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Tummy Tuck

Tummy Tuck in Vancouver with Dr. Jeannie MacDonald

Over time, age, weight changes, or pregnancy can leave you with a less than flat abdomen that no amount of exercise or diet can fix. A sagging belly is the result of muscles on either side of your belly button stretching and separating due to weight gain or pregnancy. A 1000 situps will not flatten or correct tummy muscles that have been stretched apart from weight gain or pregnancies.

Tummy tucks not only tighten and repair abdominal muscle weakness, but they also remove the excess skin and fat from the belly button to pubic bone to restore a slimmer, flatter abdominal contour. Dr. Jeannie MacDonald is a Vancouver tummy tuck doctor who is prepared to help you reach your goals through quality surgical care and unmatched expertise.

Reclaiming your waistline with a tummy tuck in Vancouver is easier than ever—contact MacDonald Plastic Surgery at (604) 288-8517 or complete our online form to schedule your consultation today! We are located in New Westminster and are dedicated to serving plastic, reconstructive, and cosmetic surgery patients in the Lower Mainland and Greater Vancouver area. 

Tummy tuck before and after graphic MacDonald Plastic Surgery

What Is a Tummy Tuck?

Abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck, is a rejuvenation procedure designed to remove excess skin and fatty tissue from the abdominal area. It also involves tightening and returning the underlying (rectus) muscles to their native position, resulting in a flatter, leaner tummy. The procedure results in a faint scar that runs all along the lower abdomen below the bikini line and around the bellybutton. It may also include liposuction and a monsplasty or reduction of the skin and fat in the pubic area.

A tummy tuck involves:

  • Removing excess skin and fat from the abdomen
  • Reconstructing any separation of the muscles
  • Removing stretch marks below the belly button

Tummy Tuck with Fleur-De-Lis

For patients who have extremely redundant abdominal skin following massive weight loss, Dr. MacDonald offers the Fleur-De-Lis tummy tuck. 

A Fleur-De-Lis tummy tuck differs from a standard tummy tuck as the procedure requires two incisions: the traditional tummy tuck incision along the pubic bone and a vertical incision in the middle of the abdomen. This vertical incision allows Dr. MacDonald to tighten skin from all directions to produce a slimmer waist and more hourglass look.  

woman smiling outside

What Are the Benefits of a Tummy Tuck in Fraser Valley?

For patients who are at or near their desired body weight but still uncomfortable with the appearance of their midsection, tummy tucks are the ideal body contouring procedure. Tummy tucks are an effective way to tighten and flatten your abdomen and address extra skin or pockets of fat. 

You will notice:

  • A tighter, flatter, more contoured midsection
  • Reduced stretch marks, particularly below the bellybutton
  • A more youthful bellybutton
  • Improved abdominal tone
  • More proportioned body contour

Improve the appearance of your abdomen with a tummy tuck by Dr. MacDonald. Maintaining your healthy lifestyle and weight will allow you to enjoy permanent results from your tummy tuck. 

Choosing Dr. MacDonald as Your Tummy Tuck Provider in Vancouver

Dr. Jeannie MacDonald understands beauty from the inside out. As a Royal College certified plastic surgeon, and the only female, fellowship-trained craniofacial surgeon in the Fraser Valley, Dr. MacDonald has specialized experience in facial implant remodeling and reconstruction. It is with her extensive medical expertise and her artistic touch that Dr. MacDonald formulates an individualized treatment approach that will reveal the most beautiful, natural-looking you. 

For Dr. MacDonald, patient education is fundamental for her practice. Dr. MacDonald’s own unique education helps her combine her love of aesthetics and surgery because together, they can improve and enrich her patients’ lives. Above all, Dr. MacDonald strives to embody the values of honesty, thoughtfulness, and openness with each person who walks through MacDonald Plastic Surgery’s doors.

True Beauty Starts Today

Look as good on the outside as you feel on the inside

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Combining her unique surgical expertise with her artistic understanding of balance and proportion, Dr. Jeannie MacDonald brings out the most naturally beautiful you. Meet Dr. MacDonald today to learn more.

Am I a Good Candidate for a Tummy Tuck in Vancouver?

In general, candidates for abdominoplasty are patients who have excess skin and fat concentrated in the abdomen and/or a protruding abdomen that is out of proportion with the rest of the body. Patients often seek abdominoplasty after pregnancy, significant weight loss, or other similar conditions. 

Dr. MacDonald recommends that you are close to your ideal weight before undergoing this surgery. This procedure is not intended for weight loss but is meant to improve the contour and appearance of your tummy. 

Typically, candidates should be: 

  • Living a healthy lifestyle
  • Non-smokers
  • Finished with childbearing
  • Have excess skin in their abdomen
  • Bothered by the appearance of their abdomen
  • Have realistic expectations 
  • Understand the surgical risks 

Your Tummy Tuck Consultation

Before your consultation, Dr. MacDonald suggests you read about the procedure you are interested in. This will help you better understand the basics of the process before you learn more from Dr. MacDonald.

During your consultation, Dr. MacDonald will listen to your goals and concerns and conduct a thorough examination.  Next, Dr. MacDonald will be honest about how you can reach those goals and discuss the treatment options to best address your concerns and particular situation.

Dr. MacDonald and her staff will:

  • Supply information about the surgery, including what to expect before, during, and after
  • Listen to your concerns or questions 
  • Discuss potential risks of the procedure

Before you leave, Dr. MacDonald will ensure you feel comfortable with making informed decisions about your procedure. Dr. MacDonald’s compassion, honesty, and passion for her craft make her one of the most sought-after choices for abdominoplasty in Vancouver.

Before and after tummy tuck MacDonald Plastic Surgery
Real patient results

What Can I Expect During a Vancouver Tummy Tuck Procedure?

While Dr. MacDonald customizes abdominoplasty procedures for each patient, there are some general steps you can expect:

Prior to Your Procedure

Abdominoplasty requires general anesthesia. A pre-operative questionnaire must be completed to ensure you are healthy. You will be given instructions regarding arrival time and a reminder not to eat or drink anything after midnight.

Check-in and Anesthesia

You will be greeted by our team for check-in. Dr. MacDonald will ensure your comfort, answer any questions, then perform surgical markings. After you are anesthetized, Dr. MacDonald will begin your abdominoplasty.

Tummy Tuck Procedure

According to your procedural plan, Dr. MacDonald will begin contouring your waistline. Extra skin and tissue are removed from the abdominal area. Liposuction in predetermined areas will also be done along with tightening the abdominal muscles. The duration and recovery time is about 3 hours.

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Tummy Tuck Aftercare

Abdominoplasty is an outpatient procedure, so you will need someone to drive you home and stay with you for the first few days. You will be given prescriptions for pain medication and antibiotics. 

Following surgery, you will have two small drains, and our nurse will show you how to care for them. Dr. MacDonald will see you 3-5 days to remove the drains. Do not shower until the drains are removed. All the stitches are dissolving, and incision care is ointment and gauze. You will be required to wear an abdominal wrap or binder full-time for approximately 4-6 weeks.

For those with physical jobs or small children, plan to have 4-6 weeks of recovery time. For sedentary jobs, you may possibly return to work in 3-4 weeks. Avoid activities that increase your blood pressure until 6 weeks after surgery. However, Dr. MacDonald encourages you to begin walking as soon as possible.

Care Guide

Get Ready to Reclaim Your Slimmer, More Youthful Waistline!

Get ready to fall in love with your long-lasting results from a tummy tuck surgeon in Vancouver!  Contact MacDonald Plastic Surgery at (604) 288-8517 or fill out our online form to schedule your consultation today.

Vancouver Tummy Tuck FAQs

The cost of your Abdominoplasty is determined by your individual needs and procedural plan. Following your consultation, Dr. MacDonald’s assistant will provide you with a detailed breakdown of your tummy tuck cost.

Abdominoplasty recovery time is approximately 4-6 weeks. During this time, you may need assistance completing many normal tasks following your tummy tuck, especially if you have young children. 

Many patients notice immediate improvements to the appearance of their shape following a tummy tuck. However, you may also experience swelling that temporarily obscures your results. In 4-6 weeks following surgery, your body will heal, swelling will decrease, and your new contours will become more visible.

Please wear comfortable, loose clothing so that Dr. MacDonald can examine the area and bring a list of questions you have for her to discuss.

 

You will be given preoperative instructions by Dr. MacDonald’s office a few days in advance of the procedure, along with all your prescriptions and postoperative instructions sheet. You will also be told when to arrive for the procedure and nothing to eat or drink after midnight. All patients should shave the top proton of the pubic area to decrease irritation along the incision line postoperatively.

Yes, you will have two drains coming out of each side of the incision. Typically, they stay in for 1-week.

Dr. MacDonald will assess you in the consultation, and, if required, she will repair the muscles at the time of surgery.

You will have increased abdominal definition after surgery, both from muscle repair and skin tightening. If you have a very thick upper abdomen, liposuction can help with this definition.

Abdominoplasty is a sculpting procedure to help remove redundant skin and tighten the muscle. Liposuction is often done with the procedure to help thin and flatten certain areas. Abdominoplasty is not a weight loss procedure.

All the sutures are under the skin and dissolving except the sutures around the drains. These are removed when the drains come out.

After the drains are removed, some patients may get rebound swelling or a collection of fluid called a seroma. This can be monitored in the office and treated by draining with a syringe. The lower part of the abdomen is typically numb in the postoperative period to ensure there is very little to no discomfort with this procedure.

 

You can get pregnant after an abdominoplasty. However, it will distort the results and may need a complete redo or some revision after your pregnancy.

The first two weeks are the most important for recovery, but Dr. MacDonald encourages you to be up and walking around during this time period. You can return to full activities, including exercising, at 6-weeks.

The most common complications are seroma formation or reaction to 1 or 2 of the dissolving sutures causing localized skin irritation.

There are rules around the amount of liposuction that can be done safely with this procedure. It is not recommended to do more than 5L of liposuction in conjunction with an abdominoplasty. Often, full body sculpting requires large volumes to be removed.

Exercising can begin around 6-weeks, but walking is recommended immediately postoperatively.

It’s best to avoid any strain or significant contracting of your abdominal muscles during the 6-weeks recovery period.

No. If you move in the way that Dr. MacDonald recommends, you will be fine.

The muscle tightening is the most uncomfortable part of the procedure. Dr. MacDonald gives you two options of pain management postoperatively.

When Dr. MacDonald removes the excess skin and fat from the abdomen, it detaches from your belly button. Your belly button remains attached to your abdomen. Once the skin is pulled and tightened into the final position, a hole is made through the skin, and your belly button is brought through this hole and suture into place. This creates a more youthful-looking belly button.

The typical Abdominoplasty or tummy tuck with muscle repair is a 2-hour procedure. This time will increase with add-on procedures such as liposuction and monsplasty.

 

Before leaving the hospital, the nurse will give you an information pamphlet and show you how to care for the drains. 

After surgery, the dressings should stay in place until the drains are removed. If the binder is bunching up and uncomfortable, you can open and readjust everything or add some extra padding.

You have two drains, so if one stops draining, the other will take up the extra fluid. If there is leakage around the drain, just wrap it with an absorbent pad (i.e., a maxi-pad), and change as needed until you see Dr. MacDonald.