Just about everyone wants a flat abdomen. That’s the reason why so many exercise programs are aimed at building abs and burning stubborn belly fat. Unfortunately, in many cases—such as after pregnancy or significant weight loss—the only predictable way to achieve a firm and toned abdomen is through a tummy tuck. The Milwaukee area’s Dr. Maida Parkins provides this plastic surgery option—technically known as abdominoplasty—to help patients achieve the lean look they’ve always wanted, but have been unable to achieve with exercise alone.
Exercise and diet are problematic tummy-flattening strategies for two reasons: First, weight reduction, while good for health, is not good for targeting specific trouble spots where pockets of fat cause stubborn bulges. Second, even in cases where weight loss is successful, the skin in the area can be stretched out and baggy, hanging loose on the abdomen instead of sitting flat. This can create a look of flabbiness that won’t go away no matter how much exercise you do. Furthermore, long-term excess fat or a developing baby can cause the abdominal wall to weaken and separate, revealing a bulge no amount of sit-ups can fix. A tummy tuck is often the only way for patients who want specific aesthetic results to achieve their goals.
Exercise and diet are problematic tummy-flattening strategies for two reasons: First, weight reduction, while good for health, is not good for targeting specific trouble spots where pockets of fat cause stubborn bulges. Second, even in cases where weight loss is successful, the skin in the area can be stretched out and baggy, hanging loose on the abdomen instead of sitting flat. This can create a look of flabbiness that won’t go away no matter how much exercise you do. Furthermore, long-term excess fat or a developing baby can cause the abdominal wall to weaken and separate, revealing a bulge no amount of sit-ups can fix. A tummy tuck is often the only way for patients who want specific aesthetic results to achieve their goals.
Many patients find the appearance of their midsection to be bothersome and frustrating, but a tummy tuck provides a significant boost for their well-being and helps them feel like they have a new lease on life. Anyone who wants to confidently wear bikinis and form-fitting dresses without worrying about a bulging midsection may be a good candidate for this procedure. A tummy tuck is also ideal for women and men whose loose skin makes everyday movement and exercise uncomfortable. Understanding your BMI before your consultation will help determine your eligibility for surgery. We can also discuss whether a plus-size tummy tuck or belly apron surgery could be successful.
For more information about tummy tuck for Milwaukee or Madison area women, contact Parkins Plastic Surgery's friendly staff at (262) 269-1050 today, or send a message online!
Each treatment plan begins with a one-on-one consultation so Dr. Parkins can physically examine your belly area and determine exactly what conditions are causing a lack of tone. Whether it’s extra skin, pockets of fat, a separated abdominal wall, or a combination of all three, she can tailor a tummy tuck procedure to address the problem and provide beautiful and natural-looking results.
If the only concerns are loose skin and a small amount of fat, the tummy tuck procedure will not take as long or be as involved as one that involves removing more significant amounts of volume and repairing the abdominal wall.
Be aware that while a tummy tuck removes loose skin and some fat, some patients may need an additional fat removal treatment to create a lean stomach. Liposuction works well to get rid of stubborn fat cells. It’s important to note, however, that a tummy tuck is not intended to be a weight loss procedure.
Dr. Parkins takes an educational and caring approach to every treatment, which tends to turn patients into friends by the end of their tummy tuck experience. Expect a thorough explanation of what to expect before and after your tummy tuck, as well as answers to your questions about the procedure, abdominoplasty costs, and more. Don’t rely on the results of a search for “best tummy tuck near me!” Take the time to get to know your options and find a plastic surgeon you connect with.
On the day of your procedure, Dr. Maida Parkins will take the following steps to complete your tummy tuck:
Our board-certified anesthesiologist will administer anesthesia to ensure you are comfortable during your tummy tuck procedure. The anesthesiologist will also perform a TAP block once you are asleep. A TAP block involves injecting numbing medication along the line of the muscle repair, which significantly reduces pain during and after the procedure. This allows our patients to take much less prescription pain medicine in the days following surgery—and some don’t take any at all!
Dr. Parkins will place an incision low across the abdomen, usually spanning from hip to hip, to allow access to the area. This is necessary to achieve the desired results and is easily concealed by underwear and bikini bottoms. Many tummy tuck patients find that this incision does not diminish their satisfaction of their results. The length of the incision depends on the scope of the procedure, from a “mini” tuck to “fleur-de-lis” belly tuck or stomach tuck.
Dr. Parkins carefully removes the loosened skin from the midsection, as well as some fat deposits as necessary. After removing the lax skin and re-draping the remaining skin, she will carefully craft the new shape of your belly button during the tummy tuck surgery to ensure natural-looking results.
Abdominal muscles that have separated due to pregnancy or significant weight gain are pulled back together and stitched in place as necessary. This diastasis recti surgery creates a firm, supportive abdominal wall again, better able to hold back the contents of the rest of the abdomen.
Every tummy tuck at Parkins Plastic Surgery begins with a private consultation, where Dr. Maida Parkins can see the belly area firsthand and plan the procedure steps that will best deliver the desired contours. The surgery itself involves general anesthesia to keep the patient comfortable, followed by carefully placed incisions that allows Dr. Parkins to remove fat, excise skin, tighten the abdominal wall as necessary, and suture everything in place for a natural-looking result.
Adding anterior flank liposuction to your tummy tuck surgery can offer a variety of benefits for your cosmetic journey. Combining flank liposuction with your tummy tuck will create a slimmer, hourglass shape to your torso.
The flanks are the areas on the sides of the body from the upper abdomen to the back. The anterior flanks are the front portion of that area. The liposuction process for these areas is the same as liposuction on any other portion of the body. First, Dr. Parkins adds a tumescent solution (mixture of lidocaine and epinephrine) to the area to help prolong anesthesia and reduce bleeding. Once an adequate amount of tumescent solution has been provided, Dr. Parkins uses a cannula to break up and remove the excess fat.
An extended tummy tuck is similar to a standard tummy tuck. The main difference is the length of the incision along the bikini line. With a standard tummy tuck, the incision goes from the front of one hip to the front of the other. An extended tummy tuck incision starts farther back and wraps around the hip. An extended tummy tuck is preferred for individuals who have sagging skin that extends laterally past the hip bones.
A fleur-de-lis tummy tuck consists of an incision across the bikini line as well as a vertical incision up the abdomen. This type of tummy tuck is designed to remove excess skin across the entire abdomen compared to just the lower portion. This procedure is great for patients who have lost a large amount of weight and have excess skin as a result.
Dr. Parkins offers a female perspective on tummy tuck surgery and provides compassionate care to put patients at ease and ensure their desires are fully expressed and understood. She draws on her education and experience to choose the ideal techniques for each patient, since no two abdomens are alike.
Dr. Parkins works to ensure that her philosophy of personalized care and a commitment to quality extend through every member of our boutique practice. The overall feeling is one of comfort and familiarity, leading patients to feel safe in explaining their cosmetic goals and trusting themselves to Dr. Parkins for care.
Visit our before & after patient photo gallery, where stunning transformations come to life, showcasing the remarkable journey of physical change and personal growth.
If required, temporary drains are typically placed after surgery to help prevent fluid retention. Patients recover from their anesthesia in our comfortable, private, AAAASF-certified surgical suite. Tummy tucks are outpatient procedures, so they do not require an overnight stay at a hospital. Patients are released home with a loved one the same day—and will likely want to be sure that they have help around the house in the coming days, as they will be sore for some time.
The benefits of a tummy tuck can include increased feelings of confidence, the freedom to stop wearing constricting body-shaping garments, removal of bothersome and hanging excess skin, an improved silhouette, and more confidence when it comes to wearing form-fitting clothing.
After your procedure, you can also enjoy the benefits of tummy toning exercises that did not previously create the results you wanted. Since a tummy tuck moves the vertical stomach muscles back into alignment, your core is supported and can be defined through your exercise regimen.
Women who have lost significant weight or gone through the rigors of childbirth and nursing often find that a flabby belly is just one feature to be addressed. Sagging breasts that have changed size may call for a breast lift, breast augmentation, or both. In some cases, women may opt for a breast reduction.
A thigh and lower body lift is ideal for lax skin below the belly, and can be part of a comprehensive post weight-loss surgery plan.
Any of these procedures—tummy tuck, augmentations, lifts, and more—can be included in what is known as a Mommy Makeover, custom-designed for each patient who wants to reclaim contours more consistent with a pre-baby body. Patients can also ask us about non-surgical tummy tuck alternatives.
Get started today with a tummy tuck in the Milwaukee area with help from Parkins Plastic Surgery's. Call our beautiful Lake Country office in Oconomowoc, WI, at (262) 269-1050. You can also send a message online.
At Parkins Plastic Surgery we believe in customized, personal care. Which is why great thought and attention went into designing our AAAASF Certified Surgical facility, set on the shores of Silver Lake. The serenity and confidentiality of our office location allows our patients to receive the highest quality of care so that they can feel refreshed and confident after their procedure.
Parkins Plastic Surgery provides a range of procedures for the breast (breast augmentation, breast lift, breast revision, and breast reduction for women, as well as men dealing with gynecomastia), body (tummy tuck, liposuction, arm and thigh lifts, and general post-weight loss surgery), and face (facelift, neck lift, otoplasty, and blepharoplasty). Patients who want nonsurgical treatments can enjoy the results of BOTOX®, dermal fillers for contour changes and lip augmentation, chemical peels, dermaplaning, laser skin resurfacing, microneedling, HydraFacial®, CoolSculpting®, Non-Surgical Hair Restoration, and more in Wisconsin, including Lake Country’s Oconomowoc, Waukesha, Brookfield, and the entire Milwaukee and Madison area.
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