Tummy Tuck in Barranquilla
Get back a firm, flat abdomen, especially after pregnancy or after losing a lot of weight. A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) removes the skin that is left over, brings the separated muscles back together, and refines your figure, so that your abdomen goes with you again. With Dr. Boris Henríquez and more than 26 years of experience in body surgery in Barranquilla.
What Is a Tummy Tuck?
A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is the surgery that works on three things at once in your abdomen: the excess skin, the muscles that separated (something very common after pregnancy, called diastasis) and the localized fat.
That is why it achieves a flatter, firmer abdomen that you cannot get with diet or exercise alone. It is different from liposuction: lipo only removes fat, while a tummy tuck also corrects the loose skin and the muscles. Which one is right for you is something we define at your consultation.
Who Is a Candidate for a Tummy Tuck?
A tummy tuck is a major surgery, so we recommend it carefully and only when it really is your moment. It is usually indicated when you have already closed your pregnancy stage or lost weight, your weight is stable and you have loose skin or separated muscles that do not improve with exercise. These are the points we take into account:
How do you know if you are a good candidate?
Loose skin or separated muscles
You have excess skin on your abdomen or that separation of the muscles that often remains after pregnancy, and it doesn’t improve with exercise.
Pregnancies completed or weight already stable
You are not planning more pregnancies for now, or you lost weight and that weight has held. A later pregnancy can affect the result.
Stable weight
Close to your usual weight for several months now. This is not a weight-loss surgery.
Good health, especially of the heart
This is a major surgery, so the screening is strict: no uncontrolled medical conditions and clearance from the internist.
Not smoking, or being able to quit
Here it is especially important: smoking has a big effect on healing. You stop before and after the surgery.
Realistic time for your recovery
This is the longest recovery of all the body surgeries. You need to be able to give yourself your days of rest and go back to your routine little by little.
Who Is a Candidate for a Tummy Tuck?
Loose skin or separated muscles
You have excess skin on your abdomen or that separation of the muscles that often remains after pregnancy, and it doesn’t improve with exercise.
Pregnancies completed or weight already stable
You are not planning more pregnancies for now, or you lost weight and that weight has held. A later pregnancy can affect the result.
Stable weight
Close to your usual weight for several months now. This is not a weight-loss surgery.
Good health, especially of the heart
This is a major surgery, so the screening is strict: no uncontrolled medical conditions and clearance from the internist.
Not smoking, or being able to quit
Here it is especially important: smoking has a big effect on healing. You stop before and after the surgery.
Realistic time for your recovery
This is the longest recovery of all the body surgeries. You need to be able to give yourself your days of rest and go back to your routine little by little.
Types of Tummy Tuck that Dr. Henríquez Performs
Full Tummy Tuck
This is the most common one. It removes the excess skin across the whole abdomen, brings the separated muscles back together and repositions the navel. It is the right choice when there is a good deal of loose skin or muscle separation, something typical after pregnancies or after losing a lot of weight.
Mini Tummy Tuck
A shorter version, for when the loose skin is only in the lower abdomen and there’s no significant separation of the muscles. It leaves a shorter scar and the recovery is briefer.
Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) with Liposculpture
It combines the tummy tuck with liposculpture of the abdomen and nearby areas (flanks, back). That way the whole contour is refined, not just the abdomen. It is the most requested combination when there is loose skin along with fat around it.
Tummy Tuck After Major Weight Loss
Designed for those who have lost a lot of weight (through diet, exercise, or bariatric surgery) and are left with a good deal of excess skin. It is more complex because it works on skin with little elasticity, and it calls for additional experience.
What a Tummy Tuck Corrects
A tummy tuck works on several abdominal problems at the same time. This is what it corrects:
Excess skin
Separated muscles (diastasis)
Bulging abdomen
Laxity after
pregnancy
Stretch marks in the lower area
Localized fat
Patient Process: 4 Stages of the Tummy Tuck
Consultation for Your Abdomen
It all starts with a calm conversation. Dr. Henríquez examines your abdomen, reviews your skin, the separation of your muscles and your previous scars (such as C-sections), and takes measurements and photographs in the office studio. Together we define which technique is right for you and what result is reasonable. You leave with a clear plan and a written quote.
Preparation with Your Safety First
Because this is a major surgery, the preparation is especially careful. You get your pre-op tests done and an internist reviews your heart and your general condition in detail. The anesthesiologist evaluates you as well. Only when everything is cleared do we schedule your surgery, and you receive clear instructions for the days beforehand.
The Day of Your Surgery
The surgery is performed in a high-complexity clinic, with general anesthesia and a full team. When it is over, you stay one or two nights under observation, with pain management and care to prevent complications, and we help you start moving little by little from the very first moment.
Supported Recovery
You go home with a compression garment and, sometimes, with temporary drains that are removed at the first check-ups. For the first few days you walk a little bent over, so as not to strain the scar, and that improves quickly. The office supports you with lymphatic drainage when indicated, and Dr. Henríquez follows you closely throughout the whole process.
Tummy Tuck Recovery: What to Expect Day by Day
First days – Rest, Compression Garment, and a Bent-Forward Posture
You spend one or two nights under observation. You wear the compression garment and, sometimes, a few drains. You walk and rest slightly bent forward so you don’t put tension on the incision; that is normal and it improves soon. From day one we help you move a little, with short walks, to protect your circulation. The discomfort is controlled with what the doctor prescribes.
First week – At Home, Moving Gently
You are already home, resting and moving gently. You have your first follow-ups so we can check you and remove the drains when the time comes. You keep wearing the compression garment at all times and you still walk a little hunched over. This is the stage that asks for the most patience.
The Following Weeks — You Straighten Up and Go Back to Work
Little by little you stand up straighter and the area feels better. The stitches come out and, with the doctor’s approval, you go back to office work, without lifting weight. You keep wearing the compression garment. The scar is in the middle of its healing process.
The Months After — The Abdomen Becomes Defined
The swelling goes down and the shape of your abdomen looks better and better. You return to exercise little by little, as your doctor instructs. The scar matures during the first year, lightening over time. The result lasts as long as you keep your weight stable.
Post-Op Care Specific to Tummy Tuck
Taking good care of yourself is key with a tummy tuck, because it is the longest recovery. Following the instructions protects your scar and prevents complications. We give you everything in writing, but here are the most important points:
Real Results
Tummy Tuck Gallery: Before and After Cases
ABDOMINOPLASTIA – ANTES
ABDOMINOPLASTIA – DESPUES
Real Results
Tummy Tuck Gallery: Before and After Cases
Here you will see real cases from patients who agreed to share their before and after. They help you get an idea, but remember that every body is unique: your result depends on your anatomy, your pregnancies, your skin and your process. All the images have each patient’s consent.
A Real, Lasting Change
The result holds for a long time if you keep your weight. A later pregnancy or a large weight gain can change it.
A Low, Hidden Scar
A low horizontal line is left, planned to hide under your underwear and your swimsuit. It matures over the first year and gradually lightens.
Goodbye to Some of the Stretch Marks
The stretch marks that are on the lower skin being removed go with it. The ones higher up may improve a little as the skin is stretched, but this is not a treatment for stretch marks.
The Abdomen Becomes Defined Over Time
You notice the change soon, but the final shape arrives once all the swelling goes down, over the course of months.
Frequently Asked Questions about Tummy Tuck Surgery
Book your Tummy Tuck Consultation with Dr. Boris Henríquez in Barranquilla
Taking the first step is easy: a calm consultation, with no obligation. Dr. Henríquez examines your abdomen, checks the skin and the muscles, and tells you honestly which technique suits you and what result to expect. The appointment includes an examination and photographs in the practice’s studio.
At the end you receive a plan designed just for your case and a written quote. You can book your appointment via WhatsApp or through the contact form.
