Good candidates at Dr. Forrest S. Roth's River Oaks, Houston practice are adults with excess abdominal skin and fat, weakened or separated abdominal muscles (diastasis recti), and realistic expectations. Candidates should be at or near their goal weight and not planning future pregnancies. Women completing their families or patients who have lost significant weight are among the most common candidates.

Abdominoplasty with Dr. Forrest S. Roth, MD, FACS is performed through a horizontal incision placed low on the abdomen between the hip bones. Through this incision, Dr. Roth removes excess skin and fat, repairs separated or weakened abdominal muscles, and repositions the navel for a natural appearance. Liposuction may be combined to further refine the waistline. The procedure takes two to four hours under general anesthesia.

Tummy tuck patients at Dr. Roth's River Oaks, Houston office typically experience swelling, bruising, and mild discomfort for two to four weeks. Most patients return to desk work within two weeks and avoid strenuous physical activity for six weeks. A compression garment is worn throughout early recovery to support healing and minimize swelling.

A tummy tuck does leave a horizontal scar along the lower abdomen. Under Dr. Roth's care in River Oaks, Houston, the incision is placed low enough to be concealed by underwear and most swimwear. The scar fades significantly over twelve to eighteen months and can be further minimized with proper scar management. Most patients consider the scar a worthwhile trade-off for the improvement in abdominal contour.

Initial results are visible as soon as swelling permits — typically within a few weeks. Full results become clear as swelling resolves over three to six months. Results achieved by Dr. Forrest S. Roth, MD, FACS are long-lasting when patients maintain a stable weight and avoid future pregnancies after surgery.

Yes — repairing diastasis recti is one of the primary goals of abdominoplasty. Diastasis recti is the separation of the abdominal muscles that commonly occurs during pregnancy, causing the characteristic "mommy pouch" that diet and exercise cannot correct. At Dr. Roth's River Oaks, Houston practice, abdominoplasty includes internal muscle repair to bring the separated muscles back together, restoring core strength and a flat abdominal profile. This is a key reason tummy tuck is so popular among patients who have completed their families.