What is Tummy Tuck?

Also known as abdominoplasty, tummy tuck is a body contouring procedure designed to eliminate loose skin and fat that are resistant to even the strictest weight loss efforts. During a tummy tuck, Dr. Reagan excises loose, sagging skin tissue and tightens the underlying abdominal muscles that may have been stretched out due to pregnancy or weight gain. Stubborn pockets of fat may also be removed for a firmer, flatter contour. If you have stretchmarks in the lower abdomen, these will likely be removed with the excess skin tissue.

San Diego’s warm weather year-round makes a beach and sculpted body almost a necessity. But if a flabby abdomen is making you hide your figure under bulky clothes instead of a bathing suit, a tummy tuck may be the solution you need to feel confident in your body. Dr. Brian Reagan offers drainless tummy tuck, which includes liposuction for additional body sculpting and improves your recovery experience by eliminating post-surgical drains with a multi-layered suture technique.

True Beauty San Diego Aesthetic Surgery & Medicine has helped hundreds of men and women get the sculpted and toned abdomen they desire. Led by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Reagan, our practice focuses on delivering personalized care and natural-looking results that all patients can enjoy.

The "Drainless" Tummy Tuck

Abdominoplasty may be performed with various techniques. Our board-certified plastic surgeon prefers the drainless tummy tuck because of its many advantages. Drainless tummy tuck combines the traditional abdominoplasty procedure with liposuction and closes the abdomen with a series of layered sutures to eliminate the need for post-surgical drains. This technique offers a faster, less complicated recovery and more comprehensive results.

Drainless tummy tuck starts with liposuction to tone the area and remove stubborn fat while minimizing surgical intervention. Dr. Reagan then makes an incision along the abdomen that is typically concealed below the underwear or bikini line. He will expertly tighten the abdominal muscles, excise loose skin tissue and use several suture layers to close the incision.

How is the drainless tummy tuck different? Surgical drains are traditionally used for abdominoplasty to stop fluid from building up behind the tissues after surgery. The lifted skin creates a space between the muscle and skin that will heal shut but may accumulate fluid until it has recovered fully. Clear tubes are inserted through small incisions to drain the fluid buildup into a small bulb. Patients must care for their post-surgical drains, which are inconvenient and unsightly, and these drains may increase the risk of infection if recovery instructions are not followed correctly.

The drainless tummy tuck technique negates the need for post-operative drains, and patients tend to have fewer seromas (excess fluid buildup in the surgical site after the procedure). This method means patients don’t have to worry about measuring the fluid output or emptying drains, and recovery is often shorter with smoother healing scars. Drainless tummy tuck relies on the natural lymphatic drainage system in the body to prevent fluid buildup after surgery and leaves some of your connective tissue intact, minimizing surgical trauma.