Many people dream of having a toned abdomen but worry about a difficult recovery. With the TubelessTuckĖ¢į“¹, you can enjoy your results without managing drains.
The TubelessTuckĖ¢į“¹ is a drainless surgical technique developed and refined byĀ Dr. Sachin M. Shridharani, a board-certified plastic surgeon and founder ofĀ LUXURGERYĀ in New York City. He has performed this technique in countlessĀ body contouringĀ andĀ breast procedures.
Be sure to give our office a call at 212-508-0000 to learn more about the TubelessTuckĖ¢į“¹ and find out if you are a candidate!
What Is a Tummy Tuck?
A tummy tuck, also called abdominoplasty, is surgery that flattens and tightens the stomach. Itās commonly chosen after pregnancy, weight changes, or major weight loss, when skin and muscles have stretched and no longer return to their original shape. During the procedure, extra skin and fat are removed, and the muscles are tightened to give the abdomen a flatter look.
The scar usually runs from hip to hip and is placed low enough to be hidden by underwear or swimsuits.
What Is a TubelessTuckĖ¢į“¹?
Dr. Shridharani is proud to be the first surgeon in New York to offer the TubelessTuckĖ¢į“¹ option for plastic surgery. TubelessTuckĖ¢į“¹ is a drainless surgical technique that can be applied to various surgeries, including tummy tucks,Ā breast reductions,Ā breast lifts (mastopexy),Ā facelifts, as well as neck lifts.Ā
The TubelessTuckĖ¢į“¹ abdominoplasty eliminates the use of these messy and painful drains by placing a series of dissolvable sutures in the abdomen to close up the dead space and prevent the fluid buildup.Ā
How Common Is the Abdominoplasty Procedure?
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the number of tummy tuck procedures rose an impressive 87 percent in the past 15 years. Many procedures were, no doubt, for cosmetic reasons, but there are several medical benefits to be gained after the procedure. Mostly due to the rise in āmommy makeovers,ā a tummy tuck with Dr. Shridharani allows women to restore their figures after pregnancy.
Because there are also now more weight loss surgery procedures available, there has been an increase in tummy tuck procedures. A tummy tuck is often recommended for people who have lost a large amount of weight and want to remove extra skin.
Watch Dr. Shridharani Perform A āDrainlessā Abdominoplasty
Types of Tummy Tucks
There are two main types of tummy tucks: complete (full) and mini. The right choice depends on where your extra skin and fat are located, and how much tightening your abdominal muscles need. Here's how they are different:
- Complete tummy tuck: This procedure addresses the entire abdomen, both above and below the belly button. It usually involves tightening the abdominal muscles and repositioning the belly button for a natural result.
- Mini tummy tuck: This option is for patients with concerns mainly below the belly button. It involves removing loose skin and fat in the lower abdomen, and the belly button typically does not need to be changed. Recovery is often shorter compared to a full tummy tuck.
With Dr. Shridharani, both complete and mini tummy tucks can be performed using his TubelessTuckĖ¢į“¹ technique, which avoids the need for surgical drains and helps make recovery smoother.
Medical Benefits of a Tummy Tuck
Although a tummy tuck is often considered cosmetic, many patients also experience medical benefits. After pregnancy or weight changes, abdominal muscles can stretch apart, a condition called diastasis. Exercise alone cannot correct this, but a tummy tuck surgically tightens the muscles while also removing loose skin and fat.
Stronger abdominal muscles may also relieve certain types of back pain and improve posture. For patients with hernias, Dr. Shridharani may recommend combining hernia repair with a tummy tuck to strengthen the abdominal wall and reduce the chance of recurrence.
What Is Recovery Like After a TubelessTuckĖ¢į“¹?
With a TubelessTuckĖ¢į“¹, your recovery is usually smoother than with a traditional tummy tuck because you do not have to deal with drains. Instead of managing tubes and measuring fluid, youāll simply wear a compression garment or binder to support your abdomen and keep swelling down during the first week or two.
Youāll be encouraged to walk the same day as your surgery, and most people feel ready to return to light daily activities in about two weeks. Strenuous exercise and lifting usually become safe between four and six weeks, depending on how your body heals. Some swelling, tightness, or soreness is normal at first, but these symptoms steadily improve.Ā
Dr. Shridharani and his team will answer your questions and check in during follow-up visits to make sure youāre healing well.
What People Say About Us!
"I had my first experience with Dr Shridharani about a year ago. I had a full tummy tuck with flank lipo and I canāt believe how great I look! My hip scar is almost completely faded. I have used him for my botox, and today just had filler put in my lip as I have some asymmetry due to a scar on one side. I canāt believe how perfect my lips look!! Not bigger or ādoneā but even and fabulous. And as a bonus I walked out of there after both botox and the filler with zero swelling or bruising. I travel over 2 hours to see him. I would not go anywhere else"
Click here to read more reviews.
Why Choose Dr. Shridharani and LUXURGERY
Situated on Fifth Avenue directly across from Central Park, LUXURGERY offers advanced surgical expertise in the heart of New York City. The practice was founded by Dr. Sachin M. Shridharani, a board-certified plastic surgeon and internationally recognized authority on aesthetic surgery. He has co-authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications in respected medical journals such asĀ JAMAĀ andĀ Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeryĀ and is known worldwide for innovations including the TubelessTuckĖ¢į“¹ and his signature Surgery in a SyringeĖ¢į“¹ approach to body and facial contouring.
Patients from across the globe seek Dr. Shridharaniās care not only for his surgical skill but also for his commitment to safety and innovation. He has lectured on best practices in aesthetic medicine, trained thousands of physicians, and was the first plastic surgeon in New York to perform Kybella injections after FDA approval. Whether performed in LUXURGERYās accredited surgical facility or in area hospitals, Dr. Shridharani performs all procedures with the highest level of attention to detail.Ā
Tummy Tuck Before And After
Frequently Asked Questions
How Can I Optimize My Abdominoplasty Results?
Make sure to empty your drains if you have them and wear a compression garment to minimize swelling and the buildup of fluids. The compression garment will help define your body’s new shape, so it’s crucial to wear it during the first several days post-surgery!
Can I Still Have Children After My Abdominoplasty?
If you plan on getting pregnant in the future, then you may want to postpone getting a tummy tuck until you are finished having children. During pregnancy, your body changes, and it can have a lasting impact. You may get stretch marks from the uterus and abdomen expanding. The skin rarely heals from stretch marks, which can lead to sagging skin that droops over the pelvis region.
The abdominal muscles are also distorted as the baby grows inside you. These muscles can be tightened during a tummy tuck procedure.
Do I Have to Wear a āGirdleā or āSpanxā or āCompression Garmentā After a TubelessĖ¢į“¹ Tummy Tuck?
Since there are no drains involved post-procedure, the recovery involves wearing a compression garment and abdominal binder for seven to 10 days after the procedure to decrease the risk of forming a seroma or hematoma.
At LUXURGERY, our team will take measurements of you at your consultation and provide you with the correct garment size, so you don’t have to worry about finding one. It is important to go to your post-operative appointments to ensure your incisions are healing correctly and you have not formed any of the above-mentioned fluid collections.
Is It Possible to Have a Tummy Tuck and Arm Lift at the Same Time?
Yes, these procedures can be done together, but there are important factors to consider. Combining surgeries increases time in the operating room and recovery demands on the body, which can slightly raise the risk of complications like infection or delayed healing. Because both the abdomen and arms are involved, patients may find it more difficult to move around during recovery.
Dr. Shridharani carefully evaluates each patient’s health and goals before recommending combined procedures.
How Do Most People Feel About Abdominoplasty Drains?
For many patients, drains are one of the most difficult parts of recovery after a traditional tummy tuck. These drains are small tubes attached to the hips that usually stay in place for one to two weeks. While they help prevent fluid buildup, they also create several challenges:
- Daily maintenance: Drains must be emptied two to four times a day, and patients must keep track of the fluid output.
- Discomfort: Tubes exiting the skin can cause irritation, rubbing, or pulling along the incision line. Pain medication is often needed to manage this discomfort.
- Extra help required: Many patients need assistance at home to manage and care for the drains properly.
- Leakage: Drains may leak fluid or blood, which can stain clothing or furniture.
- Scarring: Because drains pass through gaps in the incision, they can increase the chance of additional scarring.
- Infection risk: Drains sometimes require antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection, but this can add side effects and raise concerns about antibiotic resistance.
These issues are why many patients prefer Dr. Shridharani’s TubelessTuckĖ¢į“¹, which avoids drains altogether.
Why Are Drains Used at All With Tummy Tucks?
Drains help reduce the chance of fluid buildup (seromas) under the skin after surgery. Procedures like tummy tucks, breast lifts, breast reductions, facelifts, and neck lifts carry a higher risk of seromas. These can sometimes lead to infection and require extra treatment.
By closing off empty spaces with dissolvable stitches, the TubelessTuckĖ¢į“¹ greatly reduces this risk without drains.
Do Abdominoplasty Scars Go Away?
No scar ever disappears completely, but tummy tuck scars usually fade over time and are placed low so they can be hidden by underwear or swimsuits. It may take up to a year or more for your scars to fully mature. At LUXURGERY, Dr. Shridharani often recommends treatments like microneedling or laser therapy to help scars fade more quickly.
Can Tummy Tuck Scars Be Fixed?
Yes. If a scar heals poorly or is more noticeable than expected, a scar revision procedure can improve its appearance. This involves removing the old scar and carefully closing the area again so it heals in a more discreet way. A consultation with an experienced surgeon like Dr. Shridharani is the best way to determine if scar revision could help.
Will a Tummy Tuck Help Me Lose Weight?
A tummy tuck is not a weight loss procedure. Instead, it’s meant to tighten stretched abdominal muscles and remove extra skin and fat that remain after pregnancy or weight changes. About five to 10 pounds of skin and tissue may be removed during the procedure, but that is the extent of weight you should expect to lose.
You may notice that your stomach looks slimmer, but the goal of surgery is contour and shape, not weight reduction. If you’re close to your ideal weight, you’ll see the best results.
How Much Pain Should I Expect After Surgery?
You can expect some soreness, swelling, and tightness in your abdomen during the first week or two. Most patients describe it as uncomfortable rather than severe. Dr. Shridharani will prescribe medication to keep you comfortable, and the TubelessTuckĖ¢į“¹ technique usually makes recovery easier since you don’t have to deal with drains. Discomfort improves steadily over the first few weeks.
Are the Results of a Tummy Tuck Permanent if I Maintain My Weight?
Yes, the results of a tummy tuck are long-lasting if you maintain a stable weight and a healthy lifestyle. The skin and fat removed during surgery will not return. However, future pregnancies, significant weight changes, or natural aging can affect your results. Staying consistent with diet and exercise will help you enjoy your flatter abdomen for many years.
Schedule a Consultation
Ready to learn more about TubelessTuckĖ¢į“¹ and find out if you are a good candidate? Call 212-508-0000 to schedule a consultation with board-certified NYC Plastic Surgeon,Ā Dr. Shridharani. You can also fill out the form on ourĀ contact page, and our staff will help you set up your appointment.
