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This is one of Dr. Reath's favorite operations because of the amazing improvements that are seen in patients whose figures have been changed by pregnancy or weight loss.

If you are considering an abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck, you are not alone. This is one of our most popular procedures. Dr. Reath frequently performs tummy tucks in conjunction with other body contouring procedures such as liposuction and breast surgeries. Many people are surprised to learn that Dr. Reath also performs abdominoplasties on men.

Most abdominoplasty patients tell us that they have been self conscious about their stomachs for a long time. Some have excess or loose sagging abdominal skin. Some have abdomens that protrude out of proportion to the rest of their body because their abdominal muscles have been stretched by pregnancy. Some have lost weight and have excess tissue that won't go away on it's own.

Almost all have tried dieting and exercising and are discouraged by the lack of results. In fact, patients find that if they lose weight the skin becomes looser and looks even worse!

A tummy tuck corrects two main areas of concern:
First, there is often a stretching of the abdominal muscles after pregnancy that no amount of sit-ups and crunches can fix. During a tummy tuck Dr. Reath repairs these muscles by bringing them back together; the way they were prior to pregnancies.

Next Dr. Reath removes the areas of excess skin and fat. The amount of excess skin and fat determines which abdominoplasty procedure Dr. Reath will prescribe. Dr. Reath usually uses liposuction during a tummy tuck for optimal results.

If the area of loose skin and fat is entirely below the bellow button, Dr. Reath may recommend a mini-abdominoplasty. During a mini-abdominoplasty Dr. Reath uses a delicate incision that is hidden in the bikini area. Women who have had Cesarean Sections are delighted to find out he can often use the same incision.

If the area that is to be treated also includes the upper abdomen, Dr. Reath will suggest a full abdominoplasty. In this the incision extends outward toward the hipbone. The length of these incisions depends on the amount of skin that needs to be removed. It is usually possible for Dr. Reath to place these incisions so they can be hidden underneath a swimsuit. There may also be an incision around the belly button as this is repositioned during the tummy tuck.

Abdominoplasty is not considered a weight loss procedure and is best suited for men and women that are in relatively good shape. A tummy tuck is not recommended for you if you still need to lose a significant amount of weight or if you plan on becoming pregnant again.

Here are a few of Dr. Reath's abdominoplasty patients:

Before & After (Abdominoplasty): This patient is 29 years old, is 5'3" tall and weighs 131 pounds. She was concerned about her excess abdominal skin following weight loss and childbirth. Dr. Reath performed a full abdominoplasty and tightened the abdominal muscles with an optimal result.

Before	After
Before	After
Above photographs are actual patients of Dr. Reath's who have given consent for the use of their photographs for this website.

Before & After (Lipo-Abdominoplasty): This is a 39-year-old woman who was concerned about her abdomen after having three children. She was within 5 - 10 pounds of her ideal weight. Dr. Reath performed a Lipo-Abdominoplasty to achieve this  toned, attractive look.

Before & After Abdominoplasty: The patient is 28 and has three children. She was concerned about excess skin in her abdomen and laxity of her abdominal muscles. Dr. Reath performed an abdominoplasty with repair of her abdominal muscles as well as removing her excess skin and stretch marks. Postoperative photos were taken six months after her surgery and she had an excellent result.

Before	After
Before	After
Above photographs are actual patients of Dr. Reath's who have given consent for the use of their photographs for this website.

Before & After Abdominoplasty: This is a 45-year-old woman who struggled with her weight her entire life. She was very self-conscious about the appearance of her abdomen and struggled with depression regarding her body image. Dr. Reath performed a full abdominoplasty and it literally changed her life.

Before	After
Before	After
Above photographs are actual patients of Dr. Reath's who have given consent for the use of their photographs for this website.

Before & After Abdominoplasty: This patient is a 34-year-old female who was concerned about the laxity in the skin after having four children. She had a Cesarean Section done in the past and couldn't achieve any results with diet and exercise. Dr. Reath performed a full abdominoplasty repairing the stretched abdominal muscles and removing the excess skin.

Before	After
Before	After
Above photographs are actual patients of Dr. Reath's who have given consent for the use of their photographs for this website.

Before & After: Modified Abdominoplasty: This is a 29 year old who was concerned about her lower abdomen and inner thighs. Despite her excellent exercise regimen, she was unable to improve these areas. Dr. Reath performed a modified abdominoplasty. The patient is thrilled with her results.

Before	After
Before	After
Above photographs are actual patients of Dr. Reath's who have given consent for the use of their photographs for this website.

The Operation

Dr. Reath performs both mini and full abdominoplasties under general anesthesia. Mini-abdominoplasty patients go home in the care of their families after they recover from anesthesia. If you have a full abdominoplasty, Dr. Reath may arrange for a Home Health nurse to accompany you home to assist with your first night's recovery.

Recovery

The length of the recovery will depend on the amount of muscle repaired, and the physical condition of the patient. For a full abdominoplasty there can be a recovery period of up to 6 weeks. This may seem a like long time, but the muscles that he repairs are muscles that are used for everything we do. And the better the repair, the better the long term result. For a mini-abdominoplasty, the recovery period will be much shorter.

Some of the best ideas for taking care of our patients come from other patients. One of our liposuction patients told us about the Spanx Slim Cognito line. She said it is the perfect thing to wear while recovering from surgery. And boy was she right! Now we carry it in our store for all of our patients.

We had been searching for just the right compression garment for years because patients must wear them for several weeks after body contouring surgery. But really...who wants to wear bulky garments under clothes when you are excitied about new changes in your figure?

The Spanx Slim Cognito line we carry for our patients is not like their "power panties" which you find in most department stores. Slim Cognito garments are seamless and have the maximum compression available to provide the extra support our surgical patients need. Actually they look so slimming under clothes that our nonsurgical patients are buying them left and right.

We are carrying all four Spanx Slim Cognito products in nude and black. The bodysuit is unique because you attach it to your own bra. It is available as a regular bodysuit and a mid-thigh bodysuit. In addition we have a seamless control panty and a mid thigh shaper.

Did you know? Compression garments tend to give your backside a flat uni-butt look. to avoid that look Spanx designed their line to be much more flattering. You won't feel the subtle butt shaper, but the natural look won't be lost on those in your wake!

Spanx Bodysuit $58 (pictured right), Spanx Mid-thigh Bodysuit $68 (pictured above), Spanx Control Panty $42 and Spanx Mid-thigh Shaper $58 (not-pictured)

If you are considering an abdominoplasty and have questions you would like answered, click on Ask Dr. Reath and Dr. Reath will personally answer your email.

Non-Surgical Procedures