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Get Your Old Figure Back With Tummy Tuck Surgery

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Natural-Looking Tummy Tuck Results

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Meet Dr. Kelly Tjelmeland

Dr. Kelly Tjelmeland (pronounced chel-muh-land) is a Board Certified plastic surgeon and the founder of Meridian Plastic Surgery Center.

  • 20+ Years of experience.
  • Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
  • Member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
  • Member of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
  • Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

What Is Tummy Tuck Surgery? Abdominoplasty Explained.

After pregnancy or extensive weight loss, you may have developed stretch marks, excess loose skin, or skin folds around your stomach. Your abdominal muscles may also have spread apart, which can cause fullness in the midsection and often a loss of core strength.

With tummy tuck surgery, Dr. Tjelmeland helps patients in Austin, around the state, and throughout the country get a more aesthetically pleasing abdominal contour — even when diet and exercise have been unsuccessful. As part of the surgery, he uses stitches to pull together and repair the abdominal muscle separation, and he removes excess skin from the stomach.

Dr. Tjelmeland will usually incorporate body contouring procedures as part of the tummy tuck, reshaping the upper abdomen and tapering to the hips for a more attractive shape. A lot of his patients have a tummy tuck in combination with a breast augmentation, breast lift, or a combination of these as part of a mommy makeover.

What Are The Benefits Of Getting A Tummy Tuck?

For many women, a tummy tuck is one of the few options for restoring their body to its pre-pregnancy state. If you have been missing your old figure and if diet and exercise have not been effective, surgery can provide you with the change you have been wanting. With this procedure, you can:

Get rid of loose skin and tighten your abdominal muscles.
Feel more at ease and comfortable about showing off your body.
Enjoy the aesthetic benefits without visible signs of surgery.
  • Dr. Tjelmeland will typically contour the upper abdomen and hips as well so that you can have a natural-looking and flattering figure.
  • Restore your breasts to a higher, more youthful position.
  • A tummy tuck can give you the confidence to wear the form-fitting clothing you have been avoiding.
  • Dr. Tjelmeland places incisions where they are well-hidden below the waistline. Also, by using the HARMONIC scalpel, he is able to reduce scarring and post-surgical discomfort significantly.

Fully Accredited and Licensed Ambulatory Surgery Center

Your consultation, pre-surgical visits, procedure, and follow-up appointments will all take place under one roof. Our Austin practice offers a fully accredited and licensed ambulatory surgery center.

Like hospitals, our facility adheres to the highest medical and surgical standards to provide exceptional patient care and safety. Having everything in-house means that you can receive treatment in a comfortable and familiar environment at every step.

Start with a visit to our practice to discuss your aesthetic goals. Dr. Tjelmeland is supported by a licensed and board-certified physician assistant and a full surgical and administrative staff.

During your appointment, you will get to know our team members and learn about your treatment options. If you are a good candidate for tummy tuck surgery, Dr. Tjelmeland will perform an examination, talk with you about the procedure, and answer any questions that may help you in your decision.

You Should Consider Tummy Tuck Surgery If:

You want increased core strength and stability, a flatter stomach, and a more shapely waistline.
You would like to get rid of the extra skin that has developed after pregnancy or major weight loss.
You are at least 18 years or older. Most of the tummy tuck patients that we see are 20 and older.

As part of your consultation and pre-surgical treatment, we will collect your medical history, make sure that you are in good health, and talk with you about your expectations. Our team will take the time to discuss what a tummy tuck can and cannot accomplish and answer any questions you may have.

How Much Does A Tummy Tuck Cost In The Austin Area?

When you are evaluating the price of a procedure, be sure to include all of the likely costs. Providers may only quote the cost of surgeon fees, but these fees are usually less than the total you would pay.

Fees to run the facility
Fees for surgeon costs
Fees for the cost of anesthesia

These fees reflect our extensive experience, our capabilities, and the type of results that we have provided to patients for years. Our pricing also gives patients access to resources that make surgeries more precise and less invasive, such as the HARMONIC scalpel. A procedure that takes less time may require less anesthesia, while the opposite is also true. In addition, our practice factors in the cost of EXPAREL, which is a long-acting anesthetic injected into your abdominal wall muscle at the time of surgery, which we use to reduce patient discomfort significantly in the days following surgery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Once you decide to have a tummy tuck, you will return to Meridian Plastic Surgery for a pre-surgical appointment. Most of our Austin patients make this visit about a week or so before their procedure.

During the appointment, you will share some additional medical information and sign consent forms and give you all of your instructions so that you are completely prepared for surgery. We will also provide you with guidelines for how to prepare for your procedure.

For most patients, these instructions are pretty simple. We will ask that you not eat or drink after midnight before your tummy tuck. We will also advise you to get certain prescriptions filled in advance to help in your recovery. Our office will offer a complete set of guidelines for you to take home.

In general, a tummy tuck usually takes between 2.5 and 4 hours. However, Dr. Tjelmeland plans each surgery based on the needs and goals of the patient, so times for procedures vary.

One factor that can affect the timing is the amount of tissue that you need to have removed. A longer incision may require more suturing, which takes more time. The same is true if a patient needs extensive liposuction to create natural-looking transitions between her belly, upper abdomen, and lower hips.

Dr. Tjelmeland performs tummy tuck procedures using light general anesthesia. You will be asleep throughout the entire process.

During a standard tummy tuck:

  • Dr. Tjelmeland will make a curved horizontal incision down by the pubic area. Placing the incision here helps hide the resulting scar below underwear or a bikini bottom.
  • He will then tighten loose abdominal muscles with sutures, reconstruct the navel, and remove excess skin and fat.

One of the most significant advances that Meridian Plastic Surgery offers is our use of EXPAREL. This long-lasting nerve block allows patients to wake up from their procedure significantly more comfortable than with traditional tummy tuck procedures. It is also a non-opioid, non-habit-forming medication.

In addition, Dr. Tjelmeland employs HARMONIC scalpel technology. This well-established and effective tool uses high-frequency ultrasonic energy to elevate skin. Because it operates at a low temperature, you should have less postoperative pain and swelling.

Your tummy tuck will be performed on an outpatient basis in our fully accredited and licensed surgery center. After 1-2 hours in recovery, patients will then go home.

Because the procedure focuses on sculpting a flatter midsection and because you use your abdomen frequently in daily life, a tummy tuck requires a more prolonged recovery than some other cosmetic procedures.

During your immediate post-operative recovery, you will not be able to perform any heavy lifting, including lifting or carrying small children. If you are a mother to little ones, consider enlisting the support of friends or family members for the first week or so.

Meridian Plastic Surgery is available to discuss the specifics of surgery with you, including the risks associated with having a tummy tuck procedure. We are committed to your comfort and safety.

Together, our board-certified surgeon and experienced medical team promote a high level of care. Our practice is state-licensed and nationally accredited, and we meet the most rigorous medical standards of the state and the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities (AAAASF).

Real Patients. Real Experiences.

Take The First Step – Request A Consultation!

We would love to learn more about how we can help you with your tummy tuck surgery. Call (512) 200-9672 to schedule your initial consultation or click below to use our online form.

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