Body
Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) in Seattle.
A tummy tuck removes loose lower-belly skin and, where needed, repairs the stretched muscle wall underneath. It is not a weight-loss operation.
My note
Exercise cannot repair separated muscles or tighten stretched skin, and many patients have spent years blaming themselves for that. It is anatomy, not effort.
The recovery is real. I would rather you plan two calm weeks than discover them.
Dr. Thea Kinnear
Who it suits
- Loose skin that hangs over a C-section scar or the waistband
- A belly that pushes forward even when you are at a steady weight
- People who have finished having children, or plan to wait
What I will ask you
- Your weight history and whether it is steady
- Your plans for future pregnancy
- Who can help at home for the first week, especially with children
The day
- General anesthesia in our accredited suite
- Usually two to four hours; your plan gives your time
- Home the same day or one night in aftercare, walking bent slightly forward at first
Recovery, week by week
- First daysSoreness and tightness. You walk short distances from the first day to keep blood moving.
- Weeks one to twoYou stand straighter each day. Drains, if used, come out at a follow-up.
- Weeks three to fourMany return to desk work. Still no lifting.
- Week sixMost are cleared for exercise and lifting.
- Months to a yearSwelling settles and the scar fades low on the belly.
A typical course, not a promise. Your own calendar comes with your plan.
Fee
From $ owner to $ owner
One written fee: surgeon, anesthesia and the surgical suite. Paying over time
What moves the fee within that range:
- Full or mini tummy tuck
- Muscle repair
- Liposuction of the flanks at the same time
- Anesthesia, facility time, and a night in aftercare
Risks
Risks include fluid collection, wound healing problems, blood clots, poor scarring, numbness of the lower belly skin, and asymmetry. Smoking raises several of these risks, so we ask you to stop well before surgery.
No result can be guaranteed. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons publishes plain-language patient information at plasticsurgery.org.
A patient letter
Two weeks were harder than I expected and exactly as she said they would be. I liked that she did not soften it.
Questions
How low is the scar?
Usually low enough to sit under underwear or a swimsuit. I mark it with you standing, before surgery.
Can I have more children afterwards?
You can, but pregnancy can stretch the repair. Many people wait until they are sure.
Also in body
Talk through tummy tuck with Dr. Kinnear.
Three short steps, about a minute. You leave the consultation with a written plan, the fee, and time to think. Rather talk first? Call (206) 555-0164.
Consultation fee: Owner: fee, and whether it is credited toward surgery. No obligation to book surgery, ever.