Extended Tummy Tuck in Scottsdale, AZ

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Extended tummy tuck surgery in Scottsdale, Phoenix & Paradise Valley, performed by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Mark Gruszynski.

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Scottsdale Extended Tummy Tuck Specialist · Board Certified Plastic Surgeon · Thousands of Procedures · Scottsdale Extended Tummy Tuck Specialist · Board Certified Plastic Surgeon · Thousands of Procedures ·

Does loose skin wrap around your sides?

An extended tummy tuck in Scottsdale treats your entire midsection in one procedure. The surgery removes excess skin from your abdomen, flanks, and lower back while tightening weakened muscles.

You get smooth, balanced contours that match the body transformation you achieved through weight loss.

Dr. Gruszynski at Dr. Mark Plastic Surgery specializes in post-weight-loss body contouring procedures designed for patients who need more than a standard tummy tuck.

What to know about extended tummy tuck in Scottsdale

An extended tummy tuck addresses excess skin across a larger area than a traditional abdominoplasty. Dr. Gruszynski removes loose skin from your abdomen and continues the treatment around your flanks to your lower back, which creates smooth contours across your entire midsection rather than just the front.

The surgery uses a longer incision that extends past your hips toward your back. This allows our surgeon to tighten abdominal muscles, remove excess skin and fat from the front and sides, and reposition your belly button for natural-looking results.

Ready to address excess skin across your entire midsection with one procedure?

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Benefits of Extended Tummy Tuck

An extended tummy tuck offers several benefits for patients with skin laxity in multiple areas.

Address Abdomen and Flanks Together: The procedure treats loose skin across your entire midsection in one surgery instead of requiring multiple operations.
Create Balanced Body Proportions: Removing excess tissue from both front and sides produces smooth, natural-looking contours that complement your weight loss.
Eliminate Love Handle Bulges: The extended incision allows treatment of the flank area where stubborn fat and skin often accumulate after weight loss.
Repair Weakened Abdominal Muscles: Separated or stretched muscles throughout your abdomen get tightened to restore core strength and create a flatter profile.
Reduce Skin Irritation Issues: Hanging skin folds that cause rashes, infections, or discomfort get removed to improve both appearance and daily comfort.
Achieve Long-Lasting Transformation: The changes from extended tummy tuck surgery are permanent and help you fully enjoy the results of your weight loss efforts.

Ideal Candidates
for Extended Tummy Tuck

An extended tummy tuck works best for patients with skin laxity that extends beyond the front abdomen. The ideal candidate meets several specific criteria.

Excess Skin Beyond Front Abdomen

You have loose, hanging skin that wraps around your sides to your flanks or lower back area.

Significant Weight Loss Achievement

You’ve lost 50 pounds or more and maintained a stable weight for at least six months before surgery.

Good Skin Quality Despite Laxity

While you have excess skin, the tissue maintains reasonable elasticity to support proper healing and smooth results.

Muscle Separation Across the Abdomen

You have weakened or separated abdominal muscles throughout your midsection that require repair for best results.

Commitment to Long Recovery

You understand this more extensive procedure requires four to six weeks of restricted activity compared to shorter procedures.

Realistic Expectations About Scarring

The longer incision creates a scar that extends past your hips, though it’s positioned to be concealed by most clothing.

Dr. Gruszynski will evaluate your candidacy for an extended tummy tuck in Phoenix during your initial consultation.

A consultation is your first step toward a complete body transformation.

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Extended Tummy Tuck Consultation At Our Scottsdale Office

Your consultation begins with a detailed discussion about your weight loss journey and what skin concerns you most. Dr. Gruszynski will ask how much weight you lost, whether your weight has remained stable, and what specific areas make you self-conscious about your body.

During the physical examination, Dr. Gruszynski assesses the extent of excess skin across your abdomen, flanks, and lower back.

He evaluates muscle separation, remaining fat deposits, and skin quality to determine whether an extended tummy tuck will address all your concerns or if you might need an even more extensive body lift procedure.

How to Prepare for Your Extended Tummy Tuck

Proper preparation helps ensure your surgery goes smoothly and supports optimal healing during your extended recovery period.

Compression Garments

Purchase a full-length abdominal compression garment that covers your entire torso from chest to hips for proper post-surgical support.

Recovery Space Setup

Arrange your bedroom so that everything is within easy reach since movement will be limited for the first week after surgery.

Loose Clothing Ready

Prepare button-front shirts and elastic-waist pants that won’t put pressure on your incisions or require you to lift your arms overhead.

Help Arrangements

Plan for someone to stay with you for at least the first week since this procedure requires more assistance than standard or mini tummy tucks.

Stop Smoking Completely

Quit all tobacco products at least six weeks before surgery since smoking significantly increases complication risks with extensive procedures.

Transportation and Care Secured

Have someone drive you to and from surgery, then provide 24-hour care during your initial recovery days at home.

Taking time to prepare properly for an extended tummy tuck in Scottsdale helps your recovery progress more smoothly.

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What are the Steps of an Extended Tummy Tuck Procedure

Your extended tummy tuck takes place under general anesthesia at an accredited surgical facility. Here’s what happens during each phase of your procedure.

The anesthesia takes effect gradually as you settle into a completely relaxed state. This ensures you remain pain-free throughout the longer surgical procedure while equipment monitors your vital signs continuously. Throughout this initial phase, the anesthesia team carefully tracks your heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels, which means your safety is maintained at every moment before surgical work begins.

Our surgeon makes a horizontal incision that extends from hip to hip across your lower abdomen, then continues past your hips around toward your lower back. The length and position depend on how far your excess skin extends. This longer incision provides access to treat your entire midsection, and a second small incision is created around your belly button to free it from surrounding tissue.

The abdominal skin is lifted to expose the underlying muscle layer across your entire treatment area. Separated or weakened muscles are brought together along the midline and sutured into their proper position. This extensive muscle repair strengthens your core and creates the foundation for a flatter, firmer midsection that appears more toned and defined across your entire waistline.

Excess skin and fatty tissue are carefully removed from your abdomen, flanks, and the portion of your lower back within the treatment area. The remaining skin is pulled taut and trimmed to eliminate all sagging and hanging tissue. This creates smooth contours across your entire midsection while maintaining natural proportions, and liposuction may be added to further refine specific areas if needed.

Your belly button is brought through a new opening created in the repositioned skin at an appropriate location. The surgical team carefully shapes and sutures it into place so it appears natural and properly centered on your new abdominal contour. This step ensures your belly button looks proportionate to your newly contoured midsection and sits at an aesthetically pleasing height.

All incisions are closed in multiple layers using dissolvable sutures beneath the skin surface. Surgical adhesive or tape is applied to support proper healing and minimize scarring. Compression garments are placed over your entire torso to reduce swelling and support your newly contoured tissues, and drainage tubes may be temporarily placed to prevent fluid buildup during early healing.

Extended Tummy Tuck Recovery Timeline

Recovery from an extended tummy tuck in Scottsdale takes longer than standard tummy tuck procedures, but most patients follow a predictable progression.

Days 1-3

You’ll experience tightness and soreness across your entire midsection, and pain medication helps manage discomfort during this early phase.

Week 1

Swelling peaks across your abdomen and flanks, and you’ll need help with basic tasks like bathing and preparing meals.

Weeks 2-3

Most patients can perform light daily activities as swelling gradually decreases, though returning to work may take three to four weeks.

Weeks 4-6

Your energy levels improve significantly, and you can resume light walking at a comfortable pace, but avoid core exercises completely.

Weeks 6-8

Swelling continues to subside across all treated areas, and most activity restrictions are lifted, allowing a gradual return to moderate exercise routines.

3 Months and Beyond

Your final contours become visible as residual swelling resolves completely, and scars continue fading to thin white lines over the coming year.

Dr. Mark’s Recovery Tips

Sleep in a recliner or propped position for three weeks
Walk short distances several times daily from day one
Avoid lifting anything over 5 pounds for eight weeks
Wear compression garments exactly as directed
Stay well-hydrated and eat protein-rich foods

Why Choose
Dr. Mark Gruszynski

Dr. Gruszynski brings specialized experience in extensive body contouring procedures designed for patients who have achieved significant weight loss. He carefully evaluates whether an extended tummy tuck will adequately address your concerns or if you might benefit from an even more extensive body lift approach.

His surgical technique focuses on creating balanced, natural-looking results while minimizing visible scarring. Patients choose Dr. Gruszynski because he provides honest guidance about what an extended tummy tuck in Phoenix can accomplish and ensures you receive personalized care throughout your transformation journey.

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Frequently Asked
Questions About Extended Tummy Tuck

An extended tummy tuck uses a longer incision that continues past your hips to treat excess skin on your flanks and lower back. A full tummy tuck only addresses the front of your abdomen from hip to hip. The extended approach is necessary when loose skin wraps around your sides and cannot be adequately treated with a standard incision.

You should reach your goal weight and maintain it for at least six months before surgery to avoid a high BMI surgery. Most candidates have lost 50 pounds or more through diet, exercise, or bariatric surgery. The procedure works best when your weight is stable since continued weight loss or gain after surgery can affect your results.

The incision creates a scar that extends from your lower abdomen around past your hips toward your lower back. The scar is positioned low enough to be hidden by most underwear and swimwear. Scars appear red and raised initially but fade to thin white lines over 12 to 18 months as they mature.

The procedure typically takes three to five hours based on how much skin needs removal and whether additional procedures like liposuction are performed. This is longer than a standard tummy tuck because more area is treated and the surgery is more technically complex.

Most patients with desk jobs return to work within three to four weeks. If your job involves physical labor, heavy lifting, or extensive movement, you may need six to eight weeks before resuming normal duties. Dr. Gruszynski provides specific guidance based on your occupation and healing progress.

Yes, many patients combine their extended tummy tuck with liposuction for better body contouring or with a thigh lift to address multiple areas. Some patients opt for breast procedures as part of a post-weight loss body transformation. Dr. Gruszynski evaluates whether combining procedures is safe based on your overall health.

Insurance rarely covers extended tummy tuck surgery since it’s considered cosmetic. However, if you have documented medical issues like chronic rashes, infections, or mobility problems caused by excess skin, some plans may provide partial coverage. Our team can help you explore your options during a consultation.

Results are permanent as long as you maintain a stable weight within 10 to 15 pounds of your surgery weight. Significant weight gain or pregnancy can stretch your skin and muscles again, and result in a revision tummy tuck surgery. Following a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise and balanced nutrition helps preserve your results for many years.

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