Tummy Tuck | Palm Beach, FL | Dr. Justin Bellamy
Tummy tuck surgery, also known as abdominoplasty, is a highly sought-after plastic surgery procedure among both men and women. This operation aims to enhance the appearance of the abdomen and achieve a more aesthetically pleasing body contour. Through the elimination of excess skin and subtle pockets of adipose tissue, patients are able to restore their self-assurance and overall body image.
As a board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Justin Bellamy is dedicated to helping patients achieve their desired aesthetic results through meticulous and artful surgery. He is highly trained and experienced in performing abdominoplasty surgery, commonly known as a tummy tuck. He prioritizes his patients’ needs, ensuring they are comfortable throughout the procedure and satisfied with the final outcome. With his patient-centered approach and exceptional skill, it’s no wonder patients from all over the country seek out Dr. Bellamy’s expertise, making him the premier choice for a tummy tuck in Palm Beach.
Contact Dr. Bellamy’s office at (561) 705-0044 or complete our online form to schedule your consultation today. We are located in Palm Beach and are dedicated to serving plastic, reconstructive, and cosmetic surgery patients throughout Florida and across the US.
What Is a Tummy Tuck?
Abdominoplasty is a rejuvenation procedure designed to remove excess skin and pockets of stubborn fat to restore the appearance of the abdomen. A tummy tuck procedure can tighten underlying abdominal muscles to return them to their original position for a leaner, flatter midsection. A tummy tuck typically results in a faint scar that crosses the lower abdomen below the bikini line.
A tummy tuck:
- Removes excess skin and fat
- Addresses stretch marks below the belly button
- Repairs muscle separation (diastasis recti)
Tummy tucks are not intended as a weight loss substitute; they aim to contour the abdomen. For patients who are near their ideal body weight yet still uncomfortable with the appearance of their abdomen, tummy tucks are often the best solution.
Following a tummy tuck, patients experience:
- A firmer, more contoured midsection
- Improved abdominal tone
- More proportioned overall body contours
- Healthy, natural-looking, long-lasting results
For long-lasting tummy tuck results, continue your active lifestyle by following a healthy diet and exercise routine.
Your West Palm Beach Tummy Tuck Consultation
During your in-depth tummy tuck consultation, Dr. Bellamy will focus on your concerns about your anatomy, your aesthetic goals, and how you visualize your ideal outcome. Then, Dr. Bellamy will discuss the details, risks, and benefits of abdominoplasty. He will give an honest recommendation regarding treatment options that are realistic and anatomically accomplishable.
During a consultation with Dr. Bellamy, you’ll learn more about what tummy tuck entails and help develop a treatment plan that leaves you feeling informed and comfortable in making decisions regarding your care.
Looking for the best plastic surgeon in Palm Beach?
Dr. Justin Bellamy uses his esteemed education, cutting-edge techniques, and state-of-the-art medical equipment to create customized treatment plans to meet his patients’ needs and expectations. He has published over thirty peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and is a thought-leader in the field of plastic surgery. Trust Dr. Bellamy for a comprehensive and modern plastic surgery experience.
Choosing Dr. Bellamy as Your Abdominoplasty Surgeon
Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Justin Bellamy is one of the premiere abdominoplasty surgeons in Florida. With his extensive education and unmatched experience, many patients travel across the country to seek Dr. Bellamy’s expertise. Employing innovative techniques and state-of-the-art medical equipment, Dr. Bellamy tailors customized treatment plans that consider each patient’s needs and expectations.
For Dr. Bellamy, the most fulfilling aspect of performing plastic surgery is using his skills to enhance and enrich the lives of his patients. Blending a mastery in surgery with artistic elegance, Dr. Bellamy’s goal is to help you accomplish your aesthetic goals with beautiful, natural-looking results to increase your confidence and self-esteem.
Am I an Ideal Candidate for a Tummy Tuck?
Good candidates for tummy tucks are non-smokers who are generally healthy but uncomfortable with excess skin and fat in their abdominal region. These patients are looking to enhance their abdominal profile by tightening their skin and adding definition.
As a tummy tuck is not a weight loss substitute but a body contouring procedure, candidates should be close to their ideal weight. During your consultation with Dr. Bellamy, he will review your anticipated results to ensure that your expectations are realistic and anatomically accomplishable.
Dr. Bellamy recommends tummy tuck candidates should:
- Live a healthy lifestyle
- Be at a healthy, stable weight
- Not have conditions that impair healing
- Not be pregnant or breastfeeding
- Have realistic expectations
- Not be pregnant or breastfeeding
Can a Tummy Tuck Be combined with other procedures?
Tummy tucks are often an integral part of a mommy makeover. Mommy Makeover is a group of body rejuvenation procedures that aim to restore the appearance of a woman’s body following the impact of childbirth and breastfeeding. These procedures may also include:
What Can I Expect During a Boca Raton Tummy Tuck?
With patient-centric philosophy, Dr. Bellamy customizes abdominoplasty procedures to achieve optimal results for each patient. While each tummy tuck will be unique, here are some general steps to expect.
All surgeries are performed in our own facilities that have two state-of-the-art, fully certified AAAASF operating rooms. On the day of surgery, you will be greeted by our nursing staff, then review your procedural plan with Dr. Bellamy. He will answer any last questions you may have and make surgical makings. Once you are safely sedated, Dr. Bellamy will begin your tummy tuck according to your procedural plan.
Preparing for Your Tummy Tuck Procedure
In the week prior to your surgery, we advise you to maintain a healthy, high-protein, low-salt diet. Most herbal supplements should be stopped, especially those containing garlic, fish oil, or zinc. Also, stop taking medicines containing aspirin, as these can cause additional bleeding or bruising.
During your consultation, Dr. Bellamy will review your medications and provide instructions on how to proceed. Most prescription medications, especially blood pressure medications, should be continued.
Smoking, vaping, or any nicotine products are strictly prohibited for at least four weeks before and after your procedure. Nicotine constricts blood vessels and affects the body’s ability to heal itself, potentially impacting your recovery and results.
Surgical Mastery Meets Aesthetic Artistry
Tummy Tuck Procedure and Recovery in Palm Beach
According to your procedural plan, Dr. Bellamy will begin your tummy tuck by removing extra fat and skin from the abdominal region. He will then drape the skin to create a firmer, more proportionate midsection contour.
As abdominoplasty is typically a day surgery, you’ll need to arrange for someone to drive you home and stay with you for the first few days. You will require assistance with simple daily tasks, especially if you have young children. You will also be prescribed pain medications and antibiotics.
Following your tummy tuck, you will be required to wear a compression garment for at least six weeks to support your new contours and minimize swelling.
Plan to take one to two weeks off from work for your recovery. If you have a physically demanding job, you may need a longer recovery time or modified duties. During this time, you will also need to avoid strenuous activities, including exercising or heavy lifting, for at least four to six weeks; however, slow walking is advised as soon as you feel up to it.
Most tummy tuck patients experience a full recovery within six months.
How Soon Will I See My Tummy Tuck Results?
Following a Palm Beach tummy tuck, most patients notice immediate improvements to their figures. However, some patients will also experience swelling that temporarily obscures results. Tummy tuck recovery time is typically four to six weeks. Depending on the type of abdominoplasty procedure, that time may vary.
To experience long-lasting results from your Palm Beach abdominoplasty, you will need to maintain your stable weight through a continued healthy diet and exercise regimen.
Reclaim Your Slimmer Waist and Confidence with Tummy Tuck.
With a slimmer waist and a confidence boost, you’re going to love the long-lasting results you get when you partner with Dr. Justin Bellamy, one of the best tummy tuck surgeons in Palm Beach.
Contact Dr. Bellamy’s office at (561) 705-0044 or complete our online form to schedule your abdominoplasty consultation today.
Palm Beach, FL
Tummy Tuck FAQs
Do you want to learn more about a tummy tuck with Dr. Justin Bellamy? Read our FAQs and complete our online form to meet Dr. Bellamy today.
Little to no preparation is required before your tummy tuck consultation. However, understanding your goals will help guide your discussion with Dr. Bellamy to determine the best type of tummy tuck for you.
On the morning of surgery, Dr. Bellamy will answer any final questions you have and place surgical markings of the tissue to be removed. You will meet with the anesthetist before being escorted to the operating room. While the surgery will last 4-6 hours, it will feel like 5 minutes for you as you will be asleep. After surgery, you will recover in our facility until you are ready to go home with a family member or friend.
While Dr. Bellamy can perform “tubeless” tummy tuck by request for the right patient, typically, drains are HIGHLY encouraged. Dr. Bellamy will discuss what’s best for you during your consultation and pre-operative visits. In general, Dr. Bellamy uses drains to expedite recovery, reduce swelling, and avoid fluid collecting under the skin. These drains only stay in as long as they are needed: when you are no longer producing excess fluid, they are removed (for most patients, this takes 1-3 weeks).
Dr. Bellamy usually, but not always, repairs the muscle. The majority of patients benefit from an internal corset muscle tightening. Patients who may not require muscle tightening are those who are either very athletic with strong abdominal muscles or older patients who desire to simplify the recovery process.
A tummy tuck can help improve abdominal contour, and some patients may find it easier to see the results of their abdominal exercise with a leaner and tighter abdomen. Whether you have true abdominal definition depends on your individual musculature and fitness regimen after surgery.
A tummy tuck is not intended as a weight-loss surgery but rather an abdominal contouring procedure to remove excess skin and fat from the abdomen. Dr. Bellamy can review with you other options for weight loss if that is your primary goal.
No. Permanent sutures that require removal after surgery are not typically used by Dr. Bellamy during tummy tuck. All sutures are absorbable unless instructed otherwise.
- Natural belly button
- Low-placed scar hidden below the underwear or bikini line
- Natural contour
Post-treatment abdominal swelling is minimal with the use of drains and a compression garment, and results will be immediately apparent. However, the early swelling that is present will rapidly improve over the course of the first 2-3 weeks (about 80%). You can anticipate that the final 20% of swelling will slowly resolve over the course of 6 months.
You can. The tummy tuck will not negatively impact your pregnancy. However, pregnancy may re-stretch your skin and muscle. If severe enough, you may find yourself desiring additional tightening. For this reason, it is advised to wait until you are done having children before pursuing a tummy tuck.
You should be walking on the night of surgery. Typically patients feel sore and slow-moving for the first 1-2 weeks. After this point, most patients can return to light-duty work as necessary. Drains are removed in 1-3 weeks. You can resume cardio exercise after 3 weeks and weightlifting after 4 weeks. You should not perform direct core exercises (re: crunches) for at least 6 months.
Managing the scar is the most common complication. A dark, raised, or elevated scar can be bothersome, and for this reason, Dr. Bellamy will review with you the best ways to optimize your scar healing.
Most tummy tucks include some form of liposuction sculpting. Light liposuction around the flanks, love handles, back, thighs, or other areas can be performed at the same time as the tummy tuck. Large-volume liposuction in patients with BMI>30 may require a separate liposuction-dedicated procedure to achieve the absolute most optimal result. This is because, in the state of Florida, you can have 4 times more fat removed during an isolated liposuction procedure compared to a combined, single-stage procedure. Dr. Bellamy will review extensively the role of liposuction in your procedure and the considerations for a single-stage procedure versus a separate liposuction-only procedure.
Three weeks for cardio, four weeks for weightlifting.
Four weeks for children over 15 pounds.
No. In fact, walking and light activity is extremely important to your recovery. You should be walking the same night as surgery to avoid complications and expedite your recovery.
You will feel no pain during the surgery. Most patients have some discomfort after surgery. However, you will be provided with pain medication and muscle relaxant medication to control your pain. Additionally, Dr. Bellamy will perform a long-lasting nerve block (TAP block) to numb your abdomen and improve your pain control during the first night. Your pain should quickly improve after the first night.
Yes. Tummy tuck uses your own belly button and re-shapes the surrounding after pulling the skin tight. Dr. Bellamy takes pride in providing highly natural-appearing belly buttons to conceal any sign of surgery.
A natural belly button is one of the most important elements of a good tummy tuck. After pulling the abdominal skin tight and removing excess, the new skin surrounding your belly button is sutured to your existing belly button. Dr. Bellamy uses an umbilical design that yields an immediate result that appears natural and avoids the common complication of scar contracture that tends to shrink the belly buttons of simpler approaches.
Markings for your tummy tuck procedure takes about five minutes.
A traditional tummy tuck procedure takes approximately 2.5 hours. Mini-tummy tuck takes approximately 1.5 hours. An extended tummy tuck procedure may take 3-4 hours.
As with any aesthetic procedure, it is important to select a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience in body contouring.
