The Parker Tummy Tuck

You can have a flatter, contoured abdomen.

Many people struggle with excess abdominal skin and fat following pregnancy and childbirth or significant weight loss. These can persist even though you consume a healthy diet and exercise regularly. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Paul M. Parker restores a flatter, firmer, more contoured abdomen with tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) surgery at his Paramus, NJ, practice. Dr. Parker’s signature tummy tuck technique combines liposuction with abdominoplasty and multiple other special features to create dramatic, attractive results that draw patients from throughout Bergen County, New Jersey and New York.

What Are the Benefits of the Parker Tummy Tuck?

Dr. Parker evolved the techniques that would become the basis of the Parker Tummy Tuck by combining his in-depth knowledge of anatomy with the concepts of international colleagues several years ago and has continued to make further improvements over time. The procedure—which is a modified version of lipo-abdominoplasty—combines aggressive liposuction with many principles of traditional abdominoplasty.

Some of the benefits include:

• Improved abdominal contours versus a standalone tummy tuck
• Shortest scars possible for a patient’s anatomy
• Scars placed much lower than most surgeons, allowing bikini wear after surgery
• Creation of a very desirable and attractive “innie” belly button
• Monsplasty to thin and lift the mons pubis area, which improves its appearance and can improve urinary incontinence as well as sexual function
• Use of many internal, absorbable sutures that eliminate drains in appropriate patients
• Injection of long-acting local anesthesia medications to minimize postoperative pain
• Faster recovery with less discomfort
• Lower rate of postoperative complications such as seroma (fluid accumulation below the skin)

Our Experienced surgeon

Dr. Paul M. Parker

Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Paul M. Parker combines an unwavering dedication to patient satisfaction with surgical expertise to create aesthetically pleasing, natural-looking results.

Meet Dr. Parker

Credentials You Can Trust

Perfecting the “Drainless and Painless” Approach

Dr. Parker developed his Parker Tummy Tuck to provide natural-looking results with an easier recovery than traditional techniques by using advanced surgical techniques that don’t require drains and long-acting pain control.

What Makes the Parker Tummy Tuck Different

• Abdominal liposuction: Removing fat while preserving the body’s natural drainage processes to reduce swelling and the risk of fluid buildup.
• Meticulous skin tightening: Carefully repositioning abdominal skin while maintaining important connections to the blood supply and nerves.
• Abdominal muscle repair: Tightening separated muscles (diastasis recti) to restore a flatter, more defined abdomen.
• Improved comfort after surgery: Long-acting local anesthesia reduces pain during early recovery.
• Drainless: An advanced internal suturing technique eliminates the need for drains while supporting proper healing.
• Smoother contour and refined bellybutton: Internal contouring techniques enhance abdominal definition and bellybutton shape.

Optional: Lipo 360 for Full-Body Contouring

For even more advanced contouring, Dr. Parker combines the Parker Tummy Tuck with liposuction of the hips, waist, and lower back in addition to the abdomen—a technique called Lipo 360. This combination creates the “hourglass-shaped tummy tuck” that many patients desire.

Visit our photo gallery to see results from real patients after their tummy tuck and liposuction procedure.

How Much Does a Tummy Tuck Cost in New Jersey?

The Parker Center offers affordable payment plans to help you jump start your transformation starting at just $385 a month. Applying for plastic surgery financing with the Parker Center is quick, easy and will not impact your credit rating.

The total cost of a tummy tuck at the Parker Center depends on your goals, anatomy, and the extent of surgery needed to achieve your desired result. For example, traditional or extended abdominoplasty to repair severe muscle separation costs more than a mini tummy tuck. At your cosmetic consultation, we will provide an all-inclusive, individualized price quote backed by our Price Guarantee that includes:

• Surgeon’s fees
• Operating room and anesthesia costs
• Pre- and post-op visits
• Surgical garments

You can read more about why it’s important to wear postoperative compression garments in our blog post.

Financing Surgery Makes Dreams Come True

We believe plastic surgery should be accessible to as many people as possible. That’s why we offer financing through lenders that specialize in setting up payment plans for elective cosmetic surgery. We can discuss financing during your consultation.

Learn More About Financing Options

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Ready To Dive Deeper?

Explore the following tummy tuck topics in greater depth.

Tummy Tuck Techniques

Learn more about the types of tummy tucks and the role that surgical expertise plays in your results.

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Getting a Tummy Tuck After Weight Loss

Find out how a tummy tuck can support your post-weight loss transformation.

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Tummy Tuck Candidacy

Dive deeper into weight requirements and factors that may disqualify you from surgery.

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Tummy Tuck Recovery

Discover how long your results last, recovery tips, and what to expect when it comes to scarring.

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Mini Tummy Tuck

If your concerns are limited to the area below the bellybutton, you may be a good candidate for a mini tummy tuck. This technique is not a good option for addressing skin laxity above and below the bellybutton or repairing the abdominal muscles.

During this procedure, Dr. Parker makes a shorter horizontal incision—similar to what’s used for a C-section delivery. It isn’t necessary to make an incision around the bellybutton.

Revision Tummy Tuck

A revision tummy tuck can improve the results from a prior tummy tuck or poorly performed liposuction. Dr. Parker’s specialized expertise includes:

• Removing unwanted fat from the abdominal or mons areas with SAFELipo®
• Correcting ‘dog ears’, scar complications, or belly button issues
• Tightening ab muscles if they have not be tightened or loosened
• Removing residual excess skin
• Lower a high-riding tummy tuck scar

For almost 3 years, I searched for a surgeon that I felt confident and comfortable with to perform my surgery. Dr. Parker exceeded my expectations. My results were life changing. I was most impressed with Dr. Parker’s safety procedures, medication protocol and his surgical skills. He delivered as promised.”

–Tummy tuck patient, 5-Star RealSelf review

What To Expect at Your Tummy Tuck Consultation

Consultations at the Parker Center are special. Dr. Parker will spend extra time with you, ensuring that he understands your goals and that you are fully educated about each potential solution. Patients who are comparing providers often tell us our consults are the most thorough and informative they’ve ever experienced!

Preview Results With 3D Imaging

Our imaging expert will help you see the possibilities with digital photo imaging to show you what you will look like after surgery. Learn more about imaging at the Parker Center.

Are You an Ideal Tummy Tuck Candidate?

Ideal candidates for a tummy tuck share certain traits, including being at a stable weight. Your body mass index (BMI) should be 30 or lower before scheduling a tummy tuck. Having an elevated BMI increases the risk of complications during the surgery. You can also benefit from a tummy tuck if you have excess abdominal skin (even after sitting up straight), are a nonsmoker in relatively good health, and have realistic expectations about what the procedure can accomplish for your physique.

Combining a Tummy Tuck With Other Procedures

A tummy tuck is often the centerpiece of combination body contouring operations, including the mommy makeover procedures. Some of the most common procedures combined with a tummy tuck include:

• Breast lift
• Breast augmentation
• Body lift
• Brazilian butt lift

You can discuss your options with Dr. Parker during the consultation.

Liposuction vs. Tummy Tuck Surgery

Some patients ask if they can get the results they want with liposuction alone. That depends on certain physical characteristics. Your body contouring options for the midsection include:

Liposuction alone: This approach works if your abdominal skin retains its elasticity and you have good muscle tone but want to remove stubborn fat. When performing liposuction for the abdomen, Dr. Parker makes 2 tiny incisions in the pubic hair area and 1 inside the navel. Recovery is usually uncomplicated and quick.

Tummy tuck: If you’ve lost a significant amount of weight, have had children, or are noticing age-related sagging, a tummy tuck is the best surgical path. It’s often combined with liposuction.

Liposuction combined with BodyTite: This combination can be a great choice for patients, often in their mid-40s, who have excess fat and mild to moderate skin laxity. These “gap patients” need more than fat reduction with liposuction but not the significant correction of a tummy tuck. BodyTite is a minimally invasive skin tightening treatment that also reduces fat.

FUPA Surgery: Addressing the Mons Pubis

Some patients accumulate fat in the upper pubic area (FUPA) but don’t have sagging skin. Liposuction for FUPA is a less invasive cosmetic procedure that can specifically remove fat from your upper pubic area, slim your lower abdomen, and complement your tummy tuck results.

Unlike a tummy tuck or mini tummy tuck, this procedure does not remove excess skin and doesn’t address abdominal muscles. However, liposuction may be effective in flattening the bulging mons or FUPA by reducing the amount of fat in your mons pubis, making the transition to your lower abdomen more streamlined. It’s ideal for people with minimal upper pubic area fat that doesn’t require a more invasive procedure.

For patients with more prominent mons, Dr. Parker may recommend a combination of liposuction and monsplasty or pubic contouring surgery to remove significant amounts of excess fat and lift the pubic area.

Preparing for Surgery 

One to two weeks before your scheduled tummy tuck surgery, you will undergo a one-hour, in-office, face-to-face education session with one of Dr. Parker’s Nurse Educators. During this pre-op education session, the nurse educator thoroughly reviews a detailed information packet to further educate you about your tummy tuck. You will learn how to prepare for surgery, what occurs on the day of surgery, and what to during your recovery. It’s a detailed session that really educates our patients about the entire surgical process at the Parker Center. Patients tell us they love it because they feel so well-prepared for their surgery.

To do before your tummy tuck

• Arrange for help with child care and household duties during your first week or two after surgery (you shouldn’t lift anything heavy for 4 to 6 weeks)
• Take several days off work
• Prefill your prescriptions
• Stock your kitchen with healthy essentials
• Set up a comfortable recovery area at home with easy access to recovery supplies
• Stay hydrated and get plenty of rest leading up to the day of your surgery

Healing After Tummy Tuck: Our Rapid Recovery Protocol

The Parker Center’s Rapid Recovery techniques used during and after your tummy tuck help you heal more rapidly and comfortably than what you might experience at another practice. This means less time off from work and a sooner return to your normal activities.

Dr. Parker’s Rapid Recovery protocol includes:

• Short-acting anesthetic agents and anti-emetic medications to hasten the recovery from anesthesia
• A tailored regimen of medications given before, during, and after surgery to minimize postoperative pain, swelling, and bruising
• Three postoperative medical manual lymphatic drainage massages to reduce swelling and bruising as well as accelerate healing
• Topically applied state-of-the-art scar cream to help minimize the scars’ appearance.

Recovery Milestones

• Shower and resume light activities 24 hours post-op
• Resume nonstrenuous work after 1 to 2 weeks
• Begin light exercise within 2 to 3 weeks
• Return to regular exercise after about 4 weeks (or as directed by Dr. Parker)
• Most patients achieve final results within 3 months as swelling subsides

Tips for a Smooth Recovery

• Carefully adhere to your post-op protocol
• Prioritize rest but move around briefly to boost circulation
• Hydrate and eat nutritious foods
• Don’t push yourself too hard, too soon
• Exercise patience during healing—your results will be well worth the wait

Read our related blog post for more tummy tuck recovery tips.

Our Signature

Rapid Recovery Program

Our surgical procedures, anesthesia, medications, and aftercare are tailored to minimize post-operative discomfort and accelerate recuperation.

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What To Expect When You're Done Expecting

Dr. Paul M. Parker's comprehensive guide offers insights into post-pregnancy physical changes and options for regaining confidence post-baby—an essential read if you're considering a mommy makeover. Drawing on years of experience, Dr. Parker discusses body contouring and breast enhancement options for women concerned about their postpartum body image.

Dr. Parker explores topics including:

• How pregnancy changes your body
• Why your body continues changing after having a baby
• Tips for discussing plastic surgery with your children
• Why it's important to tune out unsolicited advice about your body

Get Your Free Copy of “What To Expect When You're Done Expecting”

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Tummy Tuck FAQ

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5 Reasons to Choose

Parker Center for Plastic Surgery

We believe plastic surgery should be accessible to as many people as possible. That's why we offer financing through lenders that specialize in setting up payment plans for elective cosmetic surgery. We can discuss financing during your consultation.

1

Results: Dr. Parker is known for remarkable results that may surpass your expectations

Your Results

2

Safety: Our state-of-the-art, fully licensed, Medicare-accredited surgical center meets the highest standards of safety

Your Safety

3

Education: We give you all the information, empowering you to make informed decisions

Your Education

4

Rapid Recovery: Our protocol includes massage, medications, and advanced surgical techniques for reduced downtime

Your Rapid Recovery

5

Patient Experience: We create a positive, supportive environment in our beautiful, private facility

Your Atmosphere