Tummy Tuck
A comprehensive surgical restoration designed to repair separated abdominal muscles, remove redundant skin, and rebuild a firm, functional core foundation.
A comprehensive surgical restoration designed to repair separated abdominal muscles, remove redundant skin, and rebuild a firm, functional core foundation.
A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is chosen by patients who wish to restore core stability, eliminate loose abdominal skin, and repair internal muscle separation resulting from pregnancy or weight shifts. At Align Plastic Surgery, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Tosan Ehanire approaches abdominoplasty through a holistic, partner-led lens, combining complex reconstructive mastery with an artisan's eye for natural body geometry. Dr. Ehanire curates a tailored surgical approach that repairs your core matrix while utilizing evidence-based scar protocols, helping every patient enjoy smooth, beautifully healed results.
Our Austin tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is a structural surgical procedure that addresses laxity, tissue excess, and deep muscle wall weakness across the midsection.
While diet and exercise can strengthen skeletal muscles, they cannot tighten stretched abdominal skin or repair diastasis recti, a condition where the rectus abdominis muscles separate along the midline.
During a tummy tuck consultation, patients review tummy tuck options for the abdominoplasty procedure based on patient anatomy, degree of tissue laxity, and surgical goals, while also setting realistic expectations for the outcome. The overall purpose of abdominoplasty is to repair the underlying muscle matrix, excise redundant skin, relocate or recreate a natural navel, and re-establish a firm, flat, and functional abdominal wall.
On the day of your surgery, you will be cared for in a safe and comfortable medical center. Before she begins, Dr. Ehanire will carefully mark where she will work while you are standing up. She makes sure these marks are low enough to be hidden by your underwear or swimsuit.
Once you are in a deep sleep, the doctor makes a thin line across your lower belly. She gently lifts the skin and fat to reach your muscles. She sews the muscles back together to make your core strong again and repair diastasis recti. Then, she removes any extra skin and closes everything up with tiny, careful stitches. The surgery takes 3 to 5 hours. Afterward, you will rest for a bit before your surgery buddy takes you home.
A specialized technique designed for individuals with significant skin laxity in both vertical and horizontal directions, often following massive weight loss and often relevant after bariatric surgery when central skin excess is pronounced. In addition to the standard low horizontal hip-to-hip incision, a vertical incision is made along the abdominal midline to remove maximum central tissue excess. This dual-plane approach allows Dr. Ehanire to dramatically tighten the waistline and eliminate deep skin folds that traditional tummy tucks cannot reach. The resulting T-shaped scar is meticulously closed using evidence-based protocols to ensure a smooth, flat, and streamlined contour.
One of several abdominoplasty variations used in body contouring based on tissue distribution, this advanced technique is tailored for patients who require comprehensive tissue tightening that extends beyond the front of the abdomen around to the flanks and upper hips. By lengthening the low horizontal incision past the pelvic bones, Dr. Ehanire can address stubborn tissue rolls along the lower back and waistline in a single procedure. This technique repairs midline muscle separation while simultaneously sculpting a narrow, continuous, and fluid silhouette through the waist. The extended incision remains strategically positioned low on the body so it stays discreetly concealed within standard lower garments.
A transformative 360-degree surgical reconstruction designed for patients seeking total lower torso rejuvenation after substantial weight loss. This procedure combines an extended tummy tuck across the front with an elevation of the outer thighs, buttocks, and lower back through a continuous belt-like incision around the waist. Dr. Ehanire meticulously removes a full ring of redundant skin and lifts drooping lower-body tissue to restore natural structural proportions and core alignment. The result is a dramatically firm, lifted lower body contour that restores physical comfort and freedom of movement. In select cases, a mini tummy tuck or an umbilical float tummy tuck may be considered when correction is limited and preserving the navel's position is appropriate.
Abdominoplasty corrects a wide range of functional and aesthetic concerns in the abdominal area:
Connects separated rectus abdominis muscles along the midline to restore structural stability and improve posture.
Removes stretched, inelastic skin folds resulting from pregnancy, age, or significant weight loss; good candidates often have loose skin or sagging skin because the skin has lost elasticity.
Reshapes the abdominal contour by removing excess fat and skin to improve contour, not to lose weight.
Eliminates lower abdominal stretch marks and poor scars from previous Cesarean sections.
Re-establishes a contoured waistline by drawing abdominal wall tissue inward and improving overall body shape.
With a tummy tuck Austin patients can directly target the entire central and lower abdominal wall, the rectus abdominis muscles, the navel complex, and surrounding flank and waistline contours.
A tummy tuck provides transformative physical, functional, and personal benefits by repairing structural damage and removing physical obstacles to comfort.
Repairing separated rectus muscles recreates a firm internal corset, helping to alleviate chronic lower back pain, improve posture, and provide essential core support during daily exercise.
Excising stretched skin folds restores a flat, firm midsection, allowing clothing to fit comfortably without bunching or pinching.
Incisional lines are kept low on the pelvic rim. Supported by Dr. Ehanire's evidence-based scar protocols, incisions are actively managed before and after surgery to heal thin, flat, and discreetly across all skin complexions.
Ideal candidates for a tummy tuck in Austin are healthy men and women seeking an elective cosmetic surgery procedure to restore core muscle strength and remove excess abdominal skin that does not respond to exercise.
Good Candidates Include:
Who May Not Be an Ideal Candidate:
Recovery from abdominoplasty requires dedicated rest while your underlying core muscle wall heals and skin tissue settles smoothly. Drawing from her dedicated research background in cellular wound recovery, Dr. Ehanire guides you step by step through tailored post-op scar care routines to soften incisions, relieve wound tension, and minimize scar formation across all skin tones.
The structural results of a tummy tuck become visible as acute swelling resolves over the first few weeks, with final contour refinement taking shape over 3 to 6 months. Your abdomen feels noticeably firmer, your core feels supported, and clothing sits comfortably along your waist.
Because separated muscles are surgically re-approximated and redundant skin is permanently excised, the structural benefits of abdominoplasty are long-lasting. By maintaining a stable weight and active lifestyle, your restored abdominal foundation will remain strong, graceful, and aligned for decades to come. Weight gain after surgery can stretch the repair and affect your long-term contour.
A tummy tuck is a deep structural repair requiring advanced reconstructive knowledge and anatomical respect. At Align Plastic Surgery, Dr. Tosan Ehanire approaches abdominoplasty with elite surgical rigor and a refined artistic eye. Grounded in her ancestral heritage as part of the historic Igun Eronmwon bronze-casting guild of Benin, Nigeria, and refined through rigorous medical training at Duke, Johns Hopkins, and the University of Florida, Dr. Ehanire respects the beauty of the human form. She will listen attentively to your desires and work with you and your body to develop a tummy tuck plan that optimizes your results over time.
Yes, any stretch marks located on the lower abdominal skin that is excised during surgery will be permanently removed. Stretch marks located above the navel will be repositioned lower on the abdomen, making them far less noticeable.
Most patients wear a supportive compression garment or binder continuously for 4 to 6 weeks following surgery. This helps reduce fluid swelling, supports internal muscle repair, and helps skin adapt smoothly to your new contour.
Discomfort is moderate for the first few days due to abdominal muscle wall repair. Dr. Ehanire utilizes long-acting local nerve blocks during surgery and provides a comprehensive pain management plan to keep you comfortable throughout recovery.
Yes, a tummy tuck requires a low horizontal incision across the lower abdomen. Dr. Ehanire places this incision low on the pelvic rim where it is hidden by swimwear, and utilizes evidence-based scar care protocols to help incisions heal as thin, flat, and discreetly as possible.
Liposuction removes excess fat deposits but cannot tighten loose, stretched skin or repair separated abdominal muscles. A tummy tuck addresses both skin laxity and underlying muscle separation, often utilizing targeted liposuction as an adjunct to refine waistline contours.
Subsequent pregnancies will re-stretch repaired abdominal muscles and skin, which is why it is recommended to complete childbearing before undergoing abdominoplasty. For patients also asking about tummy tuck cost, pricing varies based on procedure type and procedural difficulty, with a standard tummy tuck often ranging from $6,000 to $12,000, while mini tummy tuck or more extensive options may differ from that range.
