Tighten Skin & Restore Weakened Muscles to Create a Smoother, Firmer Abdominal Profile
- Remove excess skin & fat
- Tighten abdominal muscles
- Reverse pregnancy-related changes
- Partially or totally remove loose skin & stretch marks
- Minimal pain in recovery with TAP nerve block
- Drain-free recovery whenever possible
Fort Worth’s Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Emily J. Kirby performs tummy tuck surgery, or abdominoplasty, to remove excess skin and fat from the abdominal wall. During a tummy tuck, she will tighten and restore your abdominal muscles back to their correct anatomical position, revealing your new shapely, contoured waist. Stretch marks and loose skin can be partially or totally removed in this increasingly popular surgical procedure.
Dr. Kirby Explains: “What is a tummy tuck?”
Many of us strive to attain a flat, well-toned abdomen through exercise and weight control. However, sometimes these methods are not enough to achieve our goals. For individuals who have lost a significant amount of weight, there is no exercise that can restore elasticity to skin that has stretched beyond its ability to bounce back. Even individuals with normal body weight can have an abdomen that bulges or is loose and sagging. The most common causes of this are pregnancy, aging, changes in weight, genetics and previous surgery.
Meet Dr. Emily Kirby
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
- Founder and Medical Director of Kirby Plastic Surgery, Kalos Medical Spa, and City Surgery Center—a Quad A-accredited, state-of-the-art facility located onsite
- Specialist in breast surgery and body contouring, including postpartum
- Castle Connolly Top Doctor since 2019
- Over 14 years of experience in private practice
- First female Chief of Plastic Surgery, Texas Health Resources Harris Methodist Hospital
Techniques for Tummy Tuck
1. Mini Tummy Tuck
Mini abdominoplasty removes a moderate amount of skin from the lower abdomen without repositioning the belly button. It is specifically designed to help correct the appearance of bulging in the lower part of the abdomen, beneath the belly button. Though this technique results in the smallest scars, mini abdominoplasty is not a good technique for patients with significant amounts of excess skin on their entire abdomen. This will be better treated by full abdominoplasty. Furthermore, with this procedure, Dr. Kirby will not be able to address or tighten the muscles above the belly button, limiting the use of this procedure in specific circumstances.
A mini tummy tuck may be a great option if you are healthy and at a stable weight, without a large excess of abdominal skin. Typically, the best candidates are primarily concerned about loose skin or a protruding lower belly only—this procedure is reserved for patients whose abdominal changes are down low. If you have significantly stretched, sagging skin or muscles, a full tummy tuck may achieve better results.
Similar to a traditional tummy tuck, mini tummy tuck surgery is not a substitute for weight loss or a healthy exercise program. Although the results are lasting, the outcome can be influenced by changes in your weight following surgery. If you are planning substantial weight loss or if you are considering future pregnancy, you may be advised to postpone mini tummy tuck surgery.
The mini tummy tuck incision is much shorter than a traditional, full tummy tuck incision. This may be the only incision, and the belly button is allowed to “float” downwards to a new position without an additional belly button incision. Other techniques include a scar around the belly button. Incision placement is specific to your body and to your surgery, and Dr. Kirby will discuss the incisions with you prior to your surgery.
Mini tummy tuck surgery is performed under general anesthesia for optimal comfort. This means you will be asleep for the entire procedure. If performed alone, a mini tummy tuck typically takes 1-2 hours. The procedure may be performed in combination with other cosmetic procedures, such as liposuction or breast surgery. Combination surgery will take longer.
“I can’t say enough positive things about my experience! I had a mommy makeover and I couldn’t believe how comfortable I was with Dr. Kirby. She was referred to me, and just as I was told, she is incredible!!! Her entire staff was so wonderful and friendly. I love that everything is all in one facility. It is very convenient and the location is great. I highly recommend Kirby Plastic Surgery!!!”
—5-star review
2. Full Tummy Tuck
Full abdominoplasty removes lax skin, and fat, from above and below the belly button. The full tummy tuck repositions the belly button to a more proportionate spot. This procedure is best at treating patients who have a significant amount of skin laxity on their stomach, where changes in shape are desired above and below the belly button.
Using an incision that runs low from hipbone to hipbone, Dr. Kirby can tighten the muscle wall with sutures. This procedure may also be beneficial for patients with stretch marks below the belly button, although stretch mark removal is not guaranteed. The resulting scar is carefully positioned so that it is hidden from view by most clothing, and good surgical technique is essential to minimize scarring. A full tummy tuck is the most common type of abdominoplasty.
3. Extended Tummy Tuck
Extended abdominoplasty uses the longest incision of the three techniques, but it will also offer the most comprehensive results. This technique is usually reserved for those who have lost a large amount of weight and need the excess skin removed to show their slim, toned results. This procedure not only removes skin and repositions the belly button, but it also removes skin from the flanks, or love handles.
WEIGHT LOSS INJECTIONS & Abdominoplasty: What you need to know
If you are using weight loss injections for weight management, let Dr. Kirby know during your consultation. We regularly see patients who take weight loss medications and are happy to recommend the right timing between ending the medication once you’ve reached your goals and performing your tummy tuck. We recommend you stop weight loss medication about 2-3 weeks before surgery to avoid anesthesia complications. It is important that you are at a stable weight when Dr. Kirby designs your surgery plan so your results are optimal and long-lasting.
“Dr. Kirby and her staff are amazing. They go above and beyond to prepare you for surgery. I’ve honestly never seen a doctor cover all the bases like her team does. Very impressive. They instruct and prepare you for the best possible outcome both for surgery and recovery. They make you feel important and cared for. They sent me home with a care package that had pretty much everything I needed and then some to make recovery as comfortable as possible. I would absolutely use Dr. Kirby again and highly recommend her and her team.”
—5-star review
Your tummy tuck consultation
Your consultation takes about one hour. You’ll spend most of that time with Dr. Kirby discussing your goals, concerns, and questions, and learning how Dr. Kirby tailors the procedure to address each of these. You’ll also get to meet our nursing staff who will take your vitals and review your medical history, and our patient care coordinator will schedule your procedure and help guide you through the process from start to finish.
Combining your tummy tuck with breast and body contouring
Liposuction is also frequently performed at the same time as a tummy tuck, in order to further enhance the shape of the lower abdomen. This procedure is also frequently included as part of a mommy makeover, and it may be combined with a breast procedure.
How much does a tummy tuck cost in Fort Worth, TX?
The cost of your tummy tuck with Fort Worth plastic surgeon Dr. Emily Kirby will depend on the extent of your procedure needed to achieve your desired goals (i.e. mini, standard, full, or extended abdominoplasty), as well as whether or not you choose to combine your surgery with liposuction, breast enhancement, or even additional non-surgical treatments. We offer financing options to help make paying for your procedures as simple and seamless as possible!
“From the beginning, it was apparent that Dr. Kirby is a caring individual who was interested in my welfare and recovery.”
—5-star review
Dr. Kirby Offers Advanced Pain Management with TAP Nerve Block
Tummy tuck surgery will be performed under general anesthesia, and some patients may also benefit from a TAP nerve block, as well. The TAP block is an injection of local anesthetic (numbing medication) into the neurovascular plane between the transversus abdominis muscle and internal oblique muscle, which numbs the tissues of the lower abdomen from the belly button to the upper thigh. A TAP block prevents the nerves from sending pain signals from your surgical site, thereby reducing pain post-surgery.
Pain relief from a single TAP block should last up to 12 to 24 hours. A TAP block does not eliminate pain entirely. You will still use additional pain medication after surgery, but patients report using less narcotic pain medication and for a shorter period of time when a TAP block has been performed.
What are the benefits of a TAP block?
Dr. Kirby has found that using a TAP block for tummy tuck patients comes with a number of benefits, including:
- Feeling less sedated and more alert after surgery
- Able to be up and walking sooner post-surgery
- Able to start eating a regular diet earlier after surgery
- More effective pain control
- Less constipation caused by narcotic pain medications
- Less nausea caused by narcotic pain medications
Many of Dr. Kirby’s tummy tuck patients opt for a TAP block to reduce discomfort after surgery so they can get settled at home and start the healing process.
Dr. Kirby Explains: “How can I make recovery easier?”
“From the first surgery to the last (4 total), my recovery has been easy and painless. After the surgeries I was sore but not to sore or painful enough to require me to take pain medication, which I was prescribed just in case! After a few days I was able to function as normal, while taking it easy as I was not fully healed. I followed the recommended time off per procedure. Dr. Kirby and her team have been so very caring throughout the entire process. I am so thankful I found a doctor and team who puts their patients safety first no matter the cost!”
—5-star review
What are drainless tummy tucks?
A drainless tummy tuck is a variation of the tummy tuck surgery that combines liposuction with a traditional tummy tuck and does so while using a specific layered suturing technique that eliminates the need for post-surgical drains.
Typical tummy tucks include a drain, or tubing, as part of the recovery process. Since your body naturally produces liquid as an immune response (swelling) after surgery, these drains collect excess liquid the body can’t absorb and allow it to move out of the abdominal cavity.
A drainless tummy tuck, in contrast, uses sutures to reduce the space between the skin and muscle tissue. Liquid from swelling then distributes evenly through the abdomen making the fluid collection less noticeable.
Dr. Kirby performs drainless tummy tucks whenever possible.
Dr. Kirby Explains: “Can I get a drainless tummy tuck?”
Minimizing scarring with Embrace scar therapy
Although Dr. Kirby takes care to place tummy tuck incisions low on the belly, where they can more easily be concealed by a swimsuit, she understands that you want the least noticeable scar possible, no matter what you are wearing! To help, Dr. Kirby offers Embrace® scar therapy, an FDA-cleared treatment that is clinically proven to improve scar formation.
Embrace strips are flexible, comfortable, and breathable clear silicone tape strips that gently contract around your incision to dramatically reduce tension, protect your healing incision, and create the optimal environment for healing. Our patients who use Embrace during their postoperative care are very happy they did—they have much thinner, lighter, and flatter scars in the months after tummy tuck surgery than they expected.
The strips are easy to use and stay on for about 10 days each, even while showering and sleeping. Dr. Kirby and her team will show you how to use Embrace scar strips during your post-operative visits if you choose to use them.
Book Your Consult Today
- Discuss your goals and concerns
- Obtain a unique female perspective for tummy tucks
- Review convenient financing options