Dr. Christopher Hankins should be your choice for your Tummy Tuck in Pearland and the surrounding Houston area. He believes in offering patients only treatments that are in their best interests. His commitment to his patients is to always carefully evaluate the patient, not just the plastic or aesthetic surgery issue under consideration. Dr. Christopher Hankins specializes in face, breast, and body aesthetic surgery. He also has advanced training in hand surgery, breast reconstruction after cancer, and other reconstructive surgical procedures. Dr. Hankins completed five plastic surgery fellowships with highly distinguished physician mentors in the United States and the United Kingdom, including a Plastic and Microsurgery fellowship at the Baylor College of Medicine and a Hand Surgery fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Hankins earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. He completed his General Surgery training prerequisite for Plastic Surgery as established by the Residency Review Committee in Plastic Surgery and Anatomic and Clinical Pathology.
The tummy tuck procedure is pain-free as it is performed under general anesthesia.
Post-surgery, you can expect to experience discomfort, pain, and swelling. You are recommended not to put pressure on your abdomen and use the compression garment and any pain medications as prescribed.
Your surgeon is the best person to advise whether you are more suitable for a tummy tuck or liposuction. If you have loose skin that has lost its elasticity due to pregnancy, aging, or weight loss, a tummy tuck may be more appropriate. If you are a younger patient with a low BMI and healthy, elastic skin and simply want to enhance your figure and smooth the contour of your body, liposuction may be more suitable for you.
The two procedures can also be combined to contour further the abdomen following excess skin removal and re-tightening of the abdominal wall.
It varies very much from patient to patient, so it’s important to discuss your needs and expectations with Dr. Hankins, who will be able to explain them in more depth. However, ultimately, your body will decide what procedure is correct for you rather than you selecting a particular procedure.
There are usually three to six follow-up appointments with Dr. Hankins. Depending on your recovery progress, he will let you know if and when he wants to see you next at each appointment.
By prioritizing daily skin care – sunscreen, chemical-free lotions, gentle cleansing – you can maintain your results and enjoy smooth, firm, and youthful skin. Dr. Hankins can guide you on the right skin products to aid this process.
The length of recovery depends on various factors, including the technique of your procedure, your age, your healthcare habits, and your skin’s laxity.
We recommend that patients wait up to the three-month mark to see their final abdominal contour.
While there are typically no significant risks associated with becoming pregnant after tummy tuck surgery, it is normally recommended that patients wait until they are done having children before undergoing the procedure. Doing so can help ensure the results achieved are not compromised by the bodily changes that often occur during pregnancy.
Our team at Premier encourages our patients’ happiness by extending their families. If you are considering having kids, please discuss this with Dr. Hankins during your consultation so he can help you navigate your decision to undergo this particular surgical procedure.
The scarring depends on the type of tummy tuck you get. A mini tummy tuck scar is between three and six inches, whereas a long tummy tuck scar is from hip bone to hip bone. Dr. Hankins tries to place the tummy tuck incision in discreet locations, such as the natural contours of your body.
Like most scars, they start red and pinkish and fade with time into your skin tone. Proper scar care is essential if you are interested in minimal scarring. Our office can share scare care instructions with you.
Given that a tummy tuck is an involved surgery, there are the following risks patients should be mindful of:
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