Tummy Tuck Knoxville - Abdominoplasty Knoxville

Want Your Figure Back? A Tummy Tuck Might be the Answer

There are very few women who do not have changes in their abdominal wall after child bearing. Most tell us that they have been self conscious about their stomachs for a long time.

Some have loose sagging abdominal skin. Others have abdomens that protrude 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 as they lose weight the skin becomes looser and looks even worse!

Liposuction alone can't fix that, nor does it repair the abdominal muscles or remove the excess skin. So, if you want to get your pre-pregnancy tummy back, there is no substitute for a Lipoabdominoplasty.

As Dr Reath explains, "Lipoabdominoplasty is probably my favorite operation.  I have always liked my results from tummy tucks, and by adopting these improved techniques, the results keep getting better. What we are able to do with this operation is to restore or improve the appearance of a part of the body that, in women, has been changed by pregnancy and child bearing. The changes that are made with this surgery cannot be achieved by diet and exercise alone. And, we are restoring what has been changed by bringing another life into this world. Cool stuff, really."

A tummy tuck corrects three main areas of concern:

1. First, liposuction of the entire abdominal wall is used to reduce the fat thickness throughout. 
2. Then the rectus abdominis muscles, or the sit-up muscles, are repaired.  Usually with pregnancies these are stretched apart in the middle and no amount of crunches will work!
3. Finally, the excess skin is removed resulting in a contoured flat tummy.

Not everyone needs a full lipoabdominoplasty. If the area of loose skin and fat is entirely below the bellow button, a mini-lipoabdominoplasty is possible.  During a mini-lipoabdominoplasty the incision can be hidden in the bikini area, there is no scar around the belly button, and the recovery can be a bit shorter. 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.

It is important to understand that 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.

We have included a Body Mass Index calculator for you to get a general idea if you may be a good candidate for a tummy tuck at your present weight. You should have a BMI less than 30 to consider an abdominoplasty.

If you have a BMI over 30 and live in the Knoxville area, a private workout facility with an individual trainer may give you the accountability and encouragement you need. Read more here.

Have a question about tummy tucks? Ask Dr. Reath.

Tummy Tuck Photos of Dr. Reath's Patients

Before and After Tummy Tuck: This patient is 29 years old, is 5' 3" tall and weighs 131 pounds. She was proud of the weight she lost after her pregnancy but was concerned about the excess abdominal skin leftover. Dr. Reath performed a full abdominoplasty and was able to tighten her abdominal muscles, which had been stretched from her pregnancy and remove all her excess skin. She was absolutely thrilled!
 

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 and After Tummy Tuck: 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 Lipoabdominoplasty to achieve this  toned, attractive look.

Before and After Abdominoplasty-  She is 5’2” and weighs 133 pounds. Here is a young mom who did not like the appearance and contour of her abdomen. Even though she worked out daily, she told us she was unable to get her tummy back to the way it was before she had her baby. She is pictured here 6 months after her abdominoplasty absolutely thrilled with her new figure.

Before and After Tummy Tuck: This is a 37-year old mother of three who was concerned with the excess skin in her abdomen after three pregnancies. She runs twenty miles a week,works out in the gym and follows a very healthy diet so she is close to her ideal weight. She had a full lipoabdominoplasty and is very proud of her flat, toned tummy. (We are proud of her too.)

Before and after Abdominoplasty: She is 5’8” and weighs 160. Here is a 32-year-old woman who came to us after she lost over 65 pounds through diet and exercise. Although she was happy with her weight-loss, it came with significant skin laxity on her abdominal area that she wanted removed. Dr. Reath performed a tummy tuck, also known as an abdominoplasty, and she is pictured here 6 months later with a flat, firm tummy, understandably thrilled with the results.

Lipoabdominoplasty / Tummy Tuck Pricing

The cost of a tummy tuck with Dr. Reath's includes both surgical and anesthesia fees, our exclusive recovery kit with silicone scar prevention shapes and all follow-up visits.

When reviewing tummy tuck pricing please keep in mind that the majority of people are candidates for a full lipoabdominoplasty or mini-lipoabdominoplasty. Some, who have had massive weight loss, will require an extended procedure which takes more time in the operating room and may require a hospital stay.

Cash Discount:
Good news! For our patients who would like to pay with cash or check we offer a 5% discount.

Full Lipoabdominoplasty-
$7,665 - ($7,281 with cash discount)

Mini Lipoabdominoplasty-
$5,071 - ($4,817 with cash discount)

Extended abdominoplasty-
Prices on a case by case basis and may include a hospital stay. Price starts at $8,563 before cash discount.

[Also included in the price of your surgery is a CosmetAssure policy, which protects you in the unlikely event of a complication after surgery. We are the only plastic surgeon's office in Knoxville to provide this important insurance. Read Dr. Reath's blog post where he explains why he feels so strongly about providing this extra safety net to our patients.]
 

Mini-Tummy Tuck Pictures-

Before and After Modified Tummy Tuck: This is a 29 year old who was concerned about her lower abdomen. Despite her excellent exercise regimen, she was unable to improve these areas. Dr. Reath performed a modified or mini 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.

Want more pictures? There are more tummy tuck pictures available on the before and after gallery of our website.

The Operation and Recovery

Dr. Reath performs lipoabdominoplasties under general anesthesia. Helping our patients manage a speedy recovery is one of our primary missions. 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 is usually 3 to 4 weeks, but can be longer -- paticularly if you have a strenous job. This may seem a like long time, but the muscles repaired are used for everything we do. And the better the repair, the better the long term result. For a mini-lipoabdominoplasty, the recovery period will be much shorter.

Great Resources for Your Plastic Surgery Research

Printable Lists

So you can be better prepared for your consultation, we have prepared a list of important plastic surgery questions you will want to ask your doctor before you have your surgery. If your consultation is with Dr. Reath, please feel free to print this out and he will be happy to go everything with you during your visit. Top Ten Questions to Ask your Plastic Surgeon

Even though the majority of cosmetic surgery patients are pleased with their results, the decision to have a procedure is a big one. It is normal to have questions, and it's important to answer them honestly. In the end, you want to be completely comfortable with your decision.So, are you clear about your motivations for surgery? Are your expectations realistic? Test yourself by answering these important questions. How to Know if You Are  Ready for Plastic Surgery.

Not in Knoxville? Click Here for Help For Out of Town Patients.

Still have questions about body mass index? Dr. Reath explains the importance of BMI in this recent Truth-O-Meter Tuesday video:

  In Our Store!

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 excited 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 Spanx Slim Cognito products in nude. The bodysuit is unique because you attach it to your own bra. It is available as a regular bodysuit and a mid-thigh bodysuit.

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, Spanx Mid-thigh Bodysuit $68 (pictured above)

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.

Injectable Wrinkle Treatments