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. Whether they come from the Knoxville area, Johnson City, Cookeville, or Cleveland, 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 reduced their weight and have excess tissue that won’t go away on its own. Almost all have tried dieting and exercising and are discouraged by the lack of results. In fact, patients find that as their weight drops 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.
A tummy tuck corrects three main areas of concern:
First, liposuction of the entire abdominal wall is used to reduce the fat thickness throughout.
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!
Finally, the excess skin is removed resulting in a contoured flat tummy.
Tummy Tuck Photos of Dr. Reath’s Patients
A tummy tuck can be combined with excision of the hip rolls as you can see in the first patient below. We are fondly referring to this procedure as the “muffinator” because it also treats the hip areas causing “muffin tops”.
Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) Before & After Photos
Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary.
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... Read More
Before and After Abdominoplasty with Excision of Hip Rolls: She is 5’5” and weighs 160 pounds. Here is a 35-year-old mom who wanted to get rid of the excess skin and fat in her abdomen and hip area. Dr. Reath performed an abdominoplasty with excision of hip rolls for this great result. Adding excision of the hip rolls to an abdominoplasty is becoming... Read More
This patient came to us after having three children. She was within 5-10 pounds of her ideal weight but concerned about the contour of her abdomen. Dr. Reath performed a lipoabdominoplasty to achieve her toned, attractive look.
Before and After Mommy Makeover- She is 5’3” and weighs 139 pounds. Here is a 27-year-old mom who was concerned about excess skin in her abdomen which had stretched out during her pregnancies. Dr. Reath performed a full abdominoplasty and she is pictured here before and six months after her procedure. Read More
Here is a 28-year-old mother of two who had wide fluctuations in her weight. When she came to see us, she had lost most of it but still had excess skin that she wanted removed. Dr. Reath performed a lipoabdominoplasty for this life-changing transformation. Read More
She is 5'4" and weighs 159 pounds. Here is a 41-year-old mom who saw her weight balloon after her pregnancies, and then lost over 50 pounds. No amount of CrossFit could get rid of the excess skin left behind on her abdomen and hip area. Dr. Reath performed a tummy tuck and excision of hip rolls, what we fondly call a "muffinator". She is pictured... Read More
She is 5'1" and weighs 136 pounds. Here is a 38-year-old mom who was unhappy with the appearance of her abdomen after having children. Dr. Reath performed a full abdominoplasty and she is pictured before and six months after her surgery.
Before and After Abdominoplasty: She is 5’5” and weighs 149 pounds. Here is a 42-year-old mother of twins. She was concerned about the excess skin is her abdomen and wanted a flat tummy back. Dr. Reath performed a full abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and her wish came true. Read More
When reviewing tummy tuck pricing please keep in mind that the overwhelming majority of women we see are candidates for a full abdominoplasty. Some very lucky patients only need the area below their belly buttons fixed. For them a modified (mini) abdominoplasty is just the ticket. If you have a large amount of excess skin to be removed from major fluctuations in weight, you may need an extended procedure which takes more time in the operating room and could require a hospital stay.
The cost of a tummy tuck with Dr. Reath includes both surgical and anesthesia fees, our exclusive recovery kit with silicone scar prevention shapes, recovery garments and all follow-up visits.
Tummy Tuck Procedure
Cost
Cash Price
Full Abdominoplasty
$7,985
$7,586
Modified Abdominoplasty
$5,411
$5,140
Extended Abdominoplasty
$8,943
$8,620
“Muffinator” Abdominoplasty with Hip Rolls
$10,732
$10,195
Cash Discount: Good news! We offer a 5% discount for our patients who would like to pay with cash or check instead of using a credit card or financing.
David B. Reath, MD
Board-certified plastic surgeon David B. Reath, MD is renowned for his surgical skills and his commitment to public education. Practicing in Knoxville, Tennessee since 1986, his personal approach with patients is what truly sets him apart.
Traditionally, abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and liposuction have been separate procedures. A Lipoabdominoplasty is a new, novel single-stage approach combining extensive liposuction with the traditional abdominoplasty approach to the muscles and skin.
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.”
Dr. Reath explains why no amount of core exercises can repair abdominal muscles that have been stretched during pregnancy in the video.
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 Dr. Reath can often use the same incision placement.
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 re-positioned during the tummy tuck.
It is important to understand that an abdominoplasty is not for weight reduction and is best suited for men and women that are in relatively good shape. A tummy tuck is not recommended for you if you are significantly overweight or if you plan on becoming pregnant again.
Here is 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 safely consider an abdominoplasty.
BMI Calculator for Adults
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Calculator for Adults
BMI is a number calculated from a person's weight and height. BMI provides a fairly reliable indicator of body fatness for most people and is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems.
Your BMI is
Underweight (Below 18.5)
Normal (18.5 - 24.9)
Overweight (25.0 - 29.9)
Obese (30.0 and above)
Your weight ( pounds) is in the category for adults of your height ( feet, inches)
Dr. Reath has just written an excellent blog all about body fat. He explains what can and cannot be treated and why.
Your Body Fat: An Expert Guide
The majority of my plastic surgery practice here in Knoxville is body contouring surgery, which is changing the shape of my patient’s bodies. Inevitably this means dealing with fat. We all have it. We all need it. Some have less than they want; most of us have more than we want. Frequently we get questions … Read more »
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.
Good News for Today’s Tummy Tuck Patients
Drains, one of the most uncomfortable part of recovering after a tummy tuck, are no longer needed. Dr. Reath explains the recent advances that make this possible.
More Good News. Surgery Recovery Kits are Included.
Our Surgical Recovery Kits are a great personal touch. Patients tell us that the recovery kits we include with their surgeries are an area that really sets us apart. Each recovery kit contains items hand-picked to make your recovery faster and more pleasant. People who have had surgery with other doctors are amazed that we include these kits at no charge for all of our surgery patients. Tummy Tuck Recovery ProductsVisit our online store.Shop Now
Not our patient? No problem!
We have lovingly put together a kit of everything you’ll need during your tummy tuck recovery specifically for patients of other plastic surgeons. You’ll appreciate the extra post-surgical binder because you won’t be feeling like doing much laundry. Even better, the price of the kit is much less than if you bought each item separately.
The Plastic Surgery Planner is a Must-Read.
Our staff has just written an amazing free eBook based on suggestions from some of our tummy tuck and mommy makeover patients. The Plastic Surgery Planner is 40 pages of best practices with everything you need to know about planning for your plastic surgery and recovery. It’s a must-read for anyone planning to have a tummy tuck. It’s a free download. Plastic Surgery PlannerTips to Manage a Speedy RecoveryDownload Now
Great Resources for Your Research
The Most Important Benefit of a Tummy Tuck (and it’s not what you think).
One of the operations I have always loved to do is a tummy tuck, (also known as an abdominoplasty). I really get a charge out of helping a mother restore the shape of her abdomen after she has brought one or more children into this world. There have certainly been modifications over the years in how … Read more »
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 over 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.
There are very few women who do not have changes in their abdominal wall after child bearing. Whether they come from the Knoxville area, Johnson City, Cookeville, or Cleveland, most tell us that they have been self conscious about their stomachs for a long time.
