A tummy tuck procedure in Seattle requires anywhere from two to five hours. Before the procedure, your surgeon will strategically mark the incision site so it remains in a less noticeable location. In the most common version of abdominoplasty, a football-shaped area of skin between the navel and the pubic area is removed, the belly button is left in its natural location, the skin of the upper abdomen is pulled down and sewn to the lower skin edge, and the umbilicus is brought out. A mini tummy tuck generally improves only the lower abdomen, though variations such as umbilical float enable full muscle repair into the upper abdomen.
Our surgeon carefully considers where the scar will be and what it will look like. Ideally, the scar will be located low so that it can be covered under bikini bottoms or underwear, and it’s created as short as possible without compromising the degree of tightening that can be achieved.
For more than two decades, Dr. Baxter has been utilizing the Progressive Tension Suture (PTS) technique, which contributes to the overall outcome of a tummy tuck procedure. He first created the PTS method to get the scar as low as possible and create minimal tension on the wound, making for a finer, less noticeable scar. Most abdominoplasties are done by pulling the skin down and closing it with stitches, but this tension can pull the scar up or cause it to widen. With the PTS method, these stitches are placed into the undersurface of the undermined skin so that the skin can be pulled farther with virtually no tension on the edges of the suture. Dr. Baxter was also among the first to use a long-acting numbing agent called Exparel, with a TAP block technique. He participated in a clinical study that showed that pain scores after tummy tuck were reduced by as much as 50%, dramatically improving recovery.
Once the procedure is complete, your incision will be dressed, a compression garment will be applied, and you’ll be sent to a comfortable room to emerge from anesthesia.
Liposuction Vs. Tummy Tuck
During your consultation, we will discuss your goals and ensure a tummy tuck procedure is the best option to achieve your ideal results. Along with abdominoplasty, liposuction is another popular and effective body contouring technique often used to create a tighter, flatter stomach. While both treatment options aim to sculpt the abdominal area, the main difference between the two procedures is that each is performed to target different concerns.
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