Tummy Tuck in Austin, TX
Benefits of a Tummy Tuck:
RESTORE STRUCTURE. RECLAIM CONFIDENCE.
“A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is one of the most transformative procedures I perform.”
-Dr. Chike-Obi
A tummy tuck is one of the most transformative procedures in plastic surgery — not because it removes skin, but because it rebuilds the abdominal wall from the inside out. Pregnancy, weight fluctuation, and time compromise the structural integrity of your core in ways that no amount of exercise can reverse. Dr. Chike-Obi’s approach to abdominoplasty goes beyond surface-level improvement. It restores the architecture of your midsection — tightening separated muscles, eliminating excess tissue, and sculpting contours that move naturally with your body.
Why the Abdomen Changes — and Why it Matters
UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM
The abdominal wall is a layered structure: skin, fat, fascia, and muscle working together to provide form and function. When these layers are compromised — through pregnancy, significant weight loss, or aging — the result is more than cosmetic. Separated rectus muscles (diastasis recti) weaken core stability. Excess skin creates friction and discomfort. Stubborn fat deposits resist even the most disciplined fitness regimen.
These structural changes require a structural solution.
A tummy tuck addresses all four layers simultaneously — something no nonsurgical treatment can achieve.
Dr. Chike-Obi’s Approach
OPTIMIZATION, NOT JUST REMOVAL
Dr. Chike-Obi’s philosophy is the same whether he’s approaching the breast or the body: achieve balance, structure, and natural proportion through thoughtful shaping — never through excess or exaggeration.
In practice, this means every abdominoplasty is planned around your specific anatomy. The degree of muscle repair, the extent of skin excision, the use of liposuction to refine surrounding contours, and the precise placement of the incision are all calibrated to produce a result that looks and feels like you — just restored.
What sets his approach apart:
- Muscle repair that restores function, not just appearance. Diastasis recti repair rebuilds core strength and improves posture — patients consistently report that their back pain resolves and their workouts feel fundamentally different.
- Incision planning as an art form. The scar sits low, within bikini and underwear lines, and is designed to lie flat and fade. Dr. Chike-Obi invests significant time in incision design because patients live with these incisions daily.
- Contour integration with liposuction. The abdomen doesn’t exist in isolation. Flanks, lower back, and hip contours are refined to create a seamless transition — a result that looks natural from every angle, not just the front.
- Umbilicoplasty (navel reshaping). A detail often overlooked, Dr. Chike-Obi reconstructs the navel to appear natural and proportionate — a small element that makes a significant difference in the overall result.
TUMMY TUCK WITH VASER LIPOSUCTION
OF THE WAIST AND FLANKS
Tummy Tuck Options
TAILORED TO YOUR ANATOMY
There is no single tummy tuck. Dr. Chike-Obi offers the full spectrum of abdominoplasty techniques, selecting or combining approaches based on your anatomy, goals, and lifestyle.
Full Tummy Tuck: The most comprehensive option. Addresses the entire abdominal wall: muscle repair, excess skin removal from hip to hip, and contouring with liposuction. Ideal for patients with moderate to significant skin laxity, muscle separation, or post-pregnancy changes.
Skinny Tummy Tuck: A customized procedure for lower BMI individuals who have skin laxity that affects their quality of life. May or may not include muscle repair. May or may not include liposuction.
Mini Tummy Tuck: A more targeted procedure for patients with lower abdominal laxity and skin excess. The procedure is limited to tissue below the belly button. Faster recovery than a conventional tummy tuck. May include liposuction.
Extended Tummy Tuck: For patients who need contouring that wraps beyond the front of the abdomen to address the flanks and lower back. This delivers a more complete transformation, particularly after significant weight loss.Circumferential Tummy Tuck (360 Tummy Tuck): The most extensive body contouring procedure, which addresses excess skin and fat around the entire torso. Often, the right choice after significant weight loss, this procedure reshapes the abdomen, flanks, and lower back in a single operation.
Reverse Tummy Tuck: A procedure designed to address laxity of the upper abdomen only. Works best in the setting of a previous breast lift/reduction, because the final incision sits in the breast fold.
Revision Tummy Tuck: For patients who’ve had a previous tummy tuck but are unsatisfied with the result. Revision cases are more complex than primary procedures. Dr. Chike-Obi’s experience with challenging reconstructive and revision cases makes him a trusted choice for patients seeking improvement after surgery elsewhere.
The 360 Muscle Recovery Package
MUSCLE IS AESTHETIC® — BEFORE AND AFTER SURGERY
What if your tummy tuck results could go further?
360 Plastic Surgery is one of the few practices in the country that integrates advanced muscle conditioning directly into the surgical journey. The 360 Muscle Recovery Package pairs your abdominoplasty with a series of Pure Impact(TM) sessions designed to strengthen and prepare your abdominal muscles before surgery, then accelerate tone and recovery afterward.
How it works:
Pre-operative sessions (2–3) condition your abdominal muscles in the weeks before surgery, optimizing the tissue Dr. Chike-Obi will be repairing. Stronger muscles going in means a stronger foundation coming out.
Post-operative sessions (3–4) begin after Dr. Chike-Obi clears you at your follow-up appointment. These sessions restore muscle activation, reduce stiffness, and accelerate the return of core strength, without strain or traditional exercise.
6 sessions total, bundled seamlessly into your surgical plan. No separate scheduling hassle. No add-on confusion. Your care coordinator builds it into your surgical timeline from the start.
This is a clinical protocol designed by Dr. Chike-Obi to produce better outcomes. Muscle is an aesthetic tissue, and treating it as such before and after surgery is part of how we deliver results that other practices don’t.
What to Expect
YOUR SURGICAL EXPERIENCE
Consultation: Every tummy tuck begins with a thorough, unhurried consultation. Dr. Chike-Obi evaluates your abdominal wall, skin quality, fat distribution, and overall proportions. He’ll discuss which technique is right for your anatomy, walk you through the surgical plan, and answer every question because informed patients make confident decisions.
The Procedure: A full abdominoplasty typically takes 4-5 hours and is performed under general anesthesia at an accredited surgical facility. Dr. Chike-Obi repairs the abdominal muscles, removes excess skin, contours with liposuction as needed, and reshapes the navel all through a single, carefully planned incision.
Recovery: Plan for approximately one week of rest at home. Most patients return to desk work within 10–14 days and resume full exercise at 6–8 weeks. Compression garments support healing and contouring during recovery. Early walking is encouraged from day one as it promotes circulation and accelerates the healing process.
You’ll see your shape improve progressively over 3–6 months as swelling resolves and tissues settle into their final position. The result is lasting, provided you maintain a stable weight.
Ideal Candidates
IS A TUMMY TUCK RIGHT FOR YOU?
A tummy tuck may be right for you if:
- You have loose, excess abdominal skin that doesn’t respond to diet or exercise
- You’ve experienced muscle separation (diastasis recti) from pregnancy or weight change
- You’re at or near a stable weight and plan to maintain it
- You’ve completed your family, or are not planning future pregnancies (pregnancy after abdominoplasty can compromise results)
- You’re a non-smoker, or willing to stop smoking well in advance of surgery
- You want to restore the structural integrity of your core, not just improve its appearance
Not sure which procedure fits? A consultation with Dr. Chike-Obi will clarify whether a full, mini, extended, or revision abdominoplasty is the right approach, or whether a combination with liposuction, body lift, or the 360 Muscle Recovery Package will best achieve your goals.
Written and reviewed by Dr. Chuma Chike-Obi, MD
Tummy Tuck Austin FAQs
How long does a tummy tuck take?
What is recovery like?
Will I have a visible scar?
Can a tummy tuck be combined with other procedures?
What's the difference between a tummy tuck and liposuction?
How much does a tummy tuck cost?
What is the 360 Muscle Recovery Package?
Will a tummy tuck help with back pain?
How long do results last?
FINANCING
INVESTING IN YOUR TRANSFORMATION
A tummy tuck is an investment in how you feel in your own body — every day, not just on occasion. 360 Plastic Surgery offers financing through PatientFi or CareCredit, with low- and no-interest plans for qualified applicants. Your patient coordinator will walk you through all options during your consultation, so cost never stands between you and the result you deserve.
Ready to Restore What Time and Life Have Changed?
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Chike-Obi to discuss your goals, evaluate your anatomy, and build a personalized surgical plan, including whether the 360 Muscle Recovery Package is right for your journey.
Schedule your consultation below (or) call (512) 831-5560
