Hagopian Plastic Surgery: Thomas Hagopian, MD
99 Krog St. NE, Unit C110
Atlanta, GA 30307
Phone: (404) 885-8542
Tuesday–Friday: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
If you’ve had one or more babies or lost a significant amount of weight, you deserve to celebrate what your body has achieved. You also deserve to love how your tummy looks now as much as you did before (or more). If you want to get rid of the loose skin and separated muscles that are common after these changes, board-certified plastic surgeons and body contouring experts Dr. Thomas Hagopian and Dr. Courtney Cripps can help with a drainless tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) in Atlanta, Georgia.
On this page, you’ll find answers to all your questions about tummy tucks, from the benefits they offer to what you can expect as you recover. Learn all about how this surgery can help you reclaim your shape and reinvigorate your body confidence.
This feature contains nudity. Please click OK to confirm you are at least 18 years of age and are not offended by such material.
VIEW PHOTOSA drainless tummy tuck is a cosmetic procedure that tightens loose abdominal skin and repairs separated abdominal muscles (diastasis recti) without the use of post-surgical drains.
A traditional tummy tuck requires post-surgical drains to prevent fluid buildup as you heal. While this reduces your risk of a seroma (fluid accumulation), drains must be regularly emptied and monitored during recovery and removed at a separate follow-up appointment. Many people find post-surgical drains uncomfortable and cumbersome during tummy tuck recovery.
To enhance his patients’ recovery experience, Dr. Hagopian and Dr. Cripps employ advanced techniques to eliminate the need for drains. They use progressive tension sutures to prevent fluid buildup at the source. These layered sutures compress the area, eliminating open pockets and encouraging your body to reabsorb excess fluid harmlessly. The result is a faster, more manageable recovery with the same attractive outcome.
A tummy tuck corrects:
*Large or complicated hernias must often be repaired before your tummy tuck surgery. However, hernia repair surgery may be covered by insurance.
As a leading expert in body contouring and lipedema care, Dr. Hagopian is known for his compassion and exceptional results. For combinations targeting the lower body, Dr. Hagopian typically stages surgeries over two procedures. Popular options include:
An ideal candidate is someone in good general health who wants to improve the shape and tone of their abdomen after weight loss or pregnancy. Keep in mind that a tummy tuck is not a weight loss procedure; it works best when you have maintained a stable weight for at least 6 months and are at or near your goal weight.
For safety reasons, you should also be a nonsmoker, at least 6 months postpartum with no immediate plans to have more children, and have a BMI (body mass index) of 37 or lower.
A fleur-de-lis tummy tuck is an advanced abdominoplasty technique designed for patients with significant excess abdominal skin, particularly after massive weight loss. Unlike a traditional tummy tuck, which primarily removes excess skin vertically, the fleur-de-lis approach uses both horizontal and vertical incisions to remove loose skin in 2 directions. This allows for more comprehensive tightening of the abdomen and waistline.
Dr. Hagopian evaluates the amount and mobility of excess skin to determine whether this approach is appropriate. His assessment includes a 4-inch skin movement test, which helps guide surgical planning and technique selection. The final approach is determined based on each patient’s anatomy and the extent of skin laxity.
The most reliable way to get rid of an apron belly is a tummy tuck, since diet and exercise alone usually can’t correct excess lower-abdominal skin and fat once it has lost its ability to retract. This loose, hanging skin, sometimes called a pannus or “apron belly,” is a common occurrence after pregnancy, weight fluctuation, or significant weight loss.
For patients with a smaller or purely skin-based apron belly, a panniculectomy alone may be enough. Patients with excess skin that extends into the flanks may need an extended tummy tuck, which lengthens the incision to address a broader area. For more significant cases, Dr. Hagopian and Dr. Cripps may recommend a fleur-de-lis tummy tuck, which removes excess skin in both horizontal and vertical directions.
A panniculectomy removes the hanging apron of skin and fat without tightening the underlying abdominal muscles or repositioning the belly button, while a tummy tuck does both: it removes the excess skin and repairs separated muscles (diastasis recti) for a firmer, more contoured result. Dr. Hagopian and Dr. Cripps will help determine which approach—or a combination of the two—fits your goals, anatomy, and medical history during your consultation.
Drainless tummy tuck costs reflect the complexity of the procedure, the surgeon’s expertise, and other individual factors. We will give you a personalized price estimate during your consultation so you know exactly what to expect.
Many patients use health care financing to make their tummy tuck more affordable. Please visit our Fees & Financing page to learn more about your financing options.
Our surgeons perform your drainless tummy tuck while you are under general anesthesia. During this outpatient surgery, they create an incision low on your abdomen from hip bone to hip bone and another encircling your belly button to release it from the surrounding skin. They then tighten the abdominal muscles if needed, pull your skin taut, trim away any excess, and close the incision.
Once the abdominal skin is tightened, Dr. Hagopian creates a new opening for the belly button, carefully shaping it into a natural-looking almond shape. He removes excess fat from the surrounding tissue and recesses the belly button to create a more natural depth and contour. He also uses specialized belly button shapers during healing to help refine its final appearance.
Dr. Hagopian incorporates VASER® ultrasonic liposuction and 360-degree truncal liposuction into every abdominoplasty. Performed during the same surgery, these techniques remove excess fat from around the midsection, including the abdomen, flanks, and back, to create smoother, more balanced body contours.
Dr. Hagopian also performs mons suspension during abdominoplasty, lifting and securing the tissue over the pubic bone to help prevent the mons pubis from descending after surgery. This additional step supports a smoother transition between the lower abdomen and pubic area and helps address a common reason patients seek revision surgery after tummy tucks performed elsewhere.
Yes. Revision abdominoplasty can address certain aesthetic or functional concerns following a previous tummy tuck, including a descended mons pubis, poorly positioned incisions, or remaining excess skin. Dr. Thomas Hagopian has extensive experience evaluating and correcting results from previous abdominal contouring procedures. Depending on the patient’s anatomy and concerns, he may recommend revision tummy tuck surgery or conversion to a lower body lift for more comprehensive contouring of the abdomen, flanks, and buttocks.
Patients frequently combine their tummy tuck with other procedures. Liposuction is commonly added to a tummy tuck for more precise contouring. Many women combine breast augmentation and breast lift with a tummy tuck and liposuction for a mommy makeover. In some cases, our surgeons may also recommend adding a skin-tightening treatment for enhanced results.
If your concerns are more complex, Dr. Hagopian and Dr. Cripps are particularly known for developing strategic, multi-procedure body contouring treatment plans. For example, if you have lipedema or are bothered by excess skin after significant weight loss, a body lift procedure can offer a profound improvement in your mobility, comfort, and self-confidence. A lower body lift includes a tummy tuck and addresses the thighs and buttocks, while an upper body lift targets the arms, bra-line, upper back, and chest.
Plastic surgery is the perfect field for Dr. Hagopian, who has a knack for fixing things and helping people. The board-certified plastic surgeon is a former firefighter/paramedic, and he had a business building highly sought-after custom taillights in medical school. He met his wife, Nurse Hagopian, at Emory University, and they bonded over many shared interests, including a commitment to exceptional patient care.
Meet Dr. Thomas Hagopian
Georgia native Dr. Courtney Cripps has returned home to bring her expertise in facial, breast, body, and reconstructive plastic surgery to Hagopian Plastic Surgery. With advanced training at NYU Langone Health and a personalized approach to patient care, she is dedicated to helping every patient achieve natural-looking results that reflect their goals and lifestyle.
Meet Dr. Courtney CrippsMost people need 2 to 3 weeks away from work to recover from a tummy tuck and 4 to 6 weeks to resume exercise. You will walk stooped over for a few days until your tighter skin stretches a little. It may take 6 months or more for your swelling to subside completely.
Dr. Hagopian performs approximately 50 to 80 tummy tuck procedures annually, using advanced surgical and pain management techniques to support patient recovery. His multimodal pain management protocol includes transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks, which deliver local anesthetic to nerves in the abdominal wall to help control postoperative discomfort. Combined with long-acting numbing medications and enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols, this approach helps reduce the need for opioid pain medications.
Our surgeons also encourage patients to schedule weekly lymphatic massage treatments to promote healing. Our office can recommend several highly skilled providers who offer this service.
Additionally, not having to hassle with external drains greatly enhances our patients’ recovery.
Tummy tuck scars sit low on your abdomen in an area easily hidden, even by swimwear. These scars eventually fade to thin, light lines. We offer multiple scar reduction therapies to minimize scarring, including microneedling, steroid injections, and silicone gel strips from the Silagen® scar refinement system.
As long as you maintain a stable weight and avoid future fluctuations or pregnancies, your tummy tuck results should last for good.
Abdominoplasty, colloquially referred to as a tummy tuck, is a procedure to remove extra skin and fat from the abdomen. The goal of this surgery is to improve the contour or shape of the abdomen.
An abdominoplasty lifts and removes excess abdominal skin and tightens the rectus (6-pack) muscles. Liposuction simply destroys and removes fat cells, but it doesn’t address the skin or the muscles.
Yes. Dr. Hagopian incorporates mons suspension into every tummy tuck, lifting and securing the tissue over the pubic bone to help prevent the area from descending after surgery. This technique helps create a smoother contour between the lower abdomen and mons pubis. Patients with significant excess fat or skin in this area may benefit from additional contouring.
A tummy tuck can improve the appearance of a FUPA (fatty upper pubic area), particularly when loose or sagging skin contributes to fullness. Dr. Hagopian includes mons suspension as a standard part of every abdominoplasty to lift and support this area. However, mons suspension does not necessarily eliminate excess fat. Depending on your anatomy, additional liposuction or tissue removal may be recommended for a flatter, more proportionate result.
You will not have drains, but this is determined by your surgeon at the time of surgery, and he or she will prepare you if you need them.
As a general guideline, we recommend a BMI of 37 or less for surgery. However, candidacy for a plus-size tummy tuck is evaluated on an individual basis rather than by a single BMI cutoff. Patients above the recommended threshold can discuss a staged surgical plan or a pre-surgical weight-loss strategy with Dr. Hagopian or Dr. Cripps to work toward candidacy.
Abdominoplasty does not fall under the medically necessary category of plastic surgery. It is an out-of-pocket procedure at our practice.
The most serious complication is a blood clot. Although this is rare, it is a medical emergency. Signs of a blood clot include swelling to one leg with pain and redness in the area, difficulty breathing, or chest pain. If you experience these symptoms, immediately report to the emergency room for evaluation.
You may return to light activity at 3 weeks and most exercises at 6 weeks. Light activity encompasses walking or stationary cycling, for example, without breaking a sweat. Wait 3 months for heavy core work.
You will begin with a compression garment like a girdle or binder. At week 1, we recommend switching to a “faja” for more intense compression. The surgical team will provide your medical compression on the day of surgery and your secondary garment to begin wearing at 1-week post-op.
You can see our recommended compression and order straight from Amazon.
You can shower 48 hours (about 2 days) after surgery. Let warm, soapy water run over the incisions. Do not scrub. Thoroughly dry your incisions by patting them gently.
You can usually return to work in 2 to 3 weeks, depending on your activity level at work.
Remember that the swelling after surgery may take weeks to months to resolve completely. At the 3-month mark, we typically take the “after” pictures, when your swelling and appearance will be mostly settled. Small areas of asymmetry can sometimes be fixed with a little in-office liposuction if required.
Scar revision is another in-office procedure that can help improve the appearance of your scars after surgery. If you are prone to keloids, please tell your surgeon beforehand so we can pre-treat you. If keloids develop after surgery and you have not had keloids before, steroid injections may improve hypertrophy.
If you would like to learn more about whether a drainless tummy tuck is right for you, please request a consultation online or call (404) 885-8542. Our Atlanta office welcomes people interested in tummy tuck surgery from Inman Park, Druid Hills, Decatur, and throughout Georgia.
Reviewed for clinical accuracy by a Hagopian Plastic Surgery Medical Editor on October 18th, 2026.
