Tummy Tuck & Mini Tummy Tuck in Austin, TX | Dr. Rocco Piazza (2023)

Having children or losing a significant amount of weight often leave behind excess abdominal skin that remains even if you exercise and eat a healthy diet. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Rocco Piazza performs tummy tuck and mini tummy tuck cosmetic surgery in Austin to help patients from New Braunfels, Laredo, Wimberley, Dripping Springs, Kyle,and throughout Texas restore a flatter, more contoured stomach. These truly transformative procedures provide long-lasting results that are extremely natural looking.

Your Personal Consultation

Women and men considering tummy tuck surgery meet with Dr. Piazza to discuss their concerns and aesthetic goals. During the consultation, he performs a physical exam to ensure that a tummy tuck is the best procedure to meet those goals. Because every patient’s case is unique, Dr. Piazza creates a customized surgical plan based on the exam and your discussion.

Meet Dr. Piazza

Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Rocco C. Piazza looks forward to meeting with you to help you discover how you can achieve your cosmetic goals and desires.

About Dr. Piazza

A Surgeon's Perspective

"Many of my tummy tuck patients come to see me with the desire to feel restored and reverse many of the changes that occurred to their body during pregnancy. It is my goal to make sure that each patient's goals and desires are met so that she feels restored and confident to be her best-self."

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Ideal Tummy Tuck Candidates

Most tummy tucks address three primary concerns, especially for women who have had children:

• During the procedure, Dr. Piazza uses liposuction to reduce abdominal fat.
• He also repairs the rectus abdominis muscles if they have become separated during pregnancy (diastasis recti repair).
• He removes excess skin from the abdominal area.

The combination of these three procedures improves the appearance of the abdomen and provides a slim and toned midsection that looks great in a bathing suit. Even though a tummy tuck combined with liposuction reduces fat, it’s not a weight-loss procedure. Ideal tummy tuck candidates are in good overall health and are at or near their ideal weight.

Patients with a body mass index (BMI) of less than 30 can safely undergo a tummy tuck. Here’s a BMI calculator that can help you estimate your body fat.

Liposuction vs. Tummy Tuck: Do I Need a Tummy Tuck or Just Liposuction?

Liposuction is a great option for someone with firm, elastic skin whose primary concern is addressing extra fat in the midsection. I can sculpt this area with liposuction, and healthy, resilient skin will shrink to fit the new contours. Tummy tuck surgery is the right choice if you have excess, stretched skin and separated abdominal muscles, which is often the case after massive weight loss or pregnancy. Liposuction alone will not improve either of these conditions and would produce an unsatisfying result.

Can I Still Get Pregnant After Tummy Tuck Surgery?

While it is possible to get pregnant after tummy tuck surgery, it is not recommended to have a tummy tuck if you’re planning on having more children. Additional pregnancies will once again stretch the skin and muscles, and could have a negative effect on your results.

Your Custom Tummy Tuck Surgery

Dr. Piazza begins your tummy tuck by creating an incision just above the pubic bone. This incision extends across the lower abdomen where the scar can be easily concealed by a bikini bottom. Dr. Piazza then tightens the abdominal muscles utilizing an advanced suturing technique and uses liposuction to sculpt a toned midsection. After that, he removes excess skin from the area.

Before closing the incision, Dr. Piazza repositions your belly button and ensures its appearance is aesthetically pleasing. Dr. Piazza believes that positioning the belly button correctly is one of the most important outcomes of the procedure because the belly button is so visible on the body. He sculpts the abdominal tissue around the belly button and plans the procedure so that the scar is concealed just inside the belly button. Learn more in this blog post.

A tummy tuck can take anywhere from 1 to 4 hours, depending on your specific concerns and your anatomy. During your consultation, Dr. Piazza can explain precisely what techniques he uses and answer any questions you may have.

Mini Tummy Tuck

In a few Austin patients, Dr. Piazza determines that a full tummy tuck isn’t needed. When the area of loose skin and excess fat is confined completely below the belly button, a mini tummy tuck may be possible. The advantage of this technique is that Dr. Piazza can make a shorter incision and the belly button isn’t re-positioned. Additionally, the recovery time is a bit shorter. You can discuss this option during your consultation, but most patients need a full abdominoplasty.

Dr. Piazza has created a special mini tummy tuck technique called “The Skin Pinch™.” Designed to address excess fat and skin in the lower abdomen, this procedure is appropriate for patients who are seeking a flatter stomach but don’t require a traditional tummy tuck. Learn more aboutThe Skin Pinch™ on our blog.

Your Tummy Tuck Recovery & Results

Immediately after surgery, you’ll need someone to drive you home and stay with you for the first 24 hours. During that time:

• Your abdomen will feel very tight and pretty sore.
• You’ll need to carefully empty, monitor, and care for your surgical drains (see video).
• It’s important to get up and walk around for 5 to 10 minutes about every 2 hours during the day.
• Stay ahead of your discomfort by taking your prescription pain medication on time.
• Pain medication can cause constipation, so drink lots of fluids and consider taking a stool softener.

You’ll have the opportunity to meet with Dr. Piazza at the following post-op milestones:

First week

• Right drain and all incision dressings are removed at your post-op appointment within 5 to 7 days.
• You’ll continue to be sore and won’t be able to stand completely upright.
• You may still need pain medication during this period.
• Continue gently walking 7 to 8 times each day to promote circulation and reduce the risk of blood clots.

Second week

• Left drain is removed after 10 to 14 days at your second post-op appointment.
• It should become easier to walk upright and you’ll notice much less swelling.
• You may get the green light from Dr. Piazza to resume some low-impact exercises.

One month

• Piazza will evaluate your incisions and start you on our tummy tuck scar protocol for optimal scar healing.
• You should be feeling good and seeing a significant reduction in swelling.
• You can stop wearing your compression garment, although some people may continue to wear it for support.

6 weeks

• You will be cleared to resume your workout routine, but listen to your body and start slowly.

3 months

• Most people have little to no swelling at this point, but some will experience intermittent swelling.
• Scars continue to heal, and you will continue your scar protocol including sun protection.

6 months

• At this appointment, we take your “after” photos, since most patients enjoy full results at this point.
• Incisions will continue to fade over the course of a year.

After your 6-month appointment, you will be scheduled for annual follow-up appointments to document your results and make sure you’re happy and healthy.

Caring for Your Drain After a Tummy Tuck

Ready for a Flatter, Toned Abdomen?

At The Piazza Center, we believe that beautiful surgical results are enhanced by a healthy lifestyle. Our aim is to help you achieve your cosmetic goals and desires. If you would like to find out more information regarding tummy tuck surgery, you can request an in-person or virtual consultation online or call our office at (512) 551-1067.

Dr. Piazza Answers Common Questions

Can a tummy tuck be combined with other procedures?

Yes, it is possible to combine other procedures with a tummy tuck. I typically use liposuction to further enhance the results of the tummy tuck procedure by removing excess fat in specific areas of the midsection. Also, a lot of my Austin tummy tuck patients who have had children also have interest in correcting sagging breasts with a breast lift or restoring breast volume with breast augmentaton. By combining these procedures as part of a mommy makeover, a more comprehensive result is achievable.

How much weight do you lose with a tummy tuck?

Tummy tuck surgery is not a weight loss method; it is important for my patients to understand that this is a body contouring surgery aimed to create a smoother and firmer midsection. While weight loss after a tummy tuck isn’t significant for most patients, many can wear smaller pants and dresses.

Should I lose weight before a tummy tuck?

In general, I prefer my patients to be close to their ideal weight before their surgery, usually within 5 to 10 pounds of their goal weight. For your tummy tuck to be as successful as possible, it is important that you maintain a healthy, active lifestyle. For instance, exercising regularly and not smoking will help you recover faster from surgery. Each patient has their own unique story when they come in for a consultation, and I create a customized treatment plan based on our discussion.

Delivering an Exceptional Anesthesia Experience for Our Patients

At The Piazza Center, our patients come first. We have listened to our patients and in an effort to reduce the uncertainty with the anesthesia experience, The Piazza Center has developed a collaborative relationship with Dr. Cady to deliver an exceptional anesthesia experience for patients like you.

“By far the best anesthesia experience I've ever had. Thank you!!”

Learn more about Dr. Cady, D.O. and The Piazza Center’s approach to taking the fear and stress out of anesthesia.

Learn More

How far in advance should I stop smoking before my procedure?

We tell our patients to abstain from all tobacco products for 4 weeks prior to surgery. This is critical for optimal safety, healing, and results. We want all of our patients to remain tobacco-free permanently after their surgery to prolong their results and their lives.

Is tummy tuck surgery safe?

Yes, tummy tuck surgery has a long record of safety when performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon. One of the more significant risks associated with tummy tuck surgery is seroma, or accumulation of fluid at the surgical site. We typically prevent this complication by placing surgical drains in the area for up to a week after surgery.

Does a tummy tuck help remove some stretch marks?

Usually, some stretch marks are removed during a tummy tuck. A full tummy tuck removes a significant amount of skin from the abdomen. Any stretch marks on that skin will be removed. Some people find that their remaining stretch marks are less noticeable after surgery when the skin is tighter.