Quatela Center for Plastic Surgery
973 East Avenue
Rochester, NY 14607
Phone: (585) 244-1000
Fax: (585) 271-4786
Monday–Friday: 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
While pregnancy and major weight loss are joyful life events, our bodies often don’t look or feel the same again. Lax, hanging skin, separated ab muscles, and a stretched belly button aren’t improved with a commitment to wellness. The team of accomplished plastic surgeons at the Quatela Center includes specialists in body contouring procedures who have helped many people renew their confidence with tummy tuck surgery. Whether you need muscle repair after pregnancy or significant skin removal after weight loss, our team is dedicated to your comfort, safety, and aesthetically pleasing results.
| Anesthesia: | General |
| Recovery: | 2 to 6 weeks |
| Resume exercise: | 3 weeks |
| Final results: | 3 to 6 months |
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The benefits of a tummy tuck at the Quatela Center include:
Our tummy tuck patients enjoy feeling more confident and comfortable in swimsuits and fitted clothing, often wearing smaller sizes than before surgery.
Tummy tuck surgery benefits women and men of all ages who are self-Tummy tuck surgery benefits women and men of all ages who are self-conscious about excess abdominal skin. Ideal candidates meet the following criteria:
After an in-depth consultation, Dr. Amalfi or Dr. Krasniak will help you decide if a tummy tuck is right for you and discuss a treatment plan that works for your lifestyle and goals.
The Quatela Center in Rochester is the choice of abdominoplasty patients from cities throughout Upstate New York, including Syracuse and Buffalo. Patients also travel from throughout the U.S. and around the world for our natural-looking results and dedication to safety.
BOARD-CERTIFIED FEMALE PLASTIC SURGEON
Dr. Amalfi is a board-certified plastic surgeon and body contouring specialist. Her many published clinical works include a chapter on abdominoplasty for the landmark textbook Grabb & Smith Plastic Surgery, which is required reading for plastic surgery training. Dr. Amalfi includes 360-degree liposuction in every tummy tuck to improve contours all the way around the abdomen. A true believer in “mom guilt,” Dr. Amalfi understands firsthand the physical and emotional demands of being a mom. She supports her patients who want to feel great about how they look after pregnancy and has witnessed how the changes benefit them and their families.
HIGHLY TRAINED PLASTIC SURGEON
Dr. Krasniak is a highly trained plastic surgeon who completed a 6-year integrated plastic surgery residency and published research on patient-centered care. As a body contouring specialist, Dr. Krasniak finds it especially gratifying to free his patients from physical and emotional discomfort caused by excess skin through abdominoplasty and other procedures.
During the consultation, which lasts about 30 minutes to an hour, a clinical staff member reviews your medical history. Next, your surgeon will:
Your surgeon creates an individualized surgical plan that will safely combine the procedures you are interested in while minimizing incisions and recovery time. Then, your Patient Consultant will review your procedure cost, payment options, and scheduling choices.
Restores firm, flat abdominal contours by removing excess skin, repairing abdominal muscles, and reshaping the belly button. Our surgeons typically include liposuction of the flanks to add definition to the waist. This technique is appropriate for the majority of patients.
Removes excess skin and fat just below the belly button with a shorter incision than a full tummy tuck, similar to that of a Caesarean section. Best for a small number of patients whose concerns lie below the belly button.
Tightens skin and muscle in the upper abdomen with a horizontal incision placed across the inframammary fold (breast crease) easily hidden by a bra or two-piece bathing suit. Breast enhancement surgery can be performed through the same incision. This is an excellent option for skin tightening and/or muscle correction in the upper abdomen.
Removes skin horizontally and vertically with a vertical incision along the midline of the abdomen from the chest to the pubic area and a second horizontal incision low between the hip bones. Our surgeons often use this technique for post-weight loss patients who need significant skin removal.
This patient had a mini tummy tuck with liposuction to iliac and revision of a C-section scar.
Yes, men who have lost a significant amount of weight often choose tummy tuck surgery to remove excess skin and fat and tighten lax ab muscles as part of their body contouring after weight loss surgical plan.
his male patient had a tummy tuck, liposuction, and male breast reduction after weight loss through bariatric surgery.
Dr. Amalfi and Dr. Krasniak perform tummy tuck surgery at our private, onsite, accredited surgery center using general anesthesia; the surgery typically takes 2 to 4 hours to complete. Their expertise and training in various surgical techniques allow them to tailor the procedure to your needs and preferences.
For a full tummy tuck, the surgeon begins by making a horizontal incision from hip to hip just above the pubic bone. This procedure involves repositioning the belly button using an incision that encircles it and drops down to the horizontal incision. Then, the surgeon removes excess skin and fat. Our plastic surgeons commonly perform liposuction during a tummy tuck to sculpt and shape the abdomen. A full tummy tuck also includes abdominal muscle tightening. Before closing the incisions, the surgeon pulls the underlying tissues tight, applies a long-acting local anesthetic, and inserts surgical drains to prevent fluid from building up in the surgical area.
Expect bruising and swelling in the abdominal area; it should resolve gradually during recovery. You will remain comfortable with a long-acting anesthetic or pain pump and prescription medication. The newly tightened areas will also be temporarily numb. You will wear a specialized compression garment to minimize swelling and help you heal, and you will walk slightly bent forward initially.
While recovery varies with tummy tuck technique and individual patient factors, it generally proceeds along the following timeline:
Day of surgery:
Return home in the care of an adult friend or family member. A long-acting local anesthetic will keep you comfortable for the first few days.
3 days
Pain pump is removed (if needed).
4 days
Swelling peaks.
7 days:
First drain removed.
2 weeks:
Second drain removed. Return to normal upright posture and nonstrenuous work and activities.
3 weeks:
Bruising fades.
6 weeks:
Compression garment no longer needed. Ready to resume vigorous exercise.
6 to 8 months:
Abdominal swelling resolves.
6 to 12+ months:
Scars fade.
For proper healing and optimal results, closely follow our pre- and post-operative instructions.
The cost of a tummy tuck in Rochester, Buffalo, and Syracuse, New York, and surrounding areas depends on the specifics of the surgery. We provide an all-inclusive price quote during your consultation; it includes pre- and post-operative appointments, surgeon’s fees, surgery center fees, and anesthesia costs. For more information, see our page on Plastic Surgery Costs.
Many patients combine tummy tuck surgery with other procedures to improve multiple areas with a single surgery and recovery period.
Removes areas of excess fat to enhance the abdomen, waist, back, legs, and other areas.
Raises and reshapes the breasts and areolas for a more youthful appearance.
Enhances breast fullness and shape with silicone or saline implants. It may be combined with a breast lift to correct sagging.
Removes fatty tissue and excess skin from the male chest. Reduces enlarged areolas, if necessary.
If you are ready to meet with one of our body specialists, request a consultation online, or call us at (585) 244-1000 to schedule your appointment.
When performed by a highly trained and experienced plastic surgeon such as ours, abdominoplasty is considered extremely safe and effective. As with any surgical procedure, complications can occur. Some of these include bleeding, infection, scarring, blood clots, and fluid collection.
Stretch marks on the abdomen below the belly button are removed with the section of excess skin. Those higher on your abdomen will remain but will end up below your belly button after surgery.
While scars are inevitable with any surgery, our surgeons attempt to make abdominoplasty incisions low enough that the resulting scar is easily concealed when wearing even a low-cut bikini bottom. Scars gradually fade from red to pink to almost colorless over several months. We offer scar therapies to help the incisions heal and reduce the appearance of surgical scars.
Our surgeons typically have patients wait at least 2 weeks before going in swimming pools, hot tubs, lakes, or the ocean.
We recommend holding off on tummy tuck surgery until after you’ve decided not to have more children. During this procedure, the surgeon tightens the skin and abdominal muscle fascia (both stretched during pregnancy). Most likely, pregnancy after having a tummy tuck will undo much of the improvement achieved with the surgery.
The results from a tummy tuck procedure should last indefinitely as long as you maintain a relatively healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise and a nutritious diet. Gaining a significant amount of weight or becoming pregnant after the procedure can compromise the results.
As a destination practice offering world-class care, the Quatela Center attracts patients from around the globe. Our virtual consultations and support program take the effort out of travelling for surgery.
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