Quick Links
Quick Links
A tummy tuck is an ideal option for women and men who want a flatter, tighter, and more toned stomach. Issues like loose excess skin and stretched-out abdominal muscles can make it impossible to improve the appearance of your midsection. A tummy tuck addresses all of these issues so that your results are natural-looking and long-lasting. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Matthew Plant can provide you with amazing results from your tummy tuck in Toronto.
What is a tummy tuck?
Abdominoplasty, more commonly referred to as tummy tuck, is a cosmetic surgery in which Dr. Plant removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen and tightens the abdominal muscles to give a firm, smooth abdomen and a narrow, defined waist. “Belly fat” is one of the hardest areas to address with diet and exercise, and in many cases is associated with excess skin as well.
While diet and exercise can help get rid of excess fat, extra skin can’t be exercised away. Tummy tuck surgery removes the excess skin to give the abdomen a contour that suits your body, allowing you to feel more confident, both in and out of clothing.
A tummy tuck is one of Toronto’s most popular procedures in addition to being one of the most common cosmetic procedures performed around the world. Dr. Plant is well known for his short-scar, drainless tummy tuck and patients come from all around Canada for him to perform this procedure for them.
What are my tummy tuck options?
Depending on how much excess skin and fat you have there are several options for abdominoplasty in Toronto. Dr. Mathew Plant is one of the few plastic surgeons in Toronto that offers all options for tummy tuck surgery, including his signature short-scar, no-drain tummy tuck. The most common types of tummy tucks are:
Standard (old school) abdominoplasty:
This is the abdominoplasty procedure as it has been done for decades and the way most surgeons perform it still. It involves an incision from approximately hip to hip and around the belly button. Most surgeons tend to put the incision within the skin fold which leaves it somewhat high on the abdomen and potentially visible in certain clothing. It also requires surgical drains, which usually stay in place for one to two weeks to collect the fluid that the body tries to accumulate in the space where the skin and fat layer has been separated from the muscle layer below.
Drainless abdominoplasty:
This is a newer technique where special barbed sutures are used to quilt the skin and fat down to the muscles below, eliminating the space where fluid attempts to collect. This procedure also involves a scar from hip to hip and around the belly button, typically located directly where the skin folds over.
Short-scar, no-drain abdominoplasty:
This is Dr. Plant’s modification of the drainless tummy tuck. The scar is located several centimeters lower than the average so that it sits low and is covered by most clothing. It is also typically five to 10 cm shorter than the average scar, which helps keep it short enough to hide within a bikini bottom.
Extended abdominoplasty:
This is typically for patients who have lost a lot of weight or have given birth to twins and have a lot of excess skin. In these patients, it is necessary to extend the scar beyond the hip bones in order to give the best possible contour.
Kind and Professional Doctor Who Delivers Great Results
“Dr. Plant is very kind, professional and knowledgeable. He gave me a good feeling from the first consultation. He made me feel comfortable and confident in his work. I am so happy I trusted him! He performed a tummy tuck with additional lipo and the results are amazing! My stomach is very flat and I have an amazing waist and a small, cute bellybutton. I would recommend him to anyone!” Read More ReviewsFleur-de-lis abdominoplasty:
This is reserved for the most extreme weight loss cases, typically where patients have lost more than 100 lbs. These patients will not get an ideal result from simply ‘pulling down’ so an FDL tummy tuck uses the extended tummy tuck incision but adds a vertical one as well, allowing Dr. Plant to remove all of the excess skin in the vertical and horizontal directions. This allows for both skin removal and significant waistline contouring.
Mini tummy tuck:
This procedure is for patients who have only a little bit of loose skin at the bottom of their abdomen and who don’t need their muscles tightened. The scar for this procedure sits very low and is very short, just slightly longer than a caesarian section scar. There is no scar around the belly button for this procedure.
Floating abdominoplasty:
This procedure is for patients who would be candidates for a mini tummy tuck, but who also need their muscles tightened. In this case, the belly button is “floated” off the muscles below to allow for the tightening procedure, then sutured back down. The scar from this procedure is very similar to the scar from the mini tummy tuck.
Recovering from a tummy tuck
The length of your recovery following your tummy tuck in Toronto will depend on the type of tummy tuck procedure performed and other factors. You should plan to take some time off of work to allow your body to recover. issues like swelling, bruising, and discomfort are to be expected. Dr. Plant will provide you with a list of instructions for your recovery, as well as prescriptions for pain medications.
A compression garment is recommended to help reduce swelling and support the healing tissues. You must wear the garment as directed. Additionally, you will need to keep incision sites clean and avoid exposing them to direct sunlight.
You will need to avoid strenuous exercises and heavy lifting for at least six weeks after tummy tuck surgery. Postpone these until you are told it is safe to resume physical activity.
How big is the scar from tummy tuck surgery and where will it be?
Dr. Plant will speak to you at your consultation about which version of the tummy tuck will get you the best results, and the scar will depend on that to a certain extent. In general, Dr. Plant’s tummy tuck patients can expect a scar that goes from nearly hip to hip (but sits low so it is hidden by most bikini bottoms). In most cases, there will also be a scar around the belly button, but Dr. Plant designs the procedure in a way that hides the scar within the belly button. It is barely visible there, rather than around the outside of the belly button, as is commonly seen elsewhere.
Am I the right candidate for a tummy tuck?
If you are a healthy patient who is unhappy with the size and/or tone of your abdomen, then a tummy tuck may be a great procedure for you. A tummy tuck is commonly performed on both men and women because a well-toned and flat abdomen is one of the most common goals people set when trying to get into better shape, regardless of gender. It is also one of the most difficult areas to improve with diet and exercise.
Patients who are interested in abdominoplasty should be close to their ideal weight prior to the procedure. It is also important that you maintain a healthy and active lifestyle following your tummy tuck in order to maintain your results. Women who are interested in abdominoplasty should plan on no longer becoming pregnant as pregnancy may affect the results of your tummy tuck.
If you are someone who still has a protruding abdomen or loose skin that just won’t improve no matter how much you diet and exercise, then you may be the right candidate for a tummy tuck in Toronto. If you are tired of having to fit your “pooch” into your pants, if you are sick of wearing Spanx, or if you are done with having to wear a one-piece bathing suit to hide your stretch marks, then this may be the ideal procedure for you!
Your consultation
Your consultation involves a physical examination of your abdomen to assess the extent of the excess skin and fat and the strength of the underlying muscles. Photographs may be taken for before-and-after comparison and to help create your surgical plan.
Dr. Plant will review your medical history, including pre-existing medical conditions, allergies, and medications you are currently taking. You will also discuss your desired outcome and expectations for the procedure.
Dr. Plant will explain the procedure, from pre-operative directions all the way through post-operative care. You are encouraged to ask any questions you may have.
The cost of a tummy tuck
The cost of your tummy tuck in Toronto can be discussed when you come in for your consultation. Price will be based on the type of tummy tuck performed and several other factors that our team can go over in detail. There are several factors to consider when it comes to the total price, including the complexity of the surgery and any additional procedures performed during the surgical session.
Scheduling a tummy tuck consultation
If you are considering tummy tuck surgery in Toronto, you should book a consultation with Dr. Plant so he can personally go over the different options available to get the results you desire. He will also answer any questions you may have about your tummy tuck surgery. His office is conveniently located in central Toronto near both the 401 and the Don Valley Parkway, which has allowed him to serve abdominoplasty patients from the entire greater Toronto area, including Scarborough, Mississauga, Vaughan, and Markham. He also sees patients from all over Canada who travel to Toronto specifically for his expertise and natural results.
Call
Contact
Gallery
