I am just 5’1 1/2″ and 105 lbs. normally) – I was left with not so beautiful breasts and a sagging tummy – yuck! Dr. Shaw performed Breast Augmentation for me in 2005 – AMAZING… but no matter how much I worked out and lost all of my weight, I would still look in the mirror and feel like I was still too young to look as old as my tummy made me feel. I finally decided (after much deliberation) to have a tummy tuck in December 2011. OH MY GOSH! I wish I would have had this done 7 years ago!! It is so wonderful to be able to go to my closet and find clothes that show off my curves and flat tummy instead of trying to find clothes to hide behind. My husband absolutely LOVES the results too. He loves the curves, the flat tummy, and the restored confidence I have again. No more “lights off”… LOL! Dr. Shaw did an amazing job with pulling in the sides to give me back my hour glass figure, and also did a great job on my belly button.” — VIEffects
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