Body Contouring in Atlanta
Tummy Tuck in Atlanta
A smoother, firmer, beautifully restored abdomen, created by female plastic surgeons with more than 25 years of experience.
CONSULTATION
Personalized, in person
SURGERY LENGTH
2 to 3 hours
ANESTHESIA
General, with a 4-day Exparel nerve block
SETTING
Northside
BACK TO WORK
2 to 4 weeks, non-strenuous
WEIGHT LOSS INJECTIONS
Paused before surgery
The Approach
Restoring Your Core, Not Just Your Silhouette
A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is designed to repair the changes that pregnancy and weight loss leave behind. Often, those changes have little to do with fat. Skin that has stretched may not fully retract on its own, even with diet and exercise, and the most effective way to restore a smooth contour is to gently remove it.
Pregnancy can also separate the abdominal muscles, a condition called diastasis recti. It is why many lean, active women still notice a lower belly that pushes forward. These muscles do not come back together on their own, and surgical repair is the most reliable way to restore them. A tummy tuck removes excess skin and brings these muscles back together, restoring strength and shape to your core.
If your skin is firm, your muscles are intact, and stubborn fat is your main concern, liposuction may be a simpler, faster option, and your surgeon will gladly guide you toward it.
Tummy tuck surgery at Artisan is led by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Bernadette Wang Ashraf, who specializes in body contouring and cosmetic breast surgery. Trained at Johns Hopkins, where she earned her medical degree with honors and completed her residency in general and plastic surgery, she brings more than 20 years of experience and microsurgical precision to every abdominoplasty.
Read This First
Important: If You Are Taking a Weight Loss Injection
If you are taking Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound, or any other GLP-1 medication or diet pill, please let us know as early as possible, ideally at your consultation.
These medications slow digestion, which means food can remain in the stomach even after standard fasting. Under general anesthesia, this can increase the risk of aspiration. Current anesthesia guidance recommends pausing these medications before surgery, and we follow it closely to protect your safety.
What this means for you:
- You will pause your medication before surgery, following your care team’s instructions
- If you have been taking one, you will also follow a clear liquid diet for 24 hours before your procedure
- Clear liquids include water, black coffee, gelatin, clear broth, and popsicles
- If these steps are not followed, your surgery will need to be rescheduled for your safety
- Please let us know even if you have already stopped, or received your medication elsewhere, so we can plan your care with confidence
Your Scar
Discreet, Thoughtful Placement
Where It Is Placed
A full tummy tuck leaves a horizontal scar across the lower abdomen, roughly from hip to hip, along with a small scar around the navel, which is repositioned to sit naturally on your newly tightened abdomen. Your surgeon places the scar low, so it rests discreetly beneath underwear and most swimwear.
How It Heals
Your scar will soften, flatten, and fade considerably over the first year. Healing depends on your skin, genetics, aftercare, and whether you smoke. Most patients find a discreet, well-placed scar a worthwhile exchange for a firm, beautifully restored abdomen, and your surgeon will walk you through what to expect.
The Procedure
How Tummy Tuck Surgery Works
Your operation takes two to three hours under general anesthesia at Northside. You are asleep and feel nothing. Your surgeon makes incisions on the lower abdomen and around the navel, then separates the skin from the abdominal wall to gain access to the muscle underneath.
The separated abdominal muscles are then stitched back together, which is the repair of the diastasis and the part of this operation that restores your core rather than just your silhouette. Excess skin and fat are removed. The navel is repositioned so that it sits naturally on the newly flattened abdomen, and can be reshaped if you want it to be. Then the incisions are closed.
Before you wake, your surgeon places an Exparel nerve block, a long-acting local anesthetic that eases discomfort for about four days, helping you through the first and most important stretch of recovery in greater comfort.
Choosing
Tummy Tuck or Liposuction?
Tummy Tuck
Skin and muscle
- Removes excess skin and repairs separated abdominal muscles
- Ideal for loose skin and muscle separation, often after pregnancy or weight loss
- Restores both your core strength and your contour
- A discreet low scar and a recovery of several weeks
Liposuction
Fat
- Gently removes stubborn fat
- Ideal when skin tone is good and muscles are intact
- A smaller procedure with a shorter recovery
- Tiny incisions, focused on contouring fat
Artisan also offers a mini tummy tuck for a small amount of loose skin below the navel, a mommy makeover that combines abdominal and breast procedures in one surgery, and a body lift for loose skin around the waist after significant weight loss. Your surgeon will recommend the approach that best fits your body and goals.
Timing
Planning Your Tummy Tuck Around Pregnancy
If you are hoping for more children, we recommend waiting until your family is complete. A future pregnancy can stretch the repaired muscles again and change your results. Pregnancy after a tummy tuck is safe, though waiting allows you to enjoy your results for years to come. If you are unsure, your surgeon will help you decide on the best timing.
Recovery
Your Tummy Tuck Recovery Timeline
A tummy tuck recovery takes thoughtful planning, and knowing what to expect helps you feel confident every step of the way.
First 4 days
Your Exparel nerve block keeps you comfortable. A trusted adult should stay with you for at least the first 24 hours.
First week
Rest, and take short, gentle walks often to support healthy circulation. Stay close to our office, and enjoy soft, protein-rich meals.
About 2 weeks
Most patients can drive once they are off pain medication and feel comfortable.
2 to 4 weeks
Return to desk work or other non-strenuous activities, depending on your job and recovery.
6 to 8 weeks
Return to strenuous activity and core exercise once cleared by your surgeon, giving your muscle repair time to heal fully.
3 to 6 months
Swelling resolves and your final, beautifully smooth contour emerges.
Up to a year
Your scar continues to soften, flatten, and fade.
Healing at your own pace is part of the process. Your muscle repair needs the full six to eight weeks before heavier activity, even when you feel wonderful sooner. Giving your body that time helps protect your results for years to come.
Your Experience
Your Personalized Tummy Tuck Experience
Consultation
Your surgeon reviews your health history and goals, examines your abdomen, and determines whether a tummy tuck, liposuction, or a combination will best help you reach your goals.
Preparation
You will receive our complete written preparation guide well in advance, including instructions for germicidal soap and weight loss medications, to help your surgery day go smoothly.
Surgery
Two to three hours under general anesthesia at Northside, with muscle repair, removal of excess skin, navel repositioning, and an Exparel nerve block placed before you wake.
Recovery and Results
Several follow-up visits with our medical team, gentle walks early on, and a full six to eight weeks for your muscle repair to heal. Your final contour appears at three to six months, with your scar fading over the first year.
The Practice
Why Patients Choose Artisan
Johns Hopkins Trained Precision
Dr. Bernadette Wang Ashraf completed her medical degree and surgical residency at Johns Hopkins, followed by a fellowship in hand and microsurgery. That training shows in her meticulous tissue handling and refined, natural-looking contours. She has treated thousands of patients over more than 20 years.
Co-Founded by Two Women Surgeons
Dr. Wang Ashraf and Dr. Diane Z. Alexander, MD, FACS co-founded Atlanta's first all-woman-physician plastic surgery practice. Together they bring decades of experience across face, breast, and body surgery, with an artist's eye for proportion and balance.
Comfort-Focused Recovery
An Exparel nerve block, placed before you wake, provides about four days of pain relief through the most important stretch of your recovery.
Thoughtful Preparation
Our detailed preparation guide, from germicidal soap to medication screening, is designed to support a safe surgery and smooth healing.
Honest, Personalized Guidance
If liposuction or another option will help you reach your goals, your surgeon will recommend it.
FAQ
Tummy Tuck FAQs
I am taking Ozempic or another weight loss injection. What do I need to do?
Please let us know as early as possible. GLP-1 medications slow digestion and need to be paused before surgery to reduce the risk of aspiration under anesthesia. You will also follow a clear liquid diet for 24 hours before your procedure. If these steps are not followed, your surgery will be rescheduled for your safety.
Who performs tummy tucks at Artisan?
Tummy tucks at Artisan are performed by Dr. Bernadette Wang Ashraf, a board-certified plastic surgeon trained at Johns Hopkins with more than 20 years of experience in body contouring and breast surgery. She co-founded Artisan with Dr. Diane Z. Alexander as Atlanta’s first all-woman-physician plastic surgery practice.
Should I choose a tummy tuck or liposuction?
A tummy tuck removes loose skin and repairs separated muscles. Liposuction removes stubborn fat when your skin and muscles are in good shape. Your surgeon will recommend the best option for your body.
What is diastasis recti?
Diastasis recti is a separation of the abdominal muscles, most often caused by pregnancy. It can create a lower belly that pushes forward, even in lean and active women. The muscles do not come back together on their own, and a tummy tuck is the most reliable way to repair them.
Will I have a scar?
Yes. A tummy tuck leaves a low horizontal scar from hip to hip and a small scar around the navel. It is placed to sit beneath underwear and most swimwear, and it fades considerably over the first year.
What are the risks of a tummy tuck?
The most common complication is seroma, a collection of fluid. Blood clots are the most serious risk, which is why gentle, frequent walking is so important early in recovery and why calf pain should always be reported. Other risks include infection, wound healing concerns, scarring, numbness of the lower abdomen, and the possibility of revision. Your surgeon will review all of these with you.
How much does a tummy tuck cost in Atlanta?
Your cost depends on your technique, whether liposuction or breast surgery is included, anesthesia, and facility fees. You will receive personalized pricing after your consultation, and financing is available.
Will I have drains?
Most patients go home with one or two small drains that help remove excess fluid and lower the risk of seroma. You will empty and record them a few times a day, and they are usually removed at a quick office visit within one to two weeks.
How long is tummy tuck recovery?
Most patients return to desk work in two to four weeks, with more time for physically demanding jobs. Strenuous activity and core exercise resume at six to eight weeks once cleared, and your final contour appears at three to six months.
Does a tummy tuck hurt?
You will sleep comfortably during surgery. Afterward, an Exparel nerve block provides about four days of pain relief through the first stretch of recovery.
Can I get pregnant after a tummy tuck?
Yes, and it is safe, though pregnancy can stretch the repaired muscles and change your results. If you are planning more children, we recommend waiting.
Can a tummy tuck be combined with breast surgery?
Yes. Combining a tummy tuck with breast surgery is known as a mommy makeover, offering one surgery and one recovery.
A Stronger, Smoother You
Visit us for a consultation, and your surgeon will help you understand whether your abdomen would benefit most from skin removal, muscle repair, liposuction, or a combination, with a plan designed entirely around you.
Request a Consultation Plan My Treatment Call (404) 851-1998