Dr. Wiener’s innovative tummy tuck technique is a cut above the rest. It beautifully sculpts and contours the abdomen – improving aesthetic outcomes and ensuring that our Houston clients enjoy a seamless surgical experience. A no drain tummy tuck with Dr. Wiener can give you all the benefits of a tummy tuck while forgoing the risks associated with the procedure! Call 281-488-5795 today to schedule a consultation and learn more!
What is a no-drain tummy tuck?
A no-drain tummy tuck is an abdominoplasty that does not require drains. With a traditional tummy tuck, drains are placed to collect blood and other fluids for up to two weeks. In addition to being painful, caring for these devices is a burden when patients should be focused exclusively on resting and healing.
In removing drains from the equation, Houston abdominoplasty patients enjoy a host of benefits including:
- A diminished risk of infection and complications
- A tighter incision closure
- Less visible scarring
- A faster recovery
The contoured stomach you deserve…
After pregnancy, weight loss, and the natural aging process, many of our Houston tummy tuck patients find that their abdominal skin and muscles are permanently stretched. When this occurs, an abdominoplasty with Dr. Wiener can:
- Sculpt a firm and flat abdomen
- Tighten lax or separated stomach muscles
- Boost your body confidence
- Achieve your ideal body contour
Dr. Wiener: Leading The Way in Tummy Tuck Innovations
Dr. Wiener has left his mark on the no-drain tummy tuck. He modified the progressive tension suture technique used during this procedure, resulting in a number of advantages for our Houston abdominoplasty patients, including:
- Improved scars
- Decreased risk of complications
- Freedom for clients to stand straight after surgery, rather than needing to bend at the hips
- The ability to avoid the use of post-operative drains
Dr. Wiener has published a paper about this modification that is titled, “Continuous Running Sutures: A Modification for Progressive Tension Abdominoplasty.” He has also spoken about the technique at the annual meeting of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons.
Your Tummy Tuck Options
Depending on the amount of excess skin you’re having removed, there are a number of tummy tuck options available.
Mini
The mini tummy tuck is ideal for patients who are close to their ideal weight and only need to address flab below the naval. It involves a very small incision above the pelvic area and is associated with a short recovery time.
Traditional
This is the most common type of tummy tuck requested by Dr. Wiener’s Houston patients. It involves a hip-to-hip incision and the repositioning of the naval.
Extended
If you also would like to remove “love handles,” an extended tummy tuck may be recommended. This procedure involves a lengthy incision that extends beyond the hips. Although the surgery is extensive, the scars will be undetectable when you’re wearing clothing and swimwear.
Gallery
IMAGINE
THE CHANGE
Your Tummy Tuck Procedure
Here’s what to expect every step of the way during your Pearland TX tummy tuck with Dr. Wiener.
Is a no-drain tummy tuck better than traditional abdominoplasty?
The body contouring changes made by Dr. Weiner with a no-drain tummy tuck are the same as with traditional tummy tuck methods. The only differences are that using the no-drain method removes the need for painful, annoying drains, and it makes for a much easier recovery. Traditional tummy tuck surgery involves one of the most difficult recoveries in aesthetic surgery, so making these recoveries easier with the no-drain method is a great bonus for Dr. Weiner’s patients.
By using layered suturing, Dr. Weiner eliminates the need for drains. This dramatically reduces the risks of infections. It also ensures a tighter closure of the incision, which means a much less noticeable scar moving forward.
What are the Benefits of a No-Drain Tummy Tuck?
The no-drain tummy tuck differs from traditional abdominoplasty in just one way, but that way can significantly alter your tummy tuck experience. It can sound like the primary benefit of this tummy tuck procedure is that you won't have to deal with drains and the small bulbs that catch the excess fluid that drains from your surgical site. Having drains doesn't just mean tiny tubes exiting your skin; there's got to be a place for the fluid to go. It also means that there is a need to empty the bulbs periodically. These extra steps can add a fair amount of stress to your surgical recovery. By eliminating drains, the no-drain tummy tuck technique can greatly improve your comfort and peace of mind post-surgery. Without drains, the risk of infection and scarring is also diminished.
What Concerns Can be Treated with This Procedure?
The tummy tuck procedure is popular for its ability to cinch the waist. Using meticulous steps, Dr. Wiener sculpts the abdominal muscles to give your body frame the perfect accentuated curves. Your tummy tuck may eliminate a muffin top, love handles, and a generally loose midsection. The concerns that are addressed through the no-drain technique include additional discomfort and the emotional toll of having to maintain and empty the appendages.
When Will I Notice the Results from My No-Drain Tummy Tuck?
You can expect to see a difference in your shape the same day you have your tummy tuck. That said, expect the surgical area to look puffy and bruised. You'll also be bandaged or will wear a compression garment that will hide your results as they gradually improve. The majority of swelling and bruising resolve over a few weeks. However, it can take up to six months for the tissue in the abdominal area to fully settle to reveal your ultimate new shape.
Is it Okay to Have Tummy Tuck Surgery Before Having Kids?
It isn't dangerous to have a tummy tuck before having children but the vast majority of plastic surgeons advise against it. Abdominoplasty, even without drains, is an extensive procedure. It is one of the most comprehensive plastic surgery procedures performed today, and that means it incurs some hefty recovery. For this reason, it's not advisable to set yourself up to need a repeat procedure later on. If you have children after your tummy tuck, there is a good chance that your muscle and skin will stretch to a point at which they will not return to pre-pregnancy condition without further surgery. While it's possible to repeat a tummy tuck at a later date, the complexity of a revision makes it more dangerous. Thus, it's better to hold off on a tummy tuck until you've decided not to become pregnant in the future.
What is the Purpose of Drains After a Tummy Tuck and Why Don't I Need Them?
After surgery, there is a relatively strong chance that fluid can build up in between the layers of tightened abdominal tissue. Drains are placed to allow the fluid to escape, reducing the likelihood of seromas or hematomas. The no-drain tummy tuck technique significantly minimizes the space in which fluid could accumulate through progressive tension sutures. With this, the lymphatic system is able to pick up minor excess fluid and eliminate it naturally.
When Can I Work Out After a No-Drain Tummy Tuck?
Your activity restrictions after your no-drain tummy tuck are not much different than they would be with a traditional tummy tuck. Initially, beginning the day of or the day after surgery, you should walk short distances. This may be just around a room or the house at first. Over the course of two to three weeks, you can gradually increase your walking time and distance, remaining on flat terrain. After four to six weeks, you may walk on an incline and may be cleared for mild to moderate cardio exercise. Abdominal exercises remain restricted until the abdominal muscles have completely healed, which can take six to eight weeks. It is imperative that you follow your post-op instructions pertaining to activity restrictions. Doing too much too soon could increase post-operative side effects like swelling, bruising, and pain, and could ultimately prolong your recovery.
No Drain Tummy Tuck Before & After
Step 1: Administering the anesthesia
Your tummy tuck will be performed in Dr. Wiener’s AAAASF accredited in-office operating room in Houston, where a board-certified physician anesthesiologist will administer general anesthesia to ensure your comfort and safety. Dr. Wiener will also place special nerve blocks to reduce postoperative pain.
Step 2: Creating the horizontal incision
Dr. Wiener will create a horizontal incision just above your pubic region. The length of this cut will depend on how much skin you’re removing. The mini tummy tuck requires the smallest incision, while the extended version requires the longest.
Step 3: Sculpting lax muscles.
Through the incision, Dr. Wiener will separate your skin from the abdominal wall. He will then stitch your muscles together to produce a toned appearance and a narrow waist.
Step 4: Removing excess skin
Once your lax muscles have been tightened, Dr. Wiener will pull your skin taut and trim away the excess. In addition to achieving a tightened contour, this process often removes stretch marks as well.
Step 5: Repositioning the naval
Unless you’re having a mini tummy tuck, your procedure will involve repositioning your naval so that it’s in a natural location on your new, flat abdomen. This process involves an incision around the belly button and creating a new hole for the belly button in the correct placement.
Step 6: Closing the incisions
Once your ideal abdomen has been achieved, Dr. Wiener will close the incisions with progressive tension sutures. This technique secures the bottom of the abdominal fat pad to the muscle layer, which improves your scar and eliminates the need for drains.
Performed a sequenced No Drain Tummy Tuck on this patient. First Liposuction was done and then 5-6 months later a No Drain Tummy Tuck procedure was performed.
When you wake up
What to expect after surgery
After your no-drain tummy tuck, you will awaken in the recovery room where our team will monitor your progress closely. You will be free to return home shortly to begin the recovery period, with most of our Houston patients resuming sedentary work within a few days.
Is a no-drain tummy tuck painful?
Because Dr. Weiner’s method doesn’t place drains along the incision, this dramatically reduces recovery pain. It also speeds your return to normal life. There will be discomfort, but it is easily managed with pain medications. The no-drain method also enables our patients to walk easier and more upright much sooner than with traditional tummy tuck methods.
When can I return to work following no-drain tummy tuck surgery?
That depends upon your work. If you are involved with sedentary, office type work, patients can return to those jobs usually in just a week to 10 days. You’ll need to take it slow and be sure to have someone else lift anything over 10 pounds for you. This requirement will last for a few weeks.
If your job does involve any lifting or strenuous activity, your return will need to wait a longer period of time. Dr. Weiner will discuss the particulars of your job and recovery with you both during your consultation and after your surgery.
Recuperation and Healing
After your surgery is completed, you plan to set aside sufficient time to recover you return to work or any vigorous activities. Keep your upper body slightly raised and your knees at an angle while lying down during the first few days. It is normal to expect some swelling in the treated area. The no-drain tummy tuck involves dissolvable sutures that will not require removal.
The treated area is covered with a specialized bandage to hold it firmly in place during healing. You can take a shower the following day but must avoid baths for three weeks. While you will feel discomfort, it is easily managed with pain medication in the initial stages of healing. Your body will heal better if you are not on a long course of painkillers that affect digestion and make you feel groggy and inactive.
Your body needs circulation to heal, so it is important that you take gentle walks to get the blood flowing. We provide extensive aftercare instructions that should be carefully followed so your procedure heals as quickly as possible. With this modern surgical technique, most patients can get back to normal life within a few days, although you will need to take things slower for a few weeks and ensure you avoid lifting heavy objects.
The scars
If you have a tummy tuck, some degree of scarring is inevitable. However, the length and severity of your post-surgical marks will depend on a number of factors, including:
- The skill of your surgeon
- The extent of your procedure and the technique used
- Your diligence in following post-surgical care instructions
Dr. Wiener goes to great lengths to ensure scars are discreet. In addition to carefully placing the incisions so that they are easily hidden with clothing and swimwear, his use of progressive tension sutures combined with the no-drain tummy tuck technique greatly improve and minimize unsightly marks. One of the many reasons Dr. Wiener is known for is providing arguably the best tummy tuck Houston has to offer.
Are the results of a no-drain tummy tuck permanent?
Yes, the excess sagging skin and pockets of fat removed by Dr. Weiner in these procedures are gone for good. Also, when he repositions and re-anchors stomach muscles that have become separated, they will not separate again.
These are very satisfying procedures, and you will enjoy your slimmer contour for the rest of your life. Of course, should you gain a large amount of weight, you could negate these results. But most of our patients are so thrilled with their new slimmer contours and flat lower abdomen that they work hard to keep their weight in check, and they incorporate exercise into their daily lives.
Who is a candidate for a tummy tuck?
Many people, both men and women, are very unhappy with the appearance of the abdomen. Our patients who undergo the procedure do so to treat the following issues:
- Pregnancy has left your abdomen loose and droopy, with excess skin and tissue or unsightly stretch marks low on the tummy.
- The abdominal muscles have split, giving your lower abdomen a strange and unpleasant appearance.
- Your tummy zone has excess fat and skin that diet and exercise just won’t resolve.
- Aging has left you with a bulging tummy that leaves you looking far older than you feel.
- You have achieved a significant weight loss, whether naturally or through bariatric surgery, and have unsightly sagging, drooping skin and tissue that needs to be resolved.
- You are in good general health and meet all criteria as being safe to undergo a surgical procedure.
Who should not have a tummy tuck?
Obviously, a tummy tuck is a major surgery, so patients need to be in good enough health to be able to undergo surgery.
In his consultations, Dr. Weiner advises certain people that this probably isn’t the right time for this procedure. If a woman is considering having any additional children in the future, this is not the time to have a tummy tuck? Why? The localized gain and subsequent loss of weight from pregnancy will negate all of the results of this surgery. Actually, the weight gain can distort the incision scars, making them far more noticeable.
Also, if a person plans on losing more weight, that needs to happen before having a tummy tuck. The loss of additional weight will create more sagging skin, which is the reason you’re having a tummy tuck in the first place.
As a general rule, Dr. Weiner advises patients interested in a tummy tuck that they should be within 10 percent of their ideal weight before having this surgery.
What are the risk associated with no-drain tummy tucks?
Abdominoplasty is major surgery, so there are post-operative risks such as infection, excessive bleeding, reaction to anesthesia, and the like. With a tummy tuck, the incision is the main concern. There will be a lengthy scar, although Dr. Weiner does everything he can to make sure it can be hidden by underwear or a swimsuit. Because he uses the no-drain method, there is a much lower risk of your incision not healing evenly. In fact, incisions with the no-drain method usually heal with a much less visible scar than traditional methods. All in all, these procedures don’t involve a lot of risk.
Full Body Sculpting: Additional Procedures
Patients who come to us for full body contouring will typically require several procedures beyond a tummy tuck. If you have had bariatric surgery and lost a significant quantity of weight, it is wonderful to be in a healthier condition – with the drawback of living with saggy skin and tissue. The hanging skin is often on the arms, back, thighs, buttocks, and tummy.
Whether you lost weight through dieting or bariatric surgery, you want to enjoy the full effect of your new body shape. Dr. Thomas Wiener is a premier plastic surgeon who assists patients to finally achieve the benefits of significant weight loss by performing arguably the best tummy tuck Houston and the its surrounding areas have to offer. The additional procedures could include:
- Arm lift
- Breast lift (possible breast augmentation)
- Gynecomastia treatment (male patients with excess breast fat and tissue)
Patient Testimonial
"It is with great confidence I recommend Dr. Thomas Wiener!
I had a no drain (no pain) tummy tuck.
Dr. Wiener is highly skilled and very knowledgeable. He puts his patience’s needs first. I had a safe procedure and beautiful results! I am very happy! I will be back. I could not have asked for a better surgeon and experience. Thank you! #bikiniseason"
SPEAK WITH DR. WIENER FOR A NO DRAIN TUMMY TUCK IN HOUSTON!
If you're interested in learning more about No Drain Tummy Tuck please contact us for a consultation at 281-488-5795 or fill out our contact us form below. We will discuss your needs and concerns, and determine your best course of action. Dr. Wiener will discuss your needs and concerns, and can determine your best course of action.
