What Is the Difference Between a No-Drain Tummy Tuck and Traditional Abdominoplasty?

Are you struggling to achieve a flat, toned abdomen with diet and exercise alone? Eating healthy and working out can help you drop weight, but it won’t remove excess skin from around your midsection. This loose skin is often found after significant weight loss or pregnancy, and it can be impossible to get rid of on your own. 

One procedure that can remove excess loose skin from around the stomach and create a more toned midsection is an abdominoplasty. Karol Gutowski, MD, has developed an innovative approach to abdominoplasty with the no-drain tummy tuck procedure.

Regarded as one of the best plastic surgeons in Chicago, Dr. Gutowski has developed a less intensive procedure than traditional tummy tucks. Read on to learn more about no-drain tummy tucks and how they are performed.

What Is an Abdominoplasty?

Also known as a tummy tuck, an abdominoplasty is a cosmetic surgical procedure that removes excess loose skin from around the midsection. 

After significant weight loss, loose skin may be left around the stomach and flanks. This can also happen after the weight fluctuations that occur with pregnancy. Abdominoplasty removes this excess skin and sculpts a more toned midsection.

During an abdominoplasty, the underlying abdominal muscles may also be repaired. With pregnancy or injury, abdominal muscles can be stretched or damaged. A tummy tuck procedure can repair these muscles and create a more defined appearance in the abdomen.

How Is a No-Drain Tummy Tuck Different from an Abdominoplasty?

A variation of the traditional tummy tuck is the no-drain tummy tuck. The no-drain tummy tuck has helped Dr. Gutowski to earn a reputation as the best plastic surgeon in Chicago. 

In traditional tummy tuck procedures, surgical drains are often placed into the abdomen to drain fluid from the surgical site. After surgery, patients are sent home with these drains in place until they are removed one to two weeks later. 

These drains often present an inconvenience, as it is difficult to walk, sleep, and perform other daily activities with the drains in place. 

A no-drain tummy tuck procedure does not require these drains, leading to a shorter and less extensive recovery process. Because the procedure uses an alternative incision and suture approach, the risk of fluid accumulation is decreased and these drains are no longer necessary.

The Complete No-Drain Tummy Tuck Process

An important part of the plastic surgery journey is having a full understanding of what your procedure will involve. Below is a guide to what you can expect when having a no-drain tummy tuck performed.

Preparing for Your Procedure

Before scheduling an abdominoplasty, you will attend a consultation appointment. We will assess your figure as it is to determine whether a no-drain tummy tuck is the best procedure to meet your needs. 

Patients who have a moderate to significant amount of weight to lose will not benefit from a tummy tuck procedure. These patients may be better suited for liposuction or other weight loss procedures.

If you are deemed a good candidate for a no-drain tummy tuck, you will be able to schedule your procedure. At this point, we’ll ask you to obtain full medical clearance from your regular physician. This is to make sure that you are healthy enough to be put under anesthesia. 

The night before your no-drain tummy tuck, you will be asked to avoid drinking or eating. This is a safety precaution for all patients going under general anesthesia.

How the Drainless Tummy Tuck Is Performed

During a no-drain tummy tuck, you will be placed under general anesthesia in the comfort of our plastic surgical center. 

Then, the anesthesiologist uses ultrasound technology to obtain a detailed visual of your abdomen while injecting a local anesthetic into the abdominal tissue. This provides for a prolonged anesthetic effect in the surgical area for 24 to 36 hours after surgery.

After the local anesthetic has taken effect, your tummy tuck incisions will be made. This often involves making a horizontal incision along the lower abdomen, just above the pubic region. In some cases, an incision may be made around the belly button. The skin is then peeled back, and the underlying abdominal muscles are tightened and repaired.

Excess loose skin is then removed from the abdominal area and the flanks. For some patients, liposuction may be used to suction away small amounts of fat. Internal absorbable barbed sutures are used during this tummy tuck procedure. These unique sutures eliminate the need for surgical drain placement.

Recovering from a No-Drain Tummy Tuck

After a no-drain tummy tuck procedure, you will need to remain in our plastic surgical aftercare center overnight. Most patients are discharged to return home the following day. 

Thanks to the no-drain abdominoplasty technique, recovery from this procedure is relatively fast. Patients are asked to stick to light activity for the first two weeks after surgery. 

In about four to six weeks, you can resume normal activity. It can take about three to four months to see the final outcome of a tummy tuck procedure because the skin, muscles, and other tissues need time to settle into their new placement.

No-Drain Tummy Tuck with Karol Gutowski, MD, the Best Plastic Surgeon in Chicago, IL

Have you been searching for the best plastic surgeon in Chicago? Dr. Karol Gutowski is a leading provider of cosmetic surgery, including the renowned no-drain tummy tuck procedure. This innovative surgery can help patients achieve a more toned figure without the need for surgical drains. 

Call our staff at the offices of Karol Gutowski, MD, to schedule a consultation.