Ideal candidates for a tummy tuck have undergone significant weight loss or have been pregnant. If you’re bothered by loose, excess abdominal skin, lingering fatty deposits around the abdomen or separated abdominal muscles, you may be a good candidate for abdominoplasty. Women frequently pursue tummy tuck surgery after they have completed their families, while both men and women can be excellent candidates if they have lost any amount of weight that leaves them with baggy abdominal contours. Candidates should reach their goal weight prior to surgery, be in good physical and mental health and have realistic expectations about their results.

What's the difference between a full and a mini tummy tuck?

Either a full or mini tummy tuck can deliver beautiful results in the right candidate. At your consultation, Dr. Ditesheim can explain in detail the difference between the two tummy tuck types and evaluate your current skin laxity, abdominal contours and the state of your abdominal muscles to help determine which tummy tuck is right for you. A mini tummy tuck focuses on excess skin and fatty tissue below the belly button. While keeping the belly button intact, Dr. Ditesheim removes small amounts of fatty tissue through a small incision just above the pubic mound. He can also tone the lower abdominal muscles before pulling the skin over your new shape and trimming away any extra. A mini tummy tuck is best for patients with little to no excess skin or fatty tissue in the upper abdominal region and minimal abdominal separation. A full tummy tuck is a more comprehensive procedure that addresses skin and muscle laxity throughout the abdomen. Through a slightly longer incision, Dr. Ditesheim can remove excess tissue throughout the stomach and repair the upper and lower abdominals. He will then pull the stomach skin tight, excise any extra and reinsert the belly button in a natural position. A full tummy tuck is common for patients who have undergone dramatic weight loss, multiple pregnancies or have contouring concerns throughout their midsection.

When is liposuction used in conjunction with a tummy tuck?

While Dr. Ditesheim removes small amounts of fatty tissue during a tummy tuck, the procedure’s ability to reduce pockets of subcutaneous fat is limited. For patients with stubborn fatty deposits in and around the abdomen, Dr. Ditesheim can use AquaShape water-assisted liposuction to remove fat cells in problem areas. While not every patient will require liposuction to reach their goals, this combined technique can result in greater contouring possibilities than either procedure alone.

Are the results of a tummy tuck permanent?

A tummy tuck is intended to create long-lasting results. However, it’s important that patients understand that their bodies will continue to respond to lifestyle changes, diet, age, and hormones. Post-weight loss patients are encouraged to maintain a healthy lifestyle in order to keep their new contours. Additionally, women who plan on becoming pregnant in the future are often recommended to wait until they have completed their families before getting a tummy tuck. While abdominoplasty won’t affect a woman’s ability to carry a child to term, future pregnancies may reverse some of the contouring accomplished in a tummy tuck.

Will I have permanent scars?

As with any surgery, the scars from a tummy tuck are permanent. However, Dr. Ditesheim takes special care to place the incisions as discreetly as possible. The scar from a tummy tuck should fall below the bikini line so as to be well hidden. With proper care, many patients find that their scars fade dramatically within the first one to two years following surgery.

When can I see results?

You should notice a difference in your figure immediately after surgery, although your results will initially be obscured by any swelling or bruising you experience as you recover. By the middle of the second week, most patients can return to most of their daily activities, easing into more vigorous exercises over the next several weeks. You should have a good idea of your final results within 4 to 6 weeks after your tummy tuck.

Tummy Tuck in Charlotte, NC

Dr. Ditesheim is a board-certified tummy tuck plastic surgeon who uses advanced tummy tuck techniques + artistic vision to give you the flat tummy and curvy shape you always wanted. Through years of experience, Dr. Ditesheim is among the best tummy tuck plastic surgeons. Dr. Ditesheim's Ballantyne office is 22 minutes from Mint Hill and 8 minutes from Marvin.

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Before and After: Tummy Tuck Results

When it comes to finding the right Charlotte cosmetic surgeon for your tummy tuck, there’s no better place to start than before-and-after photos. The results seen in our tummy tuck gallery speak for themselves. Dr. Ditesheim combines an artistic understanding of the ideal form and expert surgical skill and execution to sculpt a personalized and beautiful result for everyone who wants an enhanced abdomen and curves in all the right places.

Specific things to look for in plastic surgeons’ tummy tuck photos are a slim torso, an hourglass shape, and hidden scars. This should reinforce your trust that the surgeon is experienced and is a good choice to achieve your best body contour. Every tummy tuck result should look pleasing to the eye without distracting scars or an unpleasant appearance.

Essential Tummy Tuck Information:

What is a Tummy Tuck?

A tummy tuck is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the lower abdomen. Men and women who have stomach weakness not attributable to intra-abdominal fat can have the abdominal muscle wall tightened for a firmer and slimmer appearance.

Is there a tummy tuck scar?

All tummy tucks will leave a permanent scar just above the pubic area. The scar can be easily hidden in swimwear and underwear and will fade over time. Full abdominoplasties will also have a scar around the belly button.

Can Liposuction and tummy tuck be done together?

Liposuction is very often used with abdominoplasty to further define shape, particularly of the waist, hips, flanks, back, and thighs.

Can Breast procedures be done at the same time as a Tummy tuck?

A breast procedure can be performed at the same time for many women. Often, combination procedures are performed after pregnancy in a procedure known as a mommy makeover.

How long is the Tummy tuck Recovery?

Recovery after a tummy tuck is usually two to three weeks to be 80% recovered and 12 to 24 months to be fully healed.

The cost for tummy tuck and liposuction varies

Range for Tummy Tucks: $8000-$15000
Liposuction cost starts at $4500
Please call us for a firm quote and financing options.

Tummy Tuck Candidates

Tummy tucks, like all surgical procedures, have risks, require recovery time, and leave scars. Those who are in good physical condition, follow a healthy lifestyle regarding diet and exercise, and do not smoke can be excellent candidates for a tummy tuck procedure at any age.

People who have medical problems such as higher weight, diabetes, high blood pressure, or autoimmune diseases may also be good candidates for a tummy tuck procedure if these medical issues are well controlled.

People who are obese, smoke, have multiple risk factors including heart or lung problems, poor mobility, history of blood clots, or who have unrealistic expectations for cosmetic surgery would be at high risk for a tummy tuck procedure and may not be eligible.

Choosing a Tummy Tuck

Your decision to have a tummy tuck or any other plastic surgery procedure is a deeply personal one. At your consultation, Dr. Ditesheim will discuss your motivations, evaluate your current situation, and help you understand all your options. In general, you may be a good candidate for a tummy tuck if:

You feel bothered by the size and appearance of your stomach.
You have lost weight, but now have hanging, excess skin on your abdomen.
You have tried to live a healthy lifestyle through a healthy diet and exercise and have achieved a stable weight.
You are in good health and finished having children.
You are a non-smoker or plan to quit smoking well in advance of the scheduled procedure.

Our on-site Surgical Suite

Your safety and well-being are of utmost importance to us. Our state-of-the-art surgical suite is certified with the highest level of accreditation by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities, Inc. (AAAASF). Your anesthesia is administered by a board-certified MD anesthesiologist, and our registered nurses are certified in advanced cardiac life support.

Meet Dr. Ditesheim

Tummy Tuck Plastic Surgeon

I believe that everyone deserves to feel beautiful in their own skin. As an experienced and board-certified plastic surgeon, my passion is to enable each patient to present the most confident and positive version of themself throughout their life. I have committed my practice to this passion – it is so much more than hoping a patient will be pleased.

Dr. Ditesheim’s approach to Tummy Tuck Surgery

The Tummy Tuck Consultation

It is Dr. Ditesheim’s passion and commitment to help each patient achieve their “best body.” Your tummy tuck consultation starts with understanding you: your frustrations, your weight, your problem areas. Do you have to camouflage “problem areas” of your body when getting dressed? Has your weight been up and down or fairly steady? If you’ve been pregnant in the past, did you show early, and were your babies very large? What would give you more confidence in your body? Asking these questions to understand each patient allows Dr. Ditesheim to create a personalized approach to tummy tuck in Charlotte, NC.

Understanding your Body:

Excess fat pockets over the lower tummy or back are the reason for poor waist definition, bra rolls, back fat, or muffin top complaints. Genetics strongly determines each person’s body frame: height, weight distribution, and pelvic shape. Skin and fatty tissue are layered over this frame to create curves and shape. While our bodies are programmed to store energy in the form of fat, excess fat or exaggerated body fat disproportion creates frustration, poor body image, and loss of confidence.

Your Tummy Tuck Treatment Plan

The best plastic surgery plan is the one that will give you greater confidence in your body and yourself. At Ditesheim Plastic Surgery, your abdominoplasty will be customized to take into account health risks, your allowable time for recovery, your budget, and your desired result. There may also be options and benefits for combining procedures or staging procedures. Rest assured that the specific plan Dr. Ditesheim will recommend for you will always prioritize safety.

Liposuction or a Tummy Tuck?

You can feel great about your body with a real improvement or a WOW result:

Liposuction can make a significant improvement in reducing your belly fat without the need for invasive surgery. It’s a highly versatile technique that can treat the stomach, waist, and/or thighs in one session. The result is immediate and you can drive yourself home and be back to work within a few days.

In contrast, choosing to reshape the body more completely by combining abdominoplasty and liposuction (Tummy tuck 360) will give you a dramatic result, but you should expect a longer recovery, 2-3 weeks out of work and a higher cost.

Before and After photos comparing a Liposuction procedure and a Tummy Tuck 360 (liposuction and tummy tuck). (Top): Liposuction, using Aquashape, water-jet liposuction, 42yr 5’5” 140lb restored a flat tummy. (Bottom): Tummy Tuck 360 using VASER Liposuction and High Definition Technique, 45yr 5’7” 149lb combines a tummy tuck with circumferential liposuction.

Liposuction

Liposuction removes fat from areas where there is excess or unwanted fat causing a bulge or roll. If the overlying skin has good elasticity, removing the fat can flatten the area permanently. This is most often helpful in the lower stomach, love handles, waist and hips, and thighs. Liposuction scars are very small and easily hidden, meaning you won’t have to worry about being able to conceal scars. Recovery for this body contouring procedure can be less than two weeks for small areas or 3-8 weeks for larger fat removal or when treating multiple areas. Liposuction can be performed awake or with general

Tummy Tuck

A tummy tuck is a surgical procedure that removes excess fat and skin and tightens the “inner girdle” to restore a flat tummy and improve the waistline. The length of the incision varies by the type of procedure being performed. It is placed in the pubic area and can be a short (mini-tummy tuck) or a longer incision that extends to the edges of the lower pelvis (full tummy tuck). When more skin needs to be removed from the sides or even back the scar can be extended around the hips (extended tummy tuck). The scar is permanent but will fade over 12-24 months after the surgery. Most tummy tucks are performed under general anesthesia. Tummy tuck recovery is two to three weeks to return to work and normal daily life with 100% tummy tuck recovery at one year. In general, you can expect to experience more discomfort in the healing process compared with liposuction. However, there is no other surgical option for treating the excess or stretched skin of the stomach after pregnancy or dramatic weight loss.

Photos showing before and after results for liposculpting of the torso. (left) 47 yr old woman before and after Vaser High Definition Liposuction to sculpt the waist and upper buttocks (5’1”, 123lb); (middle) 50 yr old woman before and after High Definition Liposuction to sculpt the bra, back, and flanks 5’4” 163lb); (right) 42 yr old woman 5’5” 163lb before and after Aquashape Water-Jet Liposuction to shape the torso: abdomen and hips and breast lift ( mastopexy).

Tummy tuck Combined with Liposuction

To restore a flat tummy and define the contour of the waist and buttocks, Dr. Ditesheim combines both a tummy tuck and liposuction to deliver exceptional results (Lipoabdominoplasty). Selectively targeting areas of excess fat can reveal a more defined youthful anatomy. Removing fat from the upper back and bra area can eliminate bra-roll fullness and puffiness under the armpit. Sculpting the fat in the lower back can define the waist and shape the transition from the back to the buttocks. And adding liposucted fat to the buttocks can further enhance shape as desired (BBL: Brazilian butt lift).

This circumferential approach (Tummy Tuck 360) uses the shaping principles of High Definition Liposuction to create outstanding highlights that define the natural anatomy.

I received such wonderful care it was as if I was their family member. I was treated with the utmost respect from every person. I was greeted with a smile at every visit. Dr. Ditesheim gave me a better body than I could even imagine. I said I would never wear a 2-piece swimsuit, I was wrong. I just purchased my first one and plan on wearing it proudly.