A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) enhances the appearance of the lower abdomen and navel area. Dr. Greco removes excess skin and fatty tissue from the stomach to create a flatter, better-contoured midsection – helping many patients feel more confident at the beach and during their favorite activities.
Types of Tummy Tucks
Dr. Greco performs a mini tummy tuck for patients who require only minor stomach reshaping. It requires a smaller incision than the full tummy tuck, and it might be performed under local anesthesia.
The full tummy tuck is appropriate for patients with a relatively large amount of excess skin. An incision is made just above the pubic area, from one hip bone to the other, and another in the navel area. Working through these incisions, Dr. Greco removes excess skin and fat, repairs torn abdominal muscles if necessary, and gently tightens the stomach skin for a flatter appearance.
Tummy tuck surgery is appropriate for men and women with excess skin and fatty tissue in the stomach area. However, a tummy tuck is not a weight-loss procedure. If you are significantly overweight, you should first lose the excess weight through diet and exercise, or by pursuing weight-loss surgery.
Once you are close to your normal weight, a tummy tuck can remove excess skin folds and stubborn, localized fat deposits from the midsection.
Common Reasons for a Tummy Tuck
Because a tummy tuck is a major surgical procedure, you should prepare carefully with thorough pre-surgical evaluations from your physician and your plastic surgeon. Dr. Greco conducts extensive consultations before scheduling your surgery and considers every safety concern.
The tummy tuck is performed under general anesthesia. Time in surgery varies from two to six hours, depending on the extent of the operation. Dr. Greco removes excess skin and fat, repairs torn abdominal muscles if necessary, and gently stretches the stomach skin to create a tighter, flatter appearance.
After surgery, the area is wrapped in special surgical dressings, and drainage tubes are often inserted to help drain excess fluid and reduce swelling. During the first 15 days, the midsection is typically swollen, bruised, tender and tight. Dr. Greco prescribes appropriate pain medication and monitors his patients closely to ensure the incisions are healing properly.
At the end of this period most of the swelling is gone, and many patients resume light physical activity and non-physical work. Healing continues for about eight to 12 weeks; Dr. Greco advises avoiding strenuous activity and stretching until recovery is complete. After that, you are free to enjoy all of your regular activities.
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“It was just an instant change!”
Vickie
I am very happy with my results!! Way better than I thought it would be. The healing process was more simple than I thought. I went back to work two weeks after with no problems. I dropped another pants size after the swelling went down. Very pleased!
Dr. Greco and his staff are amazing! I am so pleased with my results and I could not ask for anything different. My body was transformed exactly as I wanted! Dr Greco is the best and has the best nurses and staff around. He is very thorough and hands down the best around!
From the very first conversation with Christa in talking about the procedure to the most recent follow-up, my experience has been overwhelmingly positive and wonderful. Dr. Greco deserves all the accolades he has received and his team of nurses are the best at what they do. They take all the time necessary to answer every question at every step of the process. I have been amazed at how well the team works together and would recommend this office and Dr. Greco specifically to anyone looking into plastic surgery.
Most amazing experience. Dr. Greco and his staff were very informative, attentive, honest and professional. Highly recommend Dr. Greco and his team to anyone! If you are looking for a surgeon that cares and with satisfactory results, then Dr. Greco is the one for you!
Dr. Greco and his staff have been nothing but amazing from day one! They answered every single one (and there were many) of my questions not only leading up to my procedure, but as well as throughout my recovery. No one ever made me feel like my questions or concerns were silly or ridiculous. Dr. Greco was also very easy to reach outside of the office when I needed him. The nursing staff went above and beyond to ensure I clearly understood all of my post-op care and that I was comfortable. I felt safe and cared for on the day of my procedure and they communicated well with my spouse. I am so grateful for Dr. Greco and his staff for helping restore my confidence as well as eliminating my lower back pain. I wish I had done this sooner!! If you’re on the fence, don’t hesitate any longer, you will NOT regret it!!
I have used him before years ago and was extremely pleased, and the second time around I was just as pleased. Very professional staff!
Happy he helped me age gracefully. Would highly recommend him to anyone who is looking!
This surgery has been life changing, it has been a confidence booster and I have been very pleased with Dr. Greco and his recommendations. He did not try to sell me on a surgery that I did not need. Very happy !
I lost about 100 pounds and still wasn’t happy with my body. As far as the excess skin and hanging. So I reached out to Dr. Greco and he helped make me feel more comfortable and more myself than I ever have. Thank you Dr. Greco!
Dr. Greco is the best plastic surgeon in Savannah. He is one talented man! He transformed my body and the results are phenomenal. He gave me my confidence back after a decade of 3 pregnancies and weight gain. I can’t stay out the mirror! I say I look better now than I did before kids. The mommy makeover is worth it! If it’s just a thought, just do it. I’d do it over again just for the results. The pain was minimal. More tender and sore than anything. I was up walking by day 3 and off pain medicine. I truly believe Dr. Greco played a huge part in my easy recovery. My scars are already starting to fade beautifully and I’m only 20 days post op. I tell everyone if you’re wanting anything done cosmetic, go to Dr. Greco. After all it’s on your body forever! His professionalism, bedside manners and opinions are on point! I can’t thank this man enough. Forever grateful.
Dr. Greco is very professional and thorough when I did my consult. He did a great job and I am very happy with the results. His staff is amazing! They are so nice, helpful and ready to answer all my questions. I would highly recommend Dr. Greco and the Georgia Institute of Plastic Surgery.
Richard J Greco, MD is a Board Certified Plastic and Reconstructive surgeon and the Co-Founder and CEO of The Georgia Institute For Plastic Surgery in Savannah, Georgia. He is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Ursinus College and a Magna Cum Laude graduate of the Thomas Jefferson Medical College with specialized training in Aesthetic Surgery. He taught at the University of Pittsburgh and brings over 35 years of distinguished clinical experience to his patients.
Recognized as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor, a 15 year “Best of Savannah” Plastic Surgeon, and Past Vice President/Treasurer of the American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS).
Dr. Greco combines surgical precision with artistic vision to obtain safe, natural and transformative results.
