Plastic Surgery Institute & Spa

Aesthetic Fellowship Trained, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck

Conveniently located to serve Panama City, FL, Destin, FL, Lynn Haven, FL, Tallahassee, FL & Dothan, AL

One of the most satisfying procedures in plastic surgery is abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck. Weight gain/loss, pregnancy, and age-related skin laxity are the main reasons why a woman may lose her toned tummy. Plastic Surgery Institute & Spa in Panama City offers abdominoplasty for patients in need of a way to properly address their sagging abdominal area.

Your Tummy Tuck will be performed by Dr. Pfeifer, Dr. Adil Ceydeli, or Dr. Tong Duong at their office in Lynn Haven, FL just outside of Panama City, on the beautiful Emerald Coast.

Tummy Tuck Before & After Photos

Tummy Tuck Before & After by Panama City plastic surgeon Dr. Ceydeli
Before
Tummy Tuck Before & After by Panama City plastic surgeon Dr. Ceydeli
After

View Tummy Tuck Gallery

The Structure of the Abdomen

There are three main anatomical components of the abdomen that contribute to deformity, i.e., the skin, the fat, and the abdominal wall muscles/fascia. All three of the components are almost always somehow involved and need to be addressed during a tummy tuck, especially if the etiology is pregnancy and/or weight gain/loss.

How Pregnancy Changes the Abdomen

The abdominal wall muscles/fascia always stretch with pregnancy, and rarely tone back to their pre-pregnancy level. The individual abdominal muscles (running up and down on either side) may remain strong; however, they commonly separate at the midline during pregnancy, and the fascia between these muscles become thin and do not withstand intraabdominal pressure as much as when the muscles were close together at the midline. The end result is loose tone and abdominal bulge, especially around the belly button and lower abdomen.

 


“I wish I could give Dr Ceydeli more than 5 stars. He is the kindest, most caring doctor you will find anywhere. I have always said he should be in Hollywood with his talent. I had a tummy tuck and breast reduction done by him. If you are thinking about having a procedure, do yourself a favor and use him. His office staff is also amazing and very willing to answer any questions or concerns you have before and after your procedure. Truly an amazing place.”

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Are You Suffering from Diastasis Recti?

The commonly heard complaint is “no matter how hard I work out, and no matter how many sit-ups I do, I can’t get rid of this bulge.” Working out can make these muscles individually strong and toned, but unfortunately, no amount of exercise brings these muscles close together again at the midline.

This is essentially a situation very similar to having a hernia and is called diastasis recti (separation of abdominal muscles), and the only treatment is to tighten the fascia by performing an abdominoplasty. Bringing these muscles back together at the midline with tightening of the fascia helps tone the abdomen, makes a sexy groove above the belly button (champagne groove), creates an aesthetically pleasing “innie” belly button, and redefines the waistline.

Causes of Loose Abdominal Skin

Excess loose skin is another ever-present problem of a deformed tummy, again mainly caused by stretching due to pregnancy and weight gain/loss. Aging makes matters worse due to further loss of skin elasticity, and skin does not snap back as it does in youth.

The only way to get rid of excess, loose skin, anywhere on the body, is to remove it. If it didn’t regain tone after pregnancy, then the chances of skin tightening by itself without help is close to zero… anywhere on the body. If there is too much loose, relaxed skin on the face, the problem will not resolve, regardless of how many fillers or fancy lasers are used, unless the skin is tightened by a good facelift. If the skin of the breasts is loose and the breasts are droopy, they will not be toned and lifted by implants; the only way to fix this is skin tightening by a breast lift. The same applies to the abdomen.

Is Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) Right for Me?

Excess loose skin has to be removed by a tummy tuck, and no other method – no laser, fat freezing, or even liposuction – can fix that problem. Women often have numerous stretch marks, especially on the lower abdomen, along with loose skin. Most if not all of these stretch marks are removed with a strategically placed incision. So instead of numerous stretch marks extending up and down, which look like wide, discolored scars, the result is a well-hidden scar below the bikini line, which no one can ever see unless you are in the buff. Placing the incision low enough will also tighten the mons pubis area, producing a youthful, tight genital region.

The third component of abdominal deformity is excess fat. This is probably the only problem that can be improved by diet and exercise. Unfortunately, there is almost never excess fat without one or two of the other components (loose abdominal wall and excess skin).

Who are the Best Candidates for a Tummy tuck?

Our Panama City tummy tuck is one of our most gratifying procedures. The surgery can be life-changing for many men and women who want to eliminate imperfections or bulges in the abdomen section. The surgery is highly personal and extensive. Below, we’ve outlined the best candidates for abdominoplasty:

  • Candidates should be in good health.
  • Patients should be near their ideal weight.
  • It’s very important for patients to remain committed to exercise and a healthy, nutritious diet post-surgery.

How Abdominoplasty is Performed

During a tummy tuck, the fatty tissue below the belly button (aka the blub) is removed. Liposuction is used to further remove excess fat on the flanks (love handles). Again, if you have isolated excess abdominal fat, especially around the love handles, and you have toned abdominal muscles with little or no excess skin, then diet/exercise will be the solution. Then, if that doesn’t work, the most you would need is isolated liposuction. However, this is true only if loose skin and stretched muscles don’t accompany the excess fat.

Abdominoplasty is an outpatient procedure. You go home the same day since the most important thing after surgery is to be active and walk to prevent blood clots.

Recovering from Abdominoplasty

The first night is usually the worst but improves every day. Within a week, you can return to work, but only if heavy lifting is not required. It is important to wear a Spanx-type tight garment along with an abdominal binder for a few weeks to give extra support and comfort during the healing period.

Even though most people think of a tummy tuck as a major and very painful procedure, it really is not, especially after the first few days have passed. None of our patients have reported regretting the surgery. All of our patients love their toned tummy, and their happiness reflects on their faces. Self-esteem for our tummy tuck patients improves significantly, and they all say they would do it again in a heartbeat.

How Much Does a Tummy Tuck Cost in Panama City?

The cost of a Panama City tummy tuck can vary based on the work and techniques required to provide the patient with their ideal results. Our surgeons will address any questions you may have regarding cost during the consultation. There are also financing options available that the doctor will be able to go over with you.

Schedule Your Consultation

Dr. Ceydeli is a board-certified plastic surgeon that has received reverence from his peers and patients around the world. He is considered by his patients to offer the best tummy tuck Panama City residents can look forward to. If you’re interested in scheduling a consultation with him, contact us today!

Tummy Tuck FAQs

Your tummy tuck questions answered

Can I combine tummy tuck surgery with breast augmentation or breast lift?

Yes, it’s very popular for patients to combine their tummy tuck surgery with breast augmentation or breast lift. This is referred to as a mommy makeover and is one of our more popular procedures.

What can a tummy tuck not do?

While the surgery can restore confidence and be very aesthetically pleasing, the surgery alone will not prevent you from gaining weight in the future. It’s important to continue a healthy diet and lifestyle. The surgery is also meant for body contouring, not weight loss, so it’s vital to be close to your ideal body weight before surgery.

Should I get a tummy tuck before pregnancy?

While you can get a tummy tuck before pregnancy, if you are planning on getting pregnant, it might be smart to wait until after childbirth, as pregnancy can have an effect on the body.

How long does tummy tuck surgery take to perform?

Our expert Panama City plastic surgeons will be able to perform the surgery in approximately two hours.

 
  • Our Office Location

    Panama City, Florida