Tummy Tuck in Oklahoma City, OK
Bajaj Plastic Surgery
Your stomach may protrude or sag over your jeans for many reasons, including age, pregnancy, diastasis recti, significant weight loss, or bariatric surgery. These factors can lead to excess skin or stubborn fat in the abdomen. If your stomach has become a source of dissatisfaction or discomfort despite a healthy and active lifestyle, you may consider a cosmetic procedure to help achieve your aesthetic goals. A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is one of the most popular procedures offered at our Oklahoma City office. This surgery can reduce a protruding abdomen and flanks, creating a more sculpted figure.
Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Anureet Bajaj has helped countless patients who live an active lifestyle, but aren’t able to target the stubborn fat or excess skin around their abdomen to achieve the results and confidence they desire. Dr. Bajaj and her team of highly trained experts are committed to providing a welcoming, enjoyable experience for their patients. They strive to make each person leave their office feeling like the best version of themselves.
Ready to regain your self-confidence with abdominoplasty in Oklahoma City? Call our office at (405) 810-8448 today to schedule a personalized consultation with Dr. Bajaj and learn more about abdominoplasty. We proudly serve patients in surrounding areas, including Edmond, Yukon, Mustang, and Norman.
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What Is a Tummy Tuck?
An abdominoplasty, commonly known as a tummy tuck, is a cosmetic procedure that contours the abdomen by removing excess fat and skin while tightening the abdominal muscles. Many patients choose this procedure to eliminate stubborn fat and loose skin that do not respond to a healthy, active lifestyle.
What Are the Benefits of Tummy Tuck Surgery?
It’s no secret that a tummy tuck can improve the appearance of your stomach. However, it offers so much more than just cosmetic improvements. In addition to enhancing your appearance, a tummy tuck has numerous other benefits.
Enhanced posture
Excess weight and weakened core muscles can strain the back and spine, causing the shoulders to slump forward and the back to round. By tightening the abdominal muscles and removing excess skin, a tummy tuck helps support the back and spine, reducing strain on the rest of the body and improving overall posture. Better posture allows you to sit and stand taller, enhancing both confidence and appearance.
Relieved Back Pain
Another benefit of abdominoplasty is the potential relief of back pain. Poor posture can strain the back and contribute to posture-related issues, such as bulging or herniated discs. By strengthening the abdominal muscles and improving posture, a tummy tuck can help reduce the risk of developing back conditions and alleviate existing back pain.
Exercise Becomes Easier
Were you once passionate about physical activity and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, but pregnancy or stubborn belly fat has made it more challenging? With a newly sculpted abdomen, activities you once enjoyed—such as running, yoga, or cycling—can become easier and more enjoyable. Additionally, the tighter stomach and reduced excess skin that result from a tummy tuck can make exercise more comfortable, helping you maintain your weight more effectively after surgery.
Better Fitting Clothes
It can be frustrating when jeans or leggings fit your legs but won’t close over a protruding stomach, forcing you to wear pants that don’t fit the rest of your body. Shapewear can also be constricting and inconvenient. A tummy tuck can help you wear clothes that fit your entire body comfortably, so you no longer have to deal with baggy material around your legs or struggle with shapewear every time you use the restroom.
Why Choose Dr. Bajaj for Your Tummy Tuck?
Dr. Anureet Bajaj has founded her illustrious career on finding lasting solutions that fit her patient’s goals and lifestyles. Her honesty with her patients helps guide them toward making decisions without pressure. Her passion for aesthetic care stems from a deep desire to help patients make life-changing decisions that affect how they see and feel about themselves and how they present themselves to the world.
We are an office of women who understand the insecurities and importance surrounding the appearance of your body. When undergoing any procedure, we believe in preparing our patients for their surgery to help ensure safety, optimize their recovery, and lend to loved and lasting results. To help prepare patients, a nutritional plan will be created both before and after their surgery, a proactive pain and nausea management schedule will be carefully implemented, as well as our own personal testimonials from undergoing body procedures.
Companion Procedures
Mini Tummy Tuck
A Mini Tummy Tuck offers amazing results for those who don’t require a full tummy tuck. It involves the removal of excess skin and tightening the muscles beneath the belly button. The scar associated with this technique is much smaller, and this procedure is commonly performed with liposuction.
Modified Tummy Tuck
Dr. Bajaj also offers a modified technique for patients who wish to address a specific issue like the abdominal muscles or excess skin. There is minimal scarring, providing the best results for patients requiring only minor improvements.
Male Tummy Tuck
A Male Tummy Tuck focuses on men who have lost weight and are struggling with excess abdominal skin and fat. The abdominal muscles are tightened for a chiseled, masculine appearance.
Liposuction
Liposuction is an excellent complement to a tummy tuck for patients with stubborn abdominal fat that does not respond to diet and exercise. Using targeted suction, it removes fat deposits located between the muscles and skin.
Body Lift
For patients who have recently lost a significant amount of weight, a tummy tuck may not be enough to reach their ideal results. A body lift enhances the midsection and incorporates a thigh lift and a buttock lift for a total body transformation.
How to Prepare for a Tummy Tuck
In preparation for an abdominoplasty, we encourage patients to begin their preparation several weeks in advance. We provide guidance on optimizing nutrition through a high-protein diet, adequate rest, and proper hydration. Additionally, we incorporate ERAS (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery) protocols into the preoperative routine, which includes starting certain medications a day or two before surgery. This approach helps ease the transition from hospital to home and supports a faster, smoother recovery.
Who Is the Ideal Candidate for a Tummy Tuck?
However, a tummy tuck is not a substitute for a healthy lifestyle. Ideal candidates for an abdominoplasty with Dr. Bajaj are at or near their goal weight. Maintaining a balanced diet and committing to regular physical activity can significantly reduce the risk of complications and support a faster, smoother recovery.
Abdominoplasty can be an excellent complement to your weight loss journey, particularly if you have finished having children or have lost a significant amount of weight, leaving behind sagging skin or stubborn abdominal fat.
It is also important for patients to have realistic expectations about their results. Dr. Bajaj prioritizes each patient’s individual story. During your consultation, she will review all aspects of your lifestyle, including your motivations for pursuing a cosmetic procedure. This information helps her develop a personalized plan to achieve your aesthetic goals, create lasting improvements, and support your overall well-being in the future.
Before & Afters
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What to Expect from a Tummy Tuck at Bajaj Plastic Surgery
All surgeries are performed in our fully accredited, on-site operating room. On the day of surgery, patients first meet our compassionate nurse, who helps them prepare for the procedure. Dr. Bajaj and our anesthesiologist will then review any questions or concerns to ensure the patient feels fully informed and at ease. Patients are also provided with a small bag to store their personal belongings during surgery.
Once preparation is complete, patients are escorted into the operating room, where Dr. Bajaj begins the procedure. An abdominoplasty typically takes between two and four hours, depending on the complexity of the surgical plan.
What to Expect from a Tummy Tuck Recovery
Recovery time varies by patient, but generally requires two to three weeks. Dr. Bajaj will closely monitor you to ensure a smooth and comfortable recovery. Abdominoplasty is typically performed as an outpatient procedure, allowing you to return home once surgery is complete. Prescriptions and appropriate medications will be provided during your preoperative visit, with some medications starting one to two days before surgery.
Dr. Bajaj uses a multi-pronged approach to managing post-operative pain. She injects the stomach tissues with the fast-acting anesthetic Exparel before completing the procedure. In addition, you will receive pain, anti-nausea, and anti-inflammatory medications to manage discomfort and swelling. Your incision site will be covered with dressings and a compression garment to reduce swelling, which should be worn for the first week.
Strenuous activity should be avoided for the first three weeks; however, light walking is encouraged to promote healthy blood circulation. You will also receive detailed instructions for incision care to minimize the risk of infection. After surgery, patients initially walk in a partially bent position, which gradually improves over the first week. Many find it more comfortable to rest in a recliner or with pillows supporting the back and knees. Dr. Bajaj will schedule a follow-up appointment two days after surgery and weekly thereafter until you are fully healed.
Tummy Tuck in Oklahoma FAQs
How should I prepare for my tummy tuck consultation?
Before your consultation, consider your goals and expectations for the surgery. It is also helpful to have a preferred timeframe in mind and a plan for who will assist you during the postoperative recovery period.
What should I expect on the day of my tummy tuck procedure?
The day prior to your surgery, you will have a bland diet and need to hydrate with gatorade. If you are well hydrated before surgery, you will likely have less nausea after surgery. The day of surgery, you will arrive at our office, meet with your anesthesiologist, and myself. After I have completed my surgical markings and reviewed my plan with you, you will be taken to our fully accredited operating room where we will be able to begin your surgery.
Will I have drains after the surgery? How long will they stay?
Most of the time (90% of the time), I do not use drains after a tummy tuck. I may use drains after larger tummy tucks, however.
Do you always repair the muscle?
Muscle repair may be necessary in cases of rectus diastasis, or separation of the rectus abdominis muscles. This separation often occurs during pregnancy or significant weight gain. In my experience, it is very rare for a patient not to benefit from rectus plication (repair of the muscle separation). Muscle repair helps create a flatter abdominal contour and is an integral part of most tummy tuck procedures.
Will my “abs” show?
The ability of your abs “to show” is dependent on your abdominal muscle bulk and how much fat you have between the muscle and skin layers. In other words, if your abdominal muscles do not show before surgery, it is unlikely that they will show after surgery.
Will this operation help me lose weight?
No, while we do remove tissue, an abdominoplasty is not a weight loss procedure. It is a body contouring procedure to improve your abdominal contour.
Will sutures need to be removed after surgery?
The sutures along your abdominal incision are the types of sutures that will dissolve. However, the sutures along your belly button will need to be removed about a week after surgery.
What are 3 things to look for in a great tummy tuck result?
Things that contribute to a great tummy tuck result include the location of the lower abdominal incision, the appearance of the belly button, and the abdominal contour. When looking at these results, I also believe that it is important to look at the ‘before’ picture because all results are dependent on where we started.
What is post-treatment abdominal swelling like?
You will have bruising and swelling after a tummy tuck. A significant decrease in swelling will occur between 3 weeks to 3 months. However, if you are active or have long days on your feet, you may continue to observe some minor swelling at the end of the day for the first year.
How Long Does Recovery Take?
During the first few days after surgery, you can expect discomfort and soreness, and you will walk in a slightly flexed position. The first three days are usually the most challenging. Most women are able to drive after about five days and walk fully upright after approximately one week. If your job does not require strenuous activity, you can generally return to work within 10 to 14 days.
Can I have a full body sculpting at the same time?
Yes, you can have additional body contouring procedures performed at the same time as your abdominoplasty. However, since we would like to minimize surgical risks, I don’t recommend that the total time of the surgery exceed 5-6 hours.
How long before I can exercise?
You will begin walking immediately after surgery. During the first two weeks, light walking around your home is encouraged. After three weeks, you may gradually resume more vigorous cardio and light arm and leg exercises. Abdominal crunches should generally be avoided for about two to three months.
When can I pick up my baby or toddler after a tummy tuck?
After a tummy tuck, you will not want to do any heavy lifting (more than 10 pounds) for about 6 weeks. If your baby weighs more than 10 pounds, it will be this long before you will be able to pick him or her up.
My abdomen feels tight after surgery. Will I hurt something if I move?
It is normal for your abdomen to feel tight for several weeks after surgery. You will not hurt anything if you move although try to avoid sudden movements. I also believe that it is important to listen to your body.
Can I become pregnant after an abdominoplasty? What happens if I do?
Yes, you will be able to get pregnant after a tummy tuck. Some women who have gotten pregnant after a tummy tuck have told me that they carried that baby differently than their others. Also, if you get pregnant after a tummy tuck, it may affect your results, and you may require additional surgery.
Is a tummy tuck painful?
A tummy tuck can be uncomfortable; however, my staff and I try our best to ensure that you are comfortable and prepared for surgery. We have incorporated ERAS (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery) protocols to help minimize your discomfort. This means that we start preparing you for surgery before your surgery by starting multiple types of medications before surgery, then using Exparel (a long-acting local anesthetic) during surgery, and different types of medications in addition to narcotics after surgery. By using anti-inflammatories, local anesthetics, and neuromodulators, we are able to minimize the amount of narcotics that you may require.
Will you use my own belly button?
Yes, we use your own belly button. Since the lower abdominal skin is removed, your belly button comes out through a new opening.
How do you recreate the belly button?
After your lower abdominal skin is removed, we will flex the bed in the operating room, and begin to close the lower abdominal incision. At this point, I will mark the location of your belly button and bring it out through a frown-shaped incision. I will then shape and inset your belly button.
How long does it take to plan a tummy tuck procedure?
Since an abdominoplasty is an involved surgery that requires you to adequately prepare, I would recommend planning for the surgery about 3-6 months in advance.
How long does the tummy tuck procedure take?
An abdominoplasty will take about 2-3 hours depending on your size and how much liposuction you require. Surgery may also take longer if you add additional procedures such as a breast lift or augmentation.
How do I choose a tummy tuck surgeon?
When looking for a surgeon, you should ensure that he or she is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (I am) and performs abdominoplasties on a regular basis. I perform tummy tucks weekly and find them to be one of my most gratifying procedures because I believe that they have transformative results. You may also wish to review before and after pictures. When looking at these photos, look for someone with a similar body type as yours – this will help you to envision your potential outcome!
How much does a tummy tuck cost?
Tummy tuck cost OKC depends on the scope of the procedure, operating time, the skill of the surgeon, and a variety of other factors. For this reason, it’s best to consult with a plastic surgeon to get a personalized estimate of your surgical procedure.
Ready To Get Started?
Are you ready to take control of how you look and feel in your own body? Schedule your personalized consultation with Dr. Bajaj to learn more about what abdominoplasty can do for you. Call (405) 810-8448 or fill out our email contact form to reach our Oklahoma City office.