Beth Collins, M.D.
2614 Boston Post Road
Willow Hall, Suite 16C
Guilford, CT 06437
Phone: (203) 689-5295
Monday–Friday: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Beth Collins, M.D.
55 Willow Street
Mystic, CT 06355
Phone: (860) 572-6868
Monday–Friday: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Tummy Tuck
Between pregnancy, weight loss, and aging, the abdomen sees a lot of changes throughout a person’s life. Over time, a taut, toned belly can lose its shape and begin to bulge and sag. Often, these changes are resistant to diet and exercise measures. When performed by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Beth Collins, a tummy tuck in Guilford or Mystic, CT helps people from New Haven, Essex, New London, Mystic, and other Connecticut cities love their abdomens again. Learn how it’s done.
Contact Dr. Collins at our Guilford location at (203) 689-5295 or Mystic location at (860) 572-6868 or request a consultation online to learn more about how a tummy tuck can help improve your appearance.
Tummy Tuck
Before & After Photos
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The Basics of Tummy Tuck
A tummy tuck, known technically as “abdominoplasty,” is a surgical procedure that can rejuvenate the appearance of the midsection. Although the surgery is customized for each patient, it’s generally used to remove loose skin and some small deposits of fat. A tummy tuck isn’t a weight loss procedure, and it’s not a good fit for patients who are significantly overweight. Instead, it’s best for men and women who are at a relatively healthy, stable weight but bothered by excess abdominal skin. A tummy tuck can also be used to tighten weak or damaged abdominal muscles and correct a condition called diastasis recti.
Tummy Tuck Candidates
Most people who are in good physical and mental health are eligible for tummy tuck surgery, although there are some counterindications. The procedure is not appropriate for those who are significantly overweight. Additionally, if you’re a woman and you’re planning on having more kids in the future, you should postpone your procedure until you’re done building your family.
During your consultation, Dr. Collins talks about your medical history as well as your aesthetic desires. She can help you plan the perfect tummy tuck or consider other procedures, such as liposuction or CoolSculpting®, that might be better suited to you.
Beth Collins, M.D.
As a board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Beth Collins offers a blend of clinical expertise and warm, open communication to ensure beautiful results from your chosen procedure. Learn more about her experience and explore what she can do for you.
Meet Dr. Beth Collins
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What Happens During Tummy Tuck Surgery?
Dr. Collins performs tummy tuck surgery while you are completely asleep under general anesthesia. This ensures your comfort during the procedure as well as Dr. Collins’s complete focus and control. She makes a horizontal incision as low as possible on your abdomen, typically just above the pubic area. Once healed, the scar stays concealed under clothing and most types of swimwear, too. She also makes an incision within your navel.
Through these incisions, she surgically tightens the abdominal muscles and releases the overlying skin. She then re-drapes the skin across the abdomen to form a taut contour before removing excess skin and closing the incisions. The procedure also involves repositioning the bellybutton. Dr. Collins then places surgical drains within the incisions; these temporary drains help reduce fluid accumulation as you heal.
What Is a Mini Tummy Tuck?
If your concerns about your abdomen are limited to the area below the bellybutton, you might be a good candidate for a mini tummy tuck. During a mini tummy tuck, the plastic surgeon makes a much shorter incision on the abdomen. Good candidates for mini tummy tuck procedures are at a weight they are comfortable with but have a pooch on their lower abdomen that remains despite exercise and a healthy diet.
The procedure doesn’t involve the bellybutton and isn’t appropriate for patients whose abdominal muscles have been separated by pregnancy.
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Learn MoreHow Long Is Recovery After a Tummy Tuck?
Shortly after you wake up from anesthesia, you should be able to safely return home in the care of a trusted adult. You can expect Dr. Collins to remove your surgical drains at one of your follow-up appointments within a few days of surgery. Plan to return to work and other light daily activities in about 2 weeks. By protecting your incisions from sun exposure, you should be able to prevent unnecessary scarring.
While you’re recuperating at home, it’s important to take brief walks around your home to boost blood circulation during the initial week or so of recovery. Getting enough rest is also essential. You should steer clear of strenuous exercise and any activities that require you to bend over, stretch, or lift more than a few pounds. Light activities around the house are encouraged. You can manage your discomfort with prescribed pain medication.
It can take 6 weeks or so to fully heal after a tummy tuck, but with proper care, your tummy tuck results can last indefinitely!
Dr. Collins wants to work with you. Patients considering tummy tuck surgery travel from South Rhode Island and beyond to have Dr. Collins perform their procedures. You can request your consultation online or call us at our Guilford location at (203) 689-5295 or Mystic location at (860) 572-6868 .
Important Reminders
- Dr. Collins does not accept insurance.
- There is a $150 consultation fee for surgical and injectable procedures with Dr. Collins.
- The consultation fee is waived for injectable treatments if the procedure is performed on the day of your consultation.
- There is a $50 consultation fee for consultations with our RNs.
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