Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)

Begin Your Journey

Achieve a Beautiful, Sculpted Mid-Section with an Abdominoplasty in Albany, NY from Dr. Alain Polynice

While lifestyle improvements can significantly improve the appearance and health of your body, they are not always enough to achieve and maintain the aesthetic results you aim for. Intelligent food choices can lead to weight improvement, and regular exercise can firm up abdominal muscles, but neither of these measures can correct laxity and excess formation of skin, especially in the stomach area. An abdominoplasty or tummy tuck at our Albany, NY practice with board-certified body sculpting plastic surgeon Dr. Alain Polynice can tighten and tone skin and muscle, remove excess skin and fat, and achieve the sculpted physique you are looking to achieve.

It is important to note that while a tummy tuck can involve some removal of excess fat, it is not intended to be a procedure for weight loss. Removing excess skin and some fat while tightening muscle and remaining skin will create a flatter, firmer-looking stomach, and provide a more well-toned appearance to the overall mid-section.

A consultation with Dr. Polynice, an experienced plastic surgeon who has performed tummy tucks on a variety of skin and body types, will allow you to voice your concerns and help determine whether a tummy tuck may be appropriate for you.

*Results May Vary
View Before & Afters from Real Patients

Forms of Tummy Tuck Surgery

01

Mini Tummy Tuck

A mini tummy tuck is the least invasive abdominoplasty procedure we perform.

Dr. Polynice will offer this to patients with fat deposits below the belly button. The lower abdominal muscles may be tightened, and excess skin will be removed through an incision just above the bikini line. Liposuction is used to remove fat and gently contour your flatter stomach.

A mini tummy tuck is performed as an outpatient procedure under general anesthesia. If you have more than a little pouch under the belly button, a full abdominoplasty may be recommended.

02

Full Tummy Tuck

A full abdominoplasty is a surgical procedure which addresses the entire stomach area. Fat and excess skin is removed during this outpatient procedure. This operation, sometimes called a power tuck, also tightens loose abdominal muscles. For many people, this is a great choice following weight loss and child birth.

The incision line will run below your underwear but will extend across the entire pelvic bone. During a full tummy tuck, a new belly button will be formed, and any stretch marks below your current belly button will be removed.

03

The REAL Tummy Tuck & Extended Tummy Tuck

Following weight loss and child birth, our skin elasticity may not return to normal despite exercise. Many patients find this procedure extremely rewarding.

An extended tummy tuck is usually performed on patients with excess fat and skin in the lower abdomen and lower back (love handles). The incision will extend from above one hip in the back along the bikini line to the other hip. Patients will be able to wear bathing suits without anyone knowing they had a body contouring procedure performed.

One of the procedures that Dr. Polynice especially focuses on is the REAL tummy tuck, which stands for Reconstructive Extended Abdominoplasty with Liposuction. In addition to the aspects of an extended tummy tuck, a REAL tummy tuck will involve Dr. Polynice performing liposuction to remove excess fat deposits more efficiently, as well as a complete reconstruction of the abdominal wall to restore the core muscles that were separated by weight gain/loss or multiple pregnancies.

Dr. Polynice will perform liposuction to address any fat pockets on your upper abdomen and back. This procedure addresses the entire stomach, upper thighs, hips, and lower back.

04

Floating Abdominoplasty (FAB)

This is a new and innovative procedure that allows us to shape the tummy and tighten the abdominal muscles all through a small incision in the lower abdomen and without any incisions around the belly button.

Through this lower abdominal incision the excess skin is removed and the belly button is detached and elevated from the inside, under the skin, making it “float” above the muscles. The muscles of the abdomen, or rectus muscles, can then be shaped and tightened all the way from the sternum to the pubic area. Very often an endoscope or special camera is used to help with this repair since the incision in the lower abdomen is so short. The skin of the abdomen is then tightened up and the belly button is reattached from the inside. Liposuction is also performed during the procedure to further shape and sculpt the abs. The result is tight, flat abs, all with a much shorter scar than with a traditional tummy tuck and no telltale scars around the belly button.

Who is a Good Candidate for a Tummy Tuck?

An abdominoplasty or tummy tuck is suitable for patients who have experienced significant weight loss or fluctuations. This weight fluctuation could have occurred due to a number of reasons, such as pregnancy and childbirth, changes in diet and physical activity, and/or surgical or non-surgical fat reduction.

Significant weight gain, including those from subsequent pregnancies, could undo some of the benefits of an abdominoplasty. Because of this, a tummy tuck is best suited for individuals who are at or very close to their healthy goal weight (and are committed to maintaining a healthy lifestyle), and do not plan to have more pregnancies.

Procedural Steps in a Tummy Tuck

While the specifics of each of these steps may vary from patient to patient depending on what kind of tummy tuck is to be performed, the procedure as a whole typically includes:

  • General anesthesia (on an outpatient basis)
  • Incision: The type, location, and length of incision will depend on the type of abdominoplasty that will be performed. The incisions created will allow Dr. Polynice to remove excess skin and fat, and tighten abdominal muscles and remaining skin.
  • Tightening: If the abdominal muscles and the layer of tissue on top of them (known as fascia) are loose or separated, they will be tightened and pulled together.
  • Removal of excess skin: Once Dr. Polynice has tightened your abdominal wall and fascia, he will pull the skin flat to carefully determine how much skin is excess. Once this skin is removed, the remaining will be pulled taut and sutured together. Depending on the tummy tuck, your belly button may also be brought to a new position.
  • Liposuction: If there is excess fat to be removed, liposuction may be utilized.

Risks & Recovery from a Tummy Tuck

Immediately following surgery, you will see results, though you will be swollen temporarily until your body heals properly after surgery.

Risks for all of the above procedures include typical post-surgical side effects, such as bleeding, infection, asymmetry, changes in skin sensations, and unsightly scarring.

Recovery times may vary depending upon the patient*. We recommend that you are out of work for about one to two weeks, after which it will be another six weeks until full activities (including exercising and other strenuous activities) may be resumed.

You will need a responsible adult to stay with you for the first night following surgery because of the after effects of anesthesia (which can sometimes make patients nauseated and/or drowsy). You may also need help at home during the first few days with dressing and driving.

A compression garment will need to be worn for at least four to six weeks* under your clothes following your abdominoplasty. Drains will be left in place to collect any drainage from your wounds for a week following surgery.

Dr. Polynice places all the sutures internally, so none will need to be removed. Steri strips or tissue glue are applied, but will fall off on their own after about two to three weeks*.

We will see you in the office two to three days after your surgery to remove bandages, and we will see you again about one week after surgery to remove your drains.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Who is the ideal candidate for the FAB procedure?

    The ideal candidate for the Floating Abdominoplasty (FAB) procedure is someone who has developed significant stretching and weakness of the abdominal muscle after one or more pregnancies.  She may also have a moderate amount of excess skin and fat in the lower abdomen but with minimal stretch marks.  The FAB procedure would remove the excess skin and fat, tighten and repair the abdominal muscles and sculpt the abs and waist, all done through an incision similar to a c-section scar.

  • What is the recovery like after the FAB procedure?

    After the Floating Abdominoplasty (FAB) you will experience some bruising for about 7 days and some swelling that may last 2-4 weeks depending on the amount of liposuction performed.  Within one week to ten days most patients are able to resume their normal everyday activities like working out or heavy lifting. Crunches should be avoided for 3-4 weeks.

    This procedure provides an excellent option for those patients who are in pretty good shape but have developed significant weakness of the abdomen after pregnancy, it provides shaping and contouring of the abs with a short scar and no incision around the belly button.  Schedule a consultation with Dr. Polynice to find out if this revolutionary tightening procedure is right for you.

    Mention the FAB procedure and receive a free consultation with Dr. Polynice ($150.00 value)

Schedule Your Consultation

Call us today at (518) 490-0726

Contact us now to request a consultation in the New York area.  You can reach the Williams Center for Plastic Surgery online or by phone

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