Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) in Calgary & Chestermere, AB

Pregnancy is the primary culprit behind the need for a tummy tuck. The localized weight gain of pregnancy is unique in that it stretches the skin and support muscles of the abdomen to such a degree they cannot return to their former level of tautness. You can equate it to a rubber band that has been stretched around a large object for a period of time. When you remove the rubber band it no longer shrinks down to its prior size, instead of remaining stretched. This is what happens with your abdominal skin and muscle.

Dr. Dawes makes the incision just above your pubic area, so it can be hidden beneath underwear or a bikini bottom. He also makes another incision around the navel to detach it from the underlying muscle. He then lifts the skin off of the abdominal muscles and he brings the separated muscles back to the center of the stomach and stitches them down into place. This immediately slims the waist and returns strength to your stomach muscles. He then uses liposuction to remove pockets of fat. Fat in this area is almost impossible to remove with diet or exercise; it is one of the human body’s fat storage areas. But this procedure can remove it. Finally, he trims away the excess stretched, sagging skin. The end result? A flat, firm abdomen and a narrower waistline.

Abdominoplasty is major surgery, and the procedure involves the same risks as with most any surgery: reaction to anesthesia, poor healing, continued bleeding, and danger of infection. The procedure with Dr. Dawes involves very low rates of complication or risk. However, it’s important to remember there will be a major scar involved. Over time, the scar will fade. There can also be some changes in skin sensation affecting the sensory nerves in the abdominal area. This usually resolves in the months after your procedure.

There aren’t any other options for tightening contours of your abdomen to the degree achieved with abdominoplasty. While treatments such as CoolSculpting or liposuction can remove fat, they cannot re-position separated stomach muscles and they cannot trim away excess loose skin. In fact, if you remove more fat under your loose, sagging skin you will simply have more hanging skin.

These procedures create a lengthy incision scar that stretches from hipbone to hipbone. Dr. Dawes makes the incision descend down toward the pubic area so it can be effectively hidden but you will have a scar. This fades over time, particularly if you’re very attentive to not stressing your incision during your recovery. The second incision around the navel is usually not visible.
There are a couple of things you can do for the actual incision scars. Once the incision has fully closed and is no longer covered with any scabs, you can apply topical treatments. The best options include silicone. Silicone can help the skin in the area hydrate normally, and it can help to preclude the body from sending excess collagen to the scars.
Keep your skin well moisturized, but only after your incisions have fully closed. Doing so early can prevent incisions from closing properly and increase your risk of infection.
Keep the sun off your scars. UV exposure makes scars darker and thicker. It’s best to cover them with clothing to really protect them.

Because of the large incision involved with a tummy tuck, patients need to be patient with their recovery. It’s important not to strain the incision by applying pressure to the abdomen. You’ll be able to walk after your surgery (it’s important to get the healing process started), but this is only for short lengths and you’ll be bent over a bit. In a couple of weeks, you’ll be able to get back to work if you have a desk job, and you’ll be able to walk normally by then. Most patients can return to driving in two weeks or so. Dr. Dawes will discuss your individual goals for returning to normal activities and exercise. Don’t expect to return to strenuous exercise or any lifting for at least six weeks, however.

This is not a weight-loss procedure. In fact, Dr. Dawes requires his patients to usually be within 10 percent of their ideal body weight before considering a tummy tuck. This is not to be confused with weight-loss procedures such as gastro bypass surgery.

Why is it important to be at a stable, healthy weight? If you still need to lose additional weight, you will simply create more sagging skin that would have been removed by this surgery. That’s why you need to be at a healthy weight, and you should also resolve to stay there to maintain your results for the long term.

The results are considered long-lasting, particularly when you maintain your weight and adhere to a healthy lifestyle. The skin and fat that are removed will not return. However, significant weight fluctuations or pregnancy after the procedure can affect the results, causing the skin to stretch again.

Yes, it is generally safe to get pregnant after a tummy tuck. However, pregnancy can stretch the abdominal muscles and skin, potentially reversing the results. If you're planning on becoming pregnant in the near future, it's often recommended to wait until after having children before undergoing a tummy tuck.

Yes, a tummy tuck can correct diastasis recti, which is when the abdominal muscles separate due to pregnancy or weight gain. Dr. Dawes can reconnect the muscles and tighten them, creating a flatter, firmer abdomen.

The length of a tummy tuck procedure typically ranges from twoto four hours, depending on the difficulty of the surgery and whether it's a full or mini tummy tuck. Additional procedures, such as liposuction, may increase the time.

A tummy tuck can eliminate the appearance of stretch marks, especially those on the lower abdomen below the belly button. Since the excess skin in this area is removed, the stretch marks in that section are also removed. However, stretch marks outside the treated area may not be affected.