Complete the Look
Enhancing a single aspect of your appearance can inspire you to address other areas you wish to improve. Ask Dr. Olson about combining your treatment for a more complete and stunning transformation.
Dr. Josh Olson: Advanced Plastic Surgery Institute
1482 East Williams Field Road b101
Gilbert, AZ 85295
Phone: (480) 466-7355
Monday-Thursday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Friday 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Tummy Tuck
If you have been pregnant or lost a lot of weight, your abdominal skin and muscles may have stretched and lost most of their elasticity. Many people find that diet and exercise aren’t enough to restore a flat, firm abdomen fully. Dr. Josh Olson of Advanced Plastic Surgery Institute can help you regain that slender midsection with abdominoplasty, often called a tummy tuck, at his office near Scottsdale in Gilbert, AZ. Women and men seeking abdominoplasty trust the safety, care, and skill of board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Olson and his staff for their procedures.
Allow Dr. Olson to make your goal of a trimmer abdomen a reality with a tummy tuck. People in Queen Creek, Chandler, and Phoenix, AZ, and other cities throughout the East Valley visit him for this and other plastic surgery procedures. Contact our Gilbert office at (480) 466-7355 or request a consultation online.
Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
Before & After Photos
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How Much Does a Tummy Tuck Cost in Scottsdale and Phoenix?
Tummy tuck surgery ranges from $13,000 to $17,000 in some cases. The actual price varies depending on the extent of the procedure. Dr. Olson combines liposuction with most tummy tucks, and the cost of the surgery increases when liposuction is needed for multiple areas. Dr. Olson’s consultation fee is $250, which will be applied to the surgical costs if the patient decides to have him perform the surgery.
Why Choose Dr. Olson as Your Tummy Tuck Specialist?
Patients searching for a plastic surgeon in Phoenix choose to travel to Gilbert for tummy tuck surgery because of Dr. Olson’s background, training, experience, and consistent results. You can read more about our surgical fees and your financing options on our Patient Resources page.
Reasons for a Tummy Tuck
Pregnancy is the most common reason women get a tummy tuck, but loose skin after weight loss is another big motivator for both women and men. When the abdominal muscles and skin become permanently stretched, surgical correction is typically the only solution. A tummy tuck can:
- Eliminate permanently stretched skin
- Draw in distended abdominal muscles
- Restore a flatter abdomen
- Enhance your overall body shape
- Improve your confidence
Your Tummy Tuck Choices
All tummy tucks remove excess skin, and some also repair stretched abdominal muscles, but there are variations in the procedure. With his training and knowledge, Dr. Olson will advise you on which option would work best for your concerns. Here are some of the different kinds of tummy tucks:
Full Tummy Tuck
Also called a traditional tummy tuck, this option is the most commonly performed tummy tuck. It addresses the entire abdomen from the sternum to the pubic area. The incision, which can be easily covered by underwear or a bathing suit, spans across the lower abdomen, roughly from hip to hip. A second incision encircles the bellybutton’s inside edge and is used to free it from the abdominal skin. If the underlining abdominal muscles were separated during pregnancy, the doctor will pull them back together and secure them in place with sutures to shape and flatten the abdomen. He then smoothes the abdominal skin down and removes the excess. The bellybutton is brought through the skin, reshaped (if necessary), and sutured in place.
Mini Tummy Tuck
This variation, which is appropriate for very few patients, treats only the lower abdomen below the bellybutton. It involves a smaller horizontal incision and no incision around the bellybutton. Scars are smaller and less recovery time is required.
Circumferential Abdominoplasty (Body Lift)
Some call this technique, which is common after massive weight loss, an extended abdominoplasty, belt lipectomy, or body lift. The extended tummy tuck continues the full tummy tuck incision around the entire midsection above the buttocks to the lower back. In addition to removing a band of skin all the way around the abdomen, this technique removes excess skin on the outer hips and buttocks. A second incision is placed around the inner bellybutton with this technique as well. Visit our Post-Weight Loss Surgery page to learn more.
Do I Need a Tummy Tuck or Liposuction?
While liposuction is frequently used to complement a tummy tuck, it can be performed on its own. Here’s how to know which procedure is right for you.
Tummy Tuck
A tummy tuck can:
- Address loose skin around the abdomen
- Remove stretch marks below the navel
- Correct diastasis recti (abdominal muscle separation)
- Reshape the opening around the bellybutton
Liposuction
Liposuction is highly versatile, offering the following benefits and limitations:
- Reduce targeted fat deposits
- Address excess fat in many areas of the body for all-over body contouring
- Cannot improve loose skin
- Unable to fix a protruding belly due to diastasis recti
Combination
Pairing a tummy tuck with liposuction yields excellent results, including:
- The removal of fat deposits and excess loose skin for a trimmer figure
- The repair of abdominal muscles for a smooth, sculpted midsection
Tummy Tuck Recovery
Patients usually go home on the day of surgery. You will need to have a trusted adult drive you home and assist you for the first few days. If you have young children, it’s important to have someone at home with you to care for them. Other considerations during recovery include:
- Surgical drains: After surgery, you will return home with 1 or more surgical drains that are inserted under the skin near the incision. These thin, plastic tubes are used to prevent the buildup of fluid during the early stages of healing. Drains are typically removed after 7 to 10 days during a post-op appointment. Occasionally, mini tummy tuck patients do not require surgical drains.
- Compression garment: You will need to wear an abdominal compression garment at all times for the first 2 weeks after surgery to minimize swelling and provide support as your muscles heal. If you have liposuction along with your tummy tuck, your compression garment will cover all treated areas.
- Walking: Although you won’t be able to stand up straight at first, you will need to stand and carefully walk around for short periods of time throughout the day. It’s important to begin walking within a day or 2 of surgery to help your body heal, limit constipation, and reduce the possibility of developing blood clots in the legs (deep vein thrombosis).
- Standing upright: During your surgery, excess abdominal skin is removed and your abdominal muscles may be repaired with internal sutures. As a result, you will likely find it difficult to stand completely upright for about the first week. Once the tight or pulling sensation fades, it is safe to stand up straight.
- Returning to work: After about 2 weeks, most patients are ready to return to non-strenuous work. If your job requires a lot of standing, you will need to wait about 3 to 4 weeks to return to work. If your job is strenuous, you will need to take about 6 weeks off.
- Resuming workouts: You will need to avoid strenuous activities and exercises for the first 3 to 6 weeks after surgery. Once you are cleared by Dr. Olson, you may resume low-impact activities such as working out on an elliptical machine or a stationary bike. Most patients are ready to do more demanding exercise such as running, high-impact aerobics, and light upper body workouts after about 4 to 6 weeks.
When Will I See My Final Results After Tummy Tuck Surgery?
The results of your tummy tuck should be noticeable immediately and continue to improve over the following year. If liposuction is performed, swelling may persist for 4 to 6 weeks in those areas. Dr. Olson’s tummy tuck patients are consistently happy to have firm, flat, more youthful-looking abdomens again. They often feel more comfortable and confident in an expanded choice of clothing options, including bikinis.
How Long Will My Tummy Tuck Results Last?
One of the most appealing things about tummy tuck surgery is that its results are likely to last as long as you want them to. In order to preserve their results, Dr. Olson advises his tummy tuck patients to avoid significant weight fluctuations after surgery, including additional pregnancies. By sticking to a healthy lifestyle and maintaining your weight, excess skin and fat won’t reappear, and your abdominal muscles will stay strong and toned. Although tummy tuck surgery doesn’t stop the aging process, it can significantly improve the condition of your abdomen when diet and exercise fall short.
Will I Have a Visible Scar After My Tummy Tuck?
Although all surgical procedures, including tummy tucks, leave scars, Dr. Olson will take care to place the incision as low as possible to make the scar easily concealed by most underwear and swimsuits. The extent of scarring depends on the technique used and how your body heals. Dr. Olson will discuss scar prevention and treatment with you. Patients usually feel that the scar is well worth the improvements they gain from this procedure.
Tummy Tuck FAQ
Why won’t diet and exercise improve the look of my abdomen?
Although a healthy diet and regular exercise routine can go a long way toward improving the look of your body, these healthy habits can’t always give you the firm, toned look you want — especially when excess skin is involved. For many people, pregnancy or a rapid, substantial weight loss (such as that which occurs after bariatric surgery) can leave behind a layer of sagging skin that’s impossible to reduce without surgery. During a tummy tuck, Dr. Olson removes this skin and often tightens loose or weakened abdominal muscles for a deep, balanced improvement.
Can tummy tuck surgery help me lose weight?
Tummy tuck surgery is not a weight loss procedure, and it’s not appropriate for people who are significantly overweight. For patients who are overweight, Dr. Olson typically recommends attempting diet and exercise adjustments before plastic surgery. However, the results of tummy tuck surgery can often help people keep their weights low by motivating them to maintain healthy lifestyles, a great ancillary benefit. If you’re unsure of your candidacy, Dr. Olson can help you determine whether the surgery is a good match for you during an in-person consultation.
Meet Dr. Josh Olson
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
As a board-certified plastic surgeon in Gilbert, AZ, Dr. Josh Olson uses his world-class cosmetic plastic surgery training to meet all the aesthetic needs of the women and men he serves. What can he do for you?
Meet Dr. Josh Olson
How do I know which type of tummy tuck is right for me?
Dr. Olson offers 3 distinct versions of tummy tuck surgery to meet the diverse needs of his patients. A full tummy tuck is the standard procedure that improves the look of the entire abdomen, from the sternum to the pubic area. It typically requires a horizontal incision that extends from hip to hip and an incision around the navel. Dr. Olson performs the mini tummy tuck in Gilbert, AZ, using a smaller incision. This version focuses on the area below the navel for a more targeted improvement. Finally, an extended tummy tuck, also known as a body lift, is a more invasive procedure that lifts and tones the entire midsection, including the back, buttocks, and thighs. During your consultation, Dr. Olson performs a thorough physical evaluation and makes a recommendation based on your specific concerns.
Can I combine a tummy tuck with another procedure?
Yes! In recent years, a combination operation called a mommy makeover has steadily increased in popularity. This procedure typically combines a tummy tuck, breast enhancement, and liposuction into a single surgery for a significant improvement of the areas most affected by pregnancy and childbirth. A mommy makeover is completely customizable and may also include facial procedures or another type of body contouring for personalized results. Dr. Olson has performed many mommy makeovers and is excited about the possibilities this procedure can offer his patients.
I have an abdominal tattoo. Will a tummy tuck ruin it?
Because tummy tuck surgery typically involves removing excess skin to create a tighter contour, it is possible that some tattoos can be altered or removed completely by the surgery. Similarly, tummy tuck surgery can also remove abdominal stretch marks and C-section scars. If you’d rather not alter the look of your tattoo, talk to Dr. Olson during your consultation. He may be able to adjust his surgical technique to suit your needs.
A Reputation Built on Results
I’m only 2 weeks post op for a breast lift and reduction (no implant) and labiaplasty. I am so happy...
Breast Lift without Implant and Labiaplasty
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Highly recommended - he did an incredible job
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