Chicago Tummy Tuck by Dr. David Dreyfuss
Many women and men throughout Chicagoland seek to eliminate stubborn abdominal fat, which can compromise their goals of enjoying a slim, athletic figure. It is often impossible to eliminate a soft and flabby tummy with a healthy diet and a disciplined exercise routine because of skin laxity and damage to the abdominal wall.
A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is one of the more popular body contouring procedures in Chicago because it dramatically reshapes the torso and delivers a taut, thin tummy associated with a youthful body.
This amazing surgery provides improved belly contours by removing pesky fat pads, sagging skin, and reinforcing the abdominal wall. Board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. David Dreyfuss, performs multiple tummy tuck techniques, which include a full abdominoplasty, mini abdominoplasty, and a tummy tuck with or without liposuction.
To learn more about tummy tuck Chicago, IL, contact us today for a consultation or call (815) 806-9400.
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Tummy Tuck Candidates
Good candidates for abdominoplasty are patients who want to reduce a bulge and sagging skin in their abdominal area. Although it is not a weight loss procedure, a tummy tuck is an optimal surgery to eliminate stubborn fat in this problem area and make you look significantly slimmer, with a flatter stomach and trimmer waistline.
Tummy Tuck Procedure
Your tummy tuck employs general anesthesia for your comfort during surgery. First, Dr. Dreyfuss will try to determine the best incision placement with the goal of ensuring the incision will be easy to conceal. He will consider your clothing preference if applicable.
He commonly performs incisions across the waist, in between the navel and pubic hairline. Then, excess tissue, fat, and skin will be lifted and removed. Some patients require a fleur de lis incision if there is a considerable amount of excess skin tissue. This type involves a vertical incision in the center of the abdomen.
Non-dissolvable sutures will then be placed to repair the weakened abdominal muscles, and the incisions will be closed. In some cases, Dr. Dreyfuss makes a separate incision to remove any excess fat surrounding the upper abdomen. Other procedures, like liposuction, can be combined with the tummy tuck to enhance your results.
You can expect to go home the same day after surgery, so make sure you have a responsible adult accompany you to our surgical center. It is also wise to make sure someone is available to care for you for the first few days after surgery.
Why Choose Dr. David Dreyfuss?
With decades of experience and board certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Dr. David Dreyfuss offers a refined balance of surgical skill, artistic vision, and personalized care. Patients from across the region trust him for his expertise in procedures such as breast augmentation, liposuction, laser skin resurfacing, and eyelid surgery. Known for his compassionate approach and commitment to excellence, Dr. Dreyfuss personally guides each patient through every step of their surgical journey—from the first consultation to your final results.
If you’re considering a change—whether it’s enhancing your features or restoring what time has altered—our Orland Park practice is here to help. Dr. Dreyfuss invites you to schedule a private consultation and discover the many surgical and non-surgical options available to help you look and feel your very best. Your vision, paired with his experience, can create results that are both natural and transformative.
Mini Tummy Tuck
Women who have concerns about a protruding lower belly area with loose skin can achieve great results with minimal surgery when comparing to a full abdominoplasty. Stubborn fat which is resistant to exercise can reside beneath the bellybutton and cause an aesthetic problem. This fat may hide well defined abdominal muscles causing an unwelcome bulge in this area. Patients choose a mini tummy tuck to remove excess pockets of fat when the abdominal wall has little to no damage.
The incision is much shorter than those of full abdominoplasty which reduces the amount of scarring. Typically, there is only one incision with the belly button allowed to reposition downward without an additional incision. The incision placement will be unique to your body and will be discussed during your consultation.
View Real Patient Results
Explore our before and after gallery to see real patient transformations performed by Dr. David Dreyfuss. From subtle enhancements to dramatic results, these photos showcase the artistry and precision behind every procedure.
Tummy Tuck Benefits
Abdominoplasty benefits include:
- Tighter, firmer abdominal skin
- Reduced stretch marks and scars
- Improved muscle tone
- A contoured abdomen that reveals the central depressions on the upper abdomen
- A non-hooded navel
Tummy Tuck Recovery
Abdominoplasty is an outpatient procedure. Typically, our patients require about two or three weeks away from normal activities after surgery; a mini tummy tuck may require only a week. Because the abdominal muscle needs to tighten and heal, there are no shortcuts for tummy tuck recovery. Dr. Dreyfuss will make your recovery process as painless as possible with pain blockers prescribed or administered after surgery.
We will fit you with a compression garment to wear after surgery and during your recovery. This garment will help support the surgical area including your abdominal wall and incisions during the healing process. Patients will experience swelling in areas like the abdomen, back, hips, legs, and ankles. Swelling is most severe during the first week after surgery. Afterward, the body will release the fluids it retained, and the majority of swelling will subside.
The abdomen will have some puffiness and firmness for four to six weeks but will continue to improve daily. Most patients can see an immediate difference in their abdominal area during the first 48 hours after surgery with final results realized after four to six months.
Chicago, IL Tummy Tuck - FAQs
Will my results last with a tummy tuck?
Is abdominoplasty painful?
Historically, abdominoplasty was one of the more uncomfortable procedures in plastic surgery, especially when muscle repair was required. This fact has changed over the last decade because of new developments in controlling pain during surgery and for a couple of days after. Traditionally, pain pumps were optimal methods for controlling pain during recovery for the first week or so. Pain is usually at its severest during this time, more specifically, the first two days.
A new anesthetic, however, has changed things. Exparel is a pain blocker designed to provide a significant amount of pain relief for the first several hours after abdominoplasty. This anesthetic makes your recovery more pleasant during its most trying period.
My tummy needs help after pregnancy, but so do my breasts! Can both be addressed at the same time?
Yes, we can combine a tummy tuck with breast surgery to help you regain your pre-pregnancy body. This combination of procedures is called a mommy makeover and can include multiple procedures.
Does tummy tuck have side effects or risks?
A tummy tuck involves surgery, and any surgery has associated risks, which will be discussed during the consultation. Risks associated with abdominoplasty can include reactions to anesthesia, infections, and bleeding.
When an abdominoplasty is extensive, tissue loss along the horizontal incision is possible. This risk is common with smokers, so we ask smokers to quit for at least four weeks before and four weeks after tummy tuck surgery. Failure to quit may delay healing and prolong recovery.
Another risk associated with a tummy tuck is Seroma. This complication is when fluid gets trapped under the skin.
How long must I abstain from sex after a tummy tuck?
Should I wait until I’m finished with childbearing to have abdominoplasty?
Probably, but not definitely. Many plastic surgeons recommend that women wait to have a tummy tuck until their childbearing days are over. Pregnancy can reverse some of the improvements from abdominoplasty and may require follow-up surgery to refine the look.
How should I prepare for my Tummy Tuck consultation?
Be honest about what you want to achieve with your abdomen. Listen carefully to Dr. Dreyfuss’s discussion related to scarring and recovery based upon each procedure discussed.
How should the the day of the surgery go?
You will need to be at the surgery center about an hour early. Dr. Dreyfuss will see you before surgery and answer any remaining questions. After surgery, you will be in a garment, and drains will be in place. You will not be able to lie totally flat or stand up straight for a few days.
Will I have drains after the surgery? How long will they stay?
Is the muscle always repaired during a tummy tuck or mini tummy tuck?
The muscle is always repaired in a full Tummy Tuck. I may only be partially tightened in a mini tummy tuck.
Will my “abs” show?
Will this operation help me lose weight?
Will sutures need to be removed after surgery?
All incisions and sutures are dissolving. A suture does need to be removed around the drain when it comes out.
What are 3 things to look for in a great tummy tuck result?
What is post-treatment abdominal swelling like?
Swelling around the incision and toward the lower and outer abdomen. Over time, this does resolve.
Can I get pregnant after a tummy tuck?
How long does recovery take?
What are the most common tummy tuck complications?
Can I have a full body sculpting at the same time?
Full body sculpting can be done at the same time, but it is best to plan with Dr. Dreyfuss on staging procedures or combining procedures.
When can I pick up my baby or toddler after a tummy tuck?
My abdomen feels tight after surgery. Will I hurt something if I move?
Will you use my own belly button?
We always maintain your belly button and move the tissue around it, and create a new incision.
How do you recreate the belly button?
How long does the tummy tuck procedure take?
A procedure can take 1 ½ -3 hours, depending upon the extent of each individual procedure.
How do I choose a tummy tuck surgeon?
Make sure you seek out a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with extensive experience with Tummy Tucks. Make sure you see many before-and-after photos from that MD.