Tummy Tuck in Chicago

A tummy tuck is ideal for anyone with loose abdominal skin. However, the ideal candidate should be physically healthy and maintain a stable weight. If you’re still on a weight-loss journey or your weight tends to fluctuate, it’s better to wait until you reach your goal.

The ideal patient will also have realistic expectations and be ready to follow post-op guidelines. Non-smokers are preferred candidates because smoking impairs healing and increases risks during recovery. Moreover, if future pregnancies are in your plans, it’s best to hold off, too, as pregnancy can undo your results.

The recovery process varies from patient to patient. It’s also greatly influenced by the complexity of the procedure. In the first week, you will experience swelling and discomfort, but these symptoms will gradually subside. You can expect to take one to two weeks off from work or regular activities. After three to four weeks, you may resume light activities. Full recovery may take six weeks or more. You should avoid intense physical activity during this period to allow your body to heal properly.

Yes. A tummy tuck can help reduce stretch marks, especially in the lower abdomen. Excess skin is removed during surgery, and stretch marks are excised, leaving smoother skin. However, stretch marks outside the treatment area, such as those above the belly button, may not be removed. In this case, our surgeon will assess your situation and recommend alternative procedures for managing stretch marks.

Since a tummy tuck is a major abdominal procedure, downtime can be longer. While many patients see noticeable progress within three to four weeks, a full recovery takes six weeks or more.

Yes. A tummy tuck can provide permanent results if you maintain a healthy weight. While the procedure removes excess skin and tightens muscles, future weight fluctuations can reverse the outcome. For instance, if you gain a substantial amount of weight, your abdominal fat may increase, affecting your shape. Conversely, losing weight can cause your skin to become loose or sag again.

Yes. A tummy tuck can be combined with procedures, such as liposuction, to achieve a more sculpted body. By combining surgeries, you will address multiple areas of concern in one operation. This will help reduce the recovery time. However, not all patients are ideal candidates for multiple procedures at once. Our tummy tuck surgeon will assess your medical history and goals and advise you accordingly.

One of the aspects of the procedure that most interests patients is the position of the scar. Dr. Makhlouf asks patients about the type of undergarments they are interested in wearing after the surgery. This allows him to plan placement of the scar so that it is as hidden as possible.

Many published results show a scar far too high on the abdominal wall. In placing the scar high, not only does it restrict the clothing that can be worn, but the pubic hairline is pulled upward in an un-esthetic way. By placing the lower incision within the hairline and removing some of the hair bearing skin, should any tension be present during skin closure, and hairline elevation to occur, the upper part of the pubic hair will return it to its normal position and not any higher. The final scar will be hidden by the underwear or bathing suit.

At the end of the tummy tuck procedure, bandages are placed and are reinforced with an abdominal garment.

There are two drains and the patient records the output twice a day. These drains are frequently removed by the 4th to 6th post operative day. The patient can take a shower after the drains are removed painting the incisions with an iodine based antiseptic. When the skin tapes are removed, silicone strips are to be used to help in providing the best scar possible. The scars tend to be at their worse at six weeks after surgery and go on to flatten and soften up in the ensuing months. On occasion, as the hair grows through the scar a little irritation is experienced.

During the procedure, the muscle laxity is addressed and the abdominal wall tightened. Dr. Makhlouf uses special sutures that will repair the weakness of the supporting structure of the muscles (both in the horizontal and the vertical direction). Two layers of these independently placed sutures (30 or more) will ensure that even if cough or pull was to occur in the post-operative period, there are enough sutures supporting the repair to maintain the result achieved during surgery. A last layer of continuous suture ensures an even tension of the repair and covers the knots of the two previous rows of sutures. It is important to use suture technique that tightens the abdominal in both directions because when the stretching occurs it did so both in the vertical and horizontal direction.

Dr. Makhlouf recommends patients use some support for 6 weeks after surgery. Early on, the support keeps the skin against the abdominal wall muscles and helps in reattaching the skin to the muscles and minimizes seroma formation. Later on the patients become more mobile the role of the “binder” is supports the muscles and help with the swelling. I place a garment at the end of the surgical procedure. At two weeks, I recommend the patient use a girdle of their choice. The garment needs to be tight and secured from above and below so as not to roll. An ace wrap is not good, it will roll and create bands of tightness that may result in creases in the skin and deter from a good surgical result.

Patients are able to return to exercise and sexual activity three weeks after surgery. Exercises for the abdoment such as sit-ups and crunches are allowed at six weeks. Again, Dr. Makhlouf recommends patients use their compression garments.

After the incision is made in the pubic area, the skin is separated from the muscles underneath. The dissection will proceed upward towards the chest, past the umbilicus all the way to the lower sternum.

After the muscle laxity is corrected, the skin that was separated from the muscles is pulled down and the excess removed. The lower skin incision is at the level of the pubic hairline, the upper incision is at the level of the umbilicus. Every effort is made to remove all the skin from just above the belly button down to the hairline.

As the upper skin flap is brought down to close the abdomen, the belly button is temporarily covered. Once skin tension is set, the location of the umbilicus on the skin flap is marked and the belly button (still attached on its stalk like a flower) is brought out to the surface.

Dr. Makhlouf sees patients frequently after surgery. At 3 to 5 days post op, one week, one month, 3 months, 6 months, and one year. One of the biggest concerns after abdominoplasty is clots in the legs and pulmonary emboli. You should be aware of the symptoms and be able to get medical care expeditiously. The chances of having one decreases as the post op days go by. This is why it is recommended that all patients stay within reach of our office for the first few days.