Tummy Tuck

Houston Plastic Surgeon Dr. Henry Mentz is world-reknowned for his body contouring innovations and expertise. Dr. Mentz specializes in tummy tuck surgery to restore a flat, smooth appearance to the abdomen.

The Goal of Tummy Tuck Surgery

Weight loss, pregnancy, and heredity traits are all factors that can cause the tummy to develop loose, sagging skin and a bulging appearance as a result of weakened abdominal muscles. Though exercise can provide limited toning benefits, no amount of exercise or dieting can restore firmness to loose skin or repair muscles that that weakened or separated as a result of the the pressure placed upon them during pregnancy.

In a tummy tuck procedure, Dr. Mentz restores a flat and attractive appearance to the abdomen to achieve the following benefits:

Dr. Mentz has pioneered advances in this procedure to make recovery more comfortable and safe through the use of a Marcaine pump, which provides a local anesthetic to decrease a patient’s pain and facilitate more freedom of movement.

Tummy Tuck surgery is often combined with other procedures to enhance the body's appearance such as breast enhancement surgery, liposuction, and / or other body contouring procedures to restore a firm, proportional contour to sagging thighs, buttocks and arms. Inspired by the flattering appearance of their new look and a greater sense of self-confidence, many of Dr. Mentz's tummy tuck patients are inspired to implement positve lifestyle habits to further enhance the way they look and feel.

Dr. Mentz performs tummy tuck surgery at his private AAAASF-certified SurgiCentre facility in Houston, Texas, where you will be carefully monitored and cared for by a board-certified anesthesiologist and Dr. Mentz's highly trained surgical staff.

Houston Plastic Surgeon Dr. Henry Mentz

An Innovative Leader in Body Contouring Surgery

As the nation's first triple board certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Henry Mentz is respected nationwide for his introduction of innovative liposuction and body contouring techniques. Dr. Mentz, who is considered a world authority in the specialized liposuction technique, Abdominal Etching®, authored the first paper on Abdominal Etching® in 1993 and contributed a chapter on the subject for a plastic surgery text. The procedure is designed to define the contours of the abdominal muscles to create the athletic appearance of a "six-pack." He followed this with the development of Pectoral Etching®, a liposuction method which gives the male chest a more muscular appearance.

Dr. Mentz introduced a groundbreaking new method to improve buttocks augmentation surgery to the respected International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery at its 2010 meeting. The technique utilizes a special pump to speed the process and volume of fat that can be grafted into the buttocks, resulting in a fuller, more shapely contour than can be achieved through the more limited and cumbersome syringe method of fat grafting.

In recognition of his body contouring expertise, the prestigious American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) has invited Dr. Mentz to present his liposculpting techniques to plastic surgeons at its annual meetings each year. In the popular lipocontouring courses, Dr. Mentz focuses on Abdominal Etching® and buttocks augmentation, a topic which he teaches with the world authority on buttocks enhancement, plastic surgeon Constantino Mendieta.

Dr. Mentz has presented his techniques to advance body contouring's safety, recovery, and results through numerous presentations and publications for plastic surgeons. He wrote the first paper introducing the use of a marcaine pump after tummy tuck surgery to reduce postoperative pain. In addition to authoring three book chapters on liposuction, he has written papers on large volume liposuction and the use of blood thinners after liposuction to reduce blood clots. The ASAPS and Aesthetic Surgery Education and Research Foundation jointly awarded Dr. Mentz the "Best Journal Article of 2008" for his article which presented risk assessment for liposuction based upon a review of 3871 consecutive cases.

The Tummy Tuck Procedure

In the majority of cases, an incision is made near the pubic hair line that stretches from hip bone to hip bone. For optimal concealment, this incision is placed beneath the bikini line, so that the resulting scar is well-hidden by swimwear and undergarments.

The weakened underlying muscles are repaired and tightened with permanent sutures, and excess skin is removed. A second incision is often made around the navel to tighten loose skin above it; the navel is then repositioned through a hole that is made in the newly firm skin. Incisions are closed with stitches that are removed 7-10 days later. A tummy tuck procedure is generally 2-5 hours in length, and is performed under general anesthesia.

Tummy Tuck Recovery

Following tummy tuck surgery, Dr. Mentz generally recommends an overnight stay in one of his SurgiCentre's recovery suites, where you will be cared for by our highly-trained registered nursing staff. If you live within 30 miles of our facility, Dr. Mentz will offer a visit to your home by a plastic surgery nurse who is trained to assist you with your recovery. The nurse will monitor your recovery, change any dressings, assist you with your medication, and provide Dr. Mentz with an update on your condition.

To reduce swelling and provide stability, you will be fitted with an elastic garment that is placed around your abdomen following surgery. Dr. Mentz may also place small drain tubes under your skin to reduce the accumulation of fluid.

You will probaby feel sore for 10-20 days following tummy tuck surgery. Most patients are able to return to work in two weeks and resume exercise in six weeks. The results of a tummy tuck procedure are typically long-lasting provided that a stable weight is maintained.

The Added Touch Medical Spa

Services to Support Your Recovery

30-Minute Post-Surgical Therapeutic Massage

The massage therapists at Dr. Mentz's Added Touch Medical Spa offer a special post-surgical massage that is designed to support and speed your body's natural healing process after a cosmetic surgery procedure. A combination of lymphatic and Swedish massage techniques are used, which work together to relax you and stimulate the lymphatic system to help reduce bruising, swelling, and numbness.

Scar Therapy System

To help diminish postoperative scars, we have designed a Scar Therapy System, which consists of three products to be applied daily in the weeks following surgery. This package includes two SkinMedica products: TNS Recovery Complex and Tri-Retinol Complex, and an advanced scar treatment gel. As an added benefit, the SkinMedica products can be applied to the face as part of a long-term daily routine to improve the skin's tone and texture.

Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) Before and After Photos

Before After
Before After
Before After
Before After