Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

Dr. David Whiteman performs full, mini, and drainless abdominoplasty at Southern Plastic Surgery in Duluth, Georgia. His signature Scarpa fascia waist enhancement tummy tuck is a proprietary technique designed to define the waist and improve contour beyond standard abdominoplasty outcomes. The drainless variant uses Exparel long-acting local anaesthetic to improve post-operative comfort. Male abdominoplasty is also available. Procedures address excess abdominal skin, subcutaneous fat, and diastasis recti — the separation of the rectus abdominis muscles — commonly caused by pregnancy or significant weight change.

Tummy tuck surgery (abdominoplasty) at Southern Plastic Surgery in the Atlanta metro area is distinguished by Dr. David Whiteman's signature Scarpa fascia waist enhancement technique — a proprietary modification to the standard abdominoplasty approach that specifically targets the deep fascial layer of the abdominal wall to achieve improved waist definition and body contour. The Scarpa fascia is the deep membranous layer of the superficial abdominal fascia; by incorporating specific release and advancement of this structure into the operative plan, Dr. Whiteman achieves a more sculpted waistline than can be achieved through standard skin and fat excision alone. The full abdominoplasty addresses the entire abdominal wall from the lower costal margin to the pubis, removing excess skin and subcutaneous fat below the umbilicus, repairing diastasis recti — the midline separation of the rectus abdominis muscles that produces the characteristic abdominal bulge following pregnancy or significant weight gain — through plication of the anterior rectus sheath, transposing the umbilicus to its new position, and excising the redundant skin in the lower abdominal flap. The procedure results in a flatter, firmer abdominal profile and a more defined waistline. The mini abdominoplasty is appropriate for patients with limited skin excess confined to the zone below the umbilicus, where muscle repair is also limited in extent; the procedure uses a shorter incision and does not require umbilical transposition, making it suitable for patients closer to their goal weight with good upper abdominal skin tone. The drainless abdominoplasty variant uses progressive tension sutures — which plicate the Scarpa fascia to the underlying musculature in a series of horizontal rows — to eliminate the dead space between the abdominal flap and the muscle wall without relying on surgical drains during recovery. Exparel (liposomal bupivacaine) is administered at the time of surgery to provide extended local anaesthetic blockade for 72–96 hours post-operatively, substantially reducing opioid requirements in the immediate recovery period. A male-specific abdominoplasty variant addresses the anatomical differences in male subcutaneous fat distribution and skin excess patterns. Dr. Whiteman also performs combined liposuction-with-abdominoplasty for patients with excess lateral flanks or back fat, and abdominoplasty as part of post-bariatric body contouring when massive weight loss has resulted in extensive abdominal pannus. All abdominoplasty patients at the Duluth, Georgia practice receive detailed pre-operative preparation instructions and a structured recovery protocol.