Tummy Tuck in Alpharetta, GA
Abdominoplasty is a procedure designed to tighten the muscles of the abdominal wall and remove excess skin and fat, giving you a sleeker, more supported midsection. Whether your figure has changed as the natural result of aging or because of pregnancy and childbirth, a tummy tuck in Alpharetta, GA, can restore your figure so that you can feel confident in your body, no matter where you are in your life journey.
Only you can decide what beauty feels like for you. Board-certified female plastic surgeon Dr. Stephanie Farber understands the impact plastic surgery can have. She honors the varied beauty ideals of her patients and uses her artistic talents and meticulous surgical skills to turn her patients’ visions into reality.
We want your confidence and happiness to outshine even the most beautiful surgical result.
For a tummy tuck by one of Alpharetta’s premier female plastic surgeons, Dr. Farber, contact Stephanie Farber Plastic Surgery today at (470) 961-9950 or request a consultation online. We proudly offer a compassionate, safe space for everyone to refine their appearance and boost their confidence in Milton, GA, and the surrounding areas, including Alpharetta, Atlanta, and the rest of Georgia.
What Is a Tummy Tuck?
A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is a procedure that removes loose skin and excess fat from the abdomen. It also tightens weakened abdominal muscles to create a flatter, more toned midsection. It benefits individuals who want to improve the appearance of their abdomen and overall physique.
Dr. Farber will work with you to customize your procedure, including determining the appropriate incision length and whether liposuction might enhance your results. Dr. Farber may also recommend a mini tummy tuck, which requires a smaller incision and focuses on addressing excess skin in the lower abdomen.
- A firmer, more defined midsection
- Improved abdominal tone
- Reduced back pain
- More balanced proportions
- Natural-looking, long-lasting results
- Increased confidence and enhanced self-image
A tummy tuck is a powerful body-contouring procedure designed to refine your shape, not replace weight loss. The best results are typically seen in individuals who are at or near a stable weight that feels right for them. During your consultation, Dr. Farber will listen closely to your goals, thoughtfully assess your needs, and guide you through what’s safely and beautifully achievable—always with honesty, care, and confidence in mind.
Dr. Stephanie Farber
Dr. Stephanie Farber is a board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in cosmetic and reconstructive procedures for the face, breasts, and body. With a background in both plastic surgery and the fine arts, she combines technical skill with an artistic eye to create natural, balanced results. Known for her personalized approach, Dr. Farber takes the time to understand each patient’s goals and crafts every surgical plan to bring their vision to life.
Choosing Dr. Farber as Your Tummy Tuck Surgeon in Alpharetta, GA
There is no single definition of beauty. Only you can decide what beauty means for you. This is a core principle at Stephanie Farber Plastic Surgery. When you partner with board-certified female plastic surgeon Dr. Stephanie Farber, you will find that your unique beauty ideals will be honored and celebrated. She approaches each patient seeking plastic surgery with sensitivity, understanding, and surgical and artistic expertise.
Plastic surgery is not simply medicine. A plastic surgeon must not only be an exceptional surgeon but must also have a complex and innate understanding of artistry and balance. In addition to training at one of the most prestigious plastic surgery residencies in the country, Dr. Farber is also an artist formally trained in drawing, painting, sculpture, and calligraphy. Dr. Farber has the unique ability to bring finely tuned artistry and surgical precision to the operating room.
Stephanie Farber Plastic Surgery is a holistic destination for beauty and wellness where patients have access to exceptional care and advanced aesthetic treatments of all types, and Dr. Farber is steadfast in her commitment to safely and compassionately helping her patients feel amazing in their bodies.
As Dr. Farber often says, “The best surgical result is only as powerful as the confidence it inspires.”
Your Tummy Tuck Consultation
The moment you walk through the door for your tummy tuck consultation in Alpharetta, GA, you will feel welcomed and like you belong here. Stephanie Farber Plastic Surgery is a safe space for everyone who wants to look like themselves, only a little more refined. On the day of your consultation, you will be met with kind, empathetic staff who are committed to fostering a judgment-free space where you will feel comfortable being open and honest about your goals.
As one of Alpharetta’s premier female plastic surgeons, Dr. Farber can connect with and understand her patient’s concerns in a way that others cannot. Not only will you have the opportunity to talk about how you want to look, but you will also have the opportunity to discuss how you want to feel in your body. Once you are ready for the physical examination, Dr. Farber will assess your abdominal tissue and muscles to sketch out a meticulously designed surgical plan that will help you safely achieve your goals and honor your natural beauty.
Preparing for Your Tummy Tuck Consultation
One of the best ways to prepare for your tummy tuck consultation in Atlanta, GA, is to get excited about the life-changing experience you are about to have. It is helpful to review your specific goals and be able to articulate how you want to look and who you want to be after plastic surgery. For example, you could say things like:
- I want to be able to wear the clothes or swimsuits that I want while feeling like I look my best.
- I want to feel stronger and see better results from my exercise efforts.
- I want to have greater core strength and reduce my back pain to enjoy physical activities.
- I want to tighten and remove the loose, excess skin around my midsection.
Your possibilities are endless! What are you most excited to feel, wear, or do after your tummy tuck?
Choosing a Full Tummy Tuck or Mini Tummy Tuck
Whether you choose a full tummy tuck or a mini tummy tuck, your abdominal muscles will be repaired and tightened, Dr. Farber will remove excess skin and fat, and you will have an incision above your pubic area that is easily concealed. The difference between these two options lies in whether any repairs or refinements need to be done above the belly button. In the case of a mini tummy tuck, Dr. Farber will only treat the area below the belly button. In the case of a full tummy tuck, Dr. Farber will treat the entire abdomen and reposition the skin around your belly button.
During your consultation, Dr. Farber will consider your goals and anatomy to help guide you toward choosing the procedure that will provide you with a result consistent with your goals. She will also work with you to decide the appropriate incision length, further customizing your tummy tuck.
Complementary Procedures
A tummy tuck can be a stand-alone procedure or part of a larger treatment plan. Dr. Farber will only perform a combination of procedures that she knows can be performed safely and that she knows will give you a result consistent with your goals. That said, she often combines a tummy tuck with liposuction, breast procedures, or other procedures that will help you achieve your ideal physique.
How Do I Know a Tummy Tuck Is Right for Me?
You may be a great candidate for a tummy tuck if you’re in good health and feel frustrated by excess skin or stubborn fat around your midsection. If you’re looking to restore a smoother, more youthful shape and feel more confident in your body, a tummy tuck could be the right choice for you.
Ideal tummy tuck candidates in Alpharetta, GA, are:
- Generally healthy enough for surgery
- Have a clear vision of their ideal outcome and realistic expectations about what a tummy tuck can accomplish
- Understand the surgical risks and benefits
Preparing for Your Tummy Tuck in Atlanta, GA
- Stay positive and get excited! Loving your results starts before you get to the surgical center.
- Make sure you are hydrated by drinking plenty of water the day before your surgery.
- Fill all of your prescription medications and have them ready for when you get home.
- Make sure you have nothing to eat or drink after midnight on the night before your surgery.
- Shower and wash your body with an antibacterial soap.
- Do not wear makeup, lotions, skincare products, or deodorants to your surgery.
- Come dressed in comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that will be easy to put on after surgery. Do not wear jewelry, or contact lenses to your surgery.
- Complete necessary medical tests, such as routine bloodwork or appointments with your primary care provider, to ensure you are healthy enough for surgery.
- Prepare healthy, balanced meals ahead of time so that you can maintain a well-balanced diet high in protein during your recovery.
- Arrange for help around the house and with child or pet care if necessary.
- Avoid taking anti-inflammatory medications like aspirin or herbal supplements that can increase bleeding risk.
Tummy Tuck Procedure Overview
On the day of your tummy tuck in Atlanta, GA, you will be escorted to a private room where you will be prepped for surgery. Once you’re ready, Dr. Farber will come sit down with you to give you one more opportunity to express your goals and priorities so that you can go into surgery feeling confident that she understands your vision and will execute it. She will thoughtfully mark your abdomen for surgery and confirm every detail with you. If you’d like, you can even bring specific underwear or bikini bottoms to your surgery appointment so Dr. Farber can tailor the incision placement to ensure it will be hidden beneath your preferred styles.
Once you are comfortably sedated and prepped in the operating room, Dr. Farber will make an incision along your lower abdomen, according to the plan you and Dr. Farber customized during your consultation. The incision will be low enough to be easily concealed by underwear or a swimsuit. After Dr. Farber has made the incision, she will repair your abdominal muscles, excise excess skin and fat, and, if necessary, reshape your existing belly button. Dr. Farber has been refining her technique to deliver the best possible tummy tuck results.
During surgery, Dr. Farber will administer a long-acting numbing agent to make your recovery more comfortable. She will then place a long-lasting surgical dressing designed to decrease skin tension, reducing the amount of visible scarring.
As soon as your tummy tuck is completed, you will be taken to a private recovery room where you will wake up to friendly faces cheering you on as you get your first glimpse at your results so you can go home feeling excited and supported. Before you are discharged, Dr. Farber will fit you with a compression garment to support your recovery.
What to Expect from Your Tummy Tuck Recovery
Dr. Farber uses a rapid recovery protocol that helps patients recover quickly while minimizing the need for narcotic pain medications. She utilizes several medications to reduce pain in the hope that you will experience a manageable amount of pain while reducing narcotic side effects. Generally, patients take a week or two off work to rest and recover and get back to their normal routines within a month.
- Enjoy the immediacy of your tummy tuck results!
- Your surgical dressing will stay in place for 2 to 3 weeks, and you will be able to shower shortly after surgery. Less maintenance at home means you have more time to focus on resting, relaxation, and self-care.
- You should wear your compression garment at all times during recovery except when laundering or showering to provide support.
- Prioritize a balanced, nutritious diet to make sure your body has everything it needs to heal.
- Take light, gentle walks to improve blood flow.
- Arrange for help around the house and with any pet or childcare while you recover.
If you have any questions or concerns about your tummy tuck recovery, please don’t hesitate to call the office at (470) 961-9950. We are available at all hours to answer your questions.
When Will I See My Tummy Tuck Results?
While you may notice an immediate difference, you will be able to see and enjoy your results more and more as the swelling goes down over the course of the weeks and months following your surgery. Between three and six months, your swelling will have largely disappeared, and your scar will begin to fade. While residual swelling may last up to a year, you can enjoy your final results much earlier.
Restore Your Strength and Your Confidence
By partnering with a female plastic surgeon who specializes in surgeries that are meticulously designed with your unique definition of beauty in mind, you can go forward feeling confident that Dr. Farber sincerely understands your goals.
To schedule your consultation with one of Alpharetta, Georgia’s leading female plastic surgeons, call Dr. Stephanie Farber at (470) 961-9950 or complete our online contact form. A more comfortable, confident life is ahead of you!
Tummy Tuck FAQs
How should I prepare for my tummy tuck consultation? Do I need to lose weight?
The best way to prepare for a consultation for any procedure is to have a very clear idea of your goals for surgery, which will help us make the best plan together. Also, it is important to be in good health, eat a diet high in protein, exercise regularly, and be close to a weight that you would be comfortable and happy maintaining for the rest of your life. All of this helps you be in optimal shape for surgery!
Will a tummy tuck help me lose weight?
Though a tummy tuck is not a weight loss operation, many people have an easier time exercising after surgery because they have less back pain, are able to use their core muscles better, and feel more confident overall. This confidence can sometimes accelerate weight loss.
What should I expect the day of my tummy tuck procedure?
You will arrive at the surgery center the day of surgery to complete all the preoperative preparations. While this is underway, I will come to see you, and we will go over markings, confirm our surgical plan, and review any final questions. Usually, my patient and I both feel even more excited for surgery after we see each other that day! You will head back to the operating room and will wake up in the blink of an eye once your surgery is over. After waking up in the recovery room, you will get up to walk and change prior to going home.
What are 3 things to look for in great tummy tuck results?
I pride myself on a low scar, an aesthetically pleasing belly button, and a natural-looking result. Careful placement and meticulous closure of the incision are so important to make sure that the scar is hidden in a bikini or other clothing. An unnatural belly button can be a big giveaway that you have had surgery, so I have refined my technique very carefully to make sure that your belly button will leave your abdominoplasty a mystery. Finally, there are many nuances to my technique that ensure that your tummy tuck will look natural and harmonious with the rest of your body.
Will my “abs” show after a tummy tuck?
Your abs will definitely be more functional after surgery if you have a muscle repair done at the same time. By bringing your six-pack muscles back together, we make sure that your core works normally, which can also relieve back pain and other musculoskeletal problems. Visible abdominal muscles result from a combination of strong muscles and a thin layer of subcutaneous fat. Though I can do some thinning of the subcutaneous fat, you may or may not have strong muscles before surgery that would make them visible after surgery. However, having muscle repair will make your abs easier to strengthen after.
Do you need to recreate the belly button during a tummy tuck?
You will have the same belly button after surgery, but it will come through a new opening in your skin. This means that its shape will be more refreshed, and any stretch marks around it will be gone. Also, I am very meticulous about tucking the scar carefully inside your belly button to make sure it is nicely hidden and so that no one will know that you have had surgery.
Will I have drains after a tummy tuck? How long will I have drains?
I prefer to use drains because I think they make the end result safe, predictable, and beautiful. The length of time you will have drains depends on many factors, including how much tissue was removed, whether you had liposuction, and how much protein you get in your diet. Usually, your drains will only be in for a few weeks or less, and they will prevent problems during your recovery and make your result long-lasting.
Do you always repair the muscle during tummy tuck surgery?
In the operating room, I examine your muscles up close and determine whether muscle repair would help you. Some women have no muscle separation, and some have very little—in these cases, a muscle repair will not offer much benefit. However, in cases where the muscle separation is more significant, a repair has several benefits, including improved contour, strength, function, and comfort with daily activities.
Will sutures need to be removed after a tummy tuck?
I only use absorbable sutures that are underneath the skin, so you should never even see your sutures. I also use a dressing that stays on until the incisions are healed, so you will not have to perform any dressing changes either.
How long will post-surgery swelling last after a tummy tuck?
Swelling can last varying amounts of time depending on many factors. In general, swelling starts to subside after about 2 to 3 weeks. After about 6 weeks, most of the swelling will have dissipated, but the small remaining amount of swelling will continue to go down for a few more months. Though others will think you look great at the 4- to 6-week mark (or even right away!), you will continue to see your waist get smaller for 2 to 3 more months.
Can I get pregnant after a tummy tuck?
It is best to have a tummy tuck after you are done having children so that you can enjoy your results forever. If you do unexpectedly get pregnant after surgery, a tummy tuck will not cause any problems with your pregnancy, other than a bit more discomfort from your muscles and skin being tighter.
Can I have a full body sculpting at the same time as a tummy tuck?
Liposuction can safely and strategically be combined with abdominoplasty. My favorite thing is to combine back and waist liposuction with a tummy tuck to make your waist even smaller. Some patients choose to have liposuction on other areas, too. I am always careful to remain within the safe limits for how much liposuction can be performed at one time.
How long before I can safely exercise after a tummy tuck?
I recommend walking and light activity immediately following a tummy tuck. You should wait to do any heavy lifting that requires straining or any exercise that elevates your heart rate or blood pressure until a month after surgery.
When can I pick up my baby or toddler after a tummy tuck?
I recommend having an extra set of hands for the first 2 weeks after surgery. The most important thing is to not do any lifting that requires straining. If your child is gentle, you can hold him or her a few days after surgery, but it is best to wait a week or two before actually lifting him or her. As a mom myself, I know this is hard, but I also know that a week or two goes by in the blink of an eye with our little ones, and it will be worth it in the end!
My abdomen feels tight after tummy tuck surgery. Will I hurt something if I move?
I believe that my patients’ results should be functional in addition to being beautiful. I do not make my abdominoplasties so tight that patients cannot move, so gentle movement is safe after surgery. Feeling tight is very normal, and it is important to listen to your body as you recover and make sure you are not doing anything that makes you feel less comfortable.
