Abdominoplasty

Conveniently located to serve the areas of Atlanta, GA

Atlanta knows Dr. Depew as “the Tummy Tuck King” because his results speak for themselves. Patients emerge with flat, sculpted midsections, incisions that hide beneath swimwear, and a shockingly natural-looking belly button that escapes all telltale signs of surgery. This artistry, alongside a pain management approach that keeps recovery comfortable, and it’s clear to see why patients throughout Georgia and beyond seek his skill.

An abdominoplasty, or a tummy tuck, is a body contouring procedure that can restore a smoother, flatter, and more defined abdomen. (1) This procedure removes redundant skin, eliminates stubborn fat, and tightens weakened abdominal muscles, delivering the figure you truly want to flaunt. 

Dr. James Depew of Depew Plastics is a leading plastic and reconstructive surgeon in Atlanta, Georgia. He is double board-certified by both the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Plastic Surgery, as well as a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, demonstrating his dedication to practicing safe medicine and advancing the field of surgery. 

If you are ready to see what the royal standard of tummy tuck looks like, please request a consultation online or reach our Atlanta office directly by calling (678) 752-7842.

Before and After Photos

Tummy Tuck Before & After Patient #251
Tummy Tuck Before & After Patient #251
Tummy Tuck Before & After Patient #250
Tummy Tuck Before & After Patient #250
Tummy Tuck Before & After Patient #249
Tummy Tuck Before & After Patient #249
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About Abdominoplasties

An abdominoplasty is a body contouring procedure that addresses hanging skin, excess fat, and weakened abdominal muscles to restore a more toned and sculpted appearance. 

For many people, dieting and regular exercise alone are not enough to achieve a flat midsection. This can be especially true after events such as significant weight fluctuations or pregnancy, which can stretch the skin and muscles to a point of no return.

With a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), Dr. Depew can restore your figure, as he understands the physical and personal impacts of these changes. He customizes each procedure to target what concerns you most, allowing you to achieve a look that helps you feel more comfortable and confident in your own skin. 

Benefits

Abdominoplasty procedures bring several notable benefits, such as:

  • A Natural-Looking Belly Button: Dr. Depew’s signature hooded umbilicoplasty conceals all stitch work for a navel that looks completely untouched.
  • Smoother Skin: Dr. Depew can remove redundant skin to restore a smoother and tighter look and feel.
  • Repaired Muscles: Dr. Depew can address diastasis recti during the procedure. This is a separation of the abdominal muscles at the linea alba. (2)
  • Improved Definition: This procedure can accentuate the natural contours and curves of your midsection. 
  • A More Comfortable Recovery: With EXPAREL and JOURNAVX, patients consistently report minimal pain and discomfort while healing.
  • Better-Fitting Clothing: After their procedure, many of Dr. Depew’s patients report that their clothing looks and feels more flattering and comfortable.
  • Lasting Results: Abdominoplasties yield lasting results that can be enjoyed as long as they are maintained. 
  • Tailored Treatment Plans: Dr. Depew customizes each abdominoplasty according to his patient’s anatomy and goals. 
  • Elevated Self-Esteem: Improving the appearance of this area can lead to a greater sense of self-confidence and body positivity. 

Candidates

You may be an ideal candidate for an abdominoplasty if you have found yourself struggling with the lasting effects of pregnancy or weight loss, which typically include:

  • Lax or Sagging Skin
  • Excess Accumulations of Fat
  • Muscular Laxity or Diastasis Recti
  • Skin Irritation Resulting From Rubbing or Chafing Skin (1)

To qualify for your procedure, you should be in good general health and no longer plan on having more children. You should also be non-smoking or willing to lead a nicotine-free life. Dr. Depew will assess your candidacy during your personal consultation. 

Personal Consultation

Before proceeding with your abdominoplasty, you will need to meet with Dr. Depew for a consultation. During this meeting, he will take a collaborative and patient-centered approach to assessing your candidacy and creating your treatment plan. He will analyze your medical history, listen to your personal concerns, converse with you about your ideal aesthetic, and assess your physical anatomy. He will then finalize your candidacy and create a personalized solution for you based on the details he gathers. 

Dr. Depew will also take the time to explain each procedure step in full, answer your questions, and address any concerns that may arise. He values open communication and transparency, and wants to create a treatment plan that you feel fully confident and excited about. 

If you are ready to plan your transformation, please request a consultation online or call our Atlanta office at (678) 752-7842.

Preparation

After you decide to proceed with your abdominoplasty, Dr. Depew will provide you with comprehensive pre-operative instructions to help you prepare. He may direct you to:

  • Avoid Certain Medications: Under the proper medical guidance, stop taking any medications or supplements that may contain blood-thinning properties. 
  • Arrange Time Off: Prepare to take time away from your professional and personal responsibilities. 
  • Prepare Transportation: Have a trusted friend or family member drive you home after your procedure, and if needed, stay with you for the first 24 hours. 
  • Fill Your Prescriptions: Pick up your recovery medications so relief is ready as soon as you return home.
  • Cease Substance Use: Refrain from consuming any nicotine or alcohol in the weeks leading up to your procedure, as well as the weeks after.

Procedure

Dr. Depew performs each abdominoplasty on an outpatient basis at his surgical center. When you arrive, he will cleanse your skin, and you will then receive general anesthesia to keep you comfortable. He will then place an incision that extends from hip to hip, just above the pubic area, yet low enough that they hide beneath undergarments and swimwear.

Through this incision, Dr. Depew will perform each of your desired corrections. He will perform muscle plication to correct diastasis recti, excise your soft tissues, and remove any lax or sagging skin. For patients seeking enhanced contouring, Dr. Depew often employs liposuction in tandem with Renuvion® skin tightening. This combination melts and evacuates stubborn fat, while Renuvion’s helium plasma tightens and smooths the skin to contract to new contours.

After completing each of your desired corrections, he will close the incision(s), and you will briefly rest in the recovery suite.

Then comes the signature touch: Dr. Depew meticulously reshapes your navel, crafting his natural, softly hooded belly button with all stitch work concealed within its contours. Before closing, he injects EXPAREL directly into the surgical site for days of built-in pain relief. Once your incisions are closed, you will rest briefly in the recovery suite before heading home.

Abdominoplasty and Mommy Makeovers

Although pregnancy and childbirth are some of life’s greatest joys, they undoubtedly change the abdomen significantly. As pregnancy stretches the abdominal muscles, many mothers will experience diastasis recti, a separation of the muscles. Other changes include stubborn fat deposits, altered breasts, loose skin, and more.

Many women will combine their abdominoplasty with procedures such as liposuction, breast augmentation, breast lifts, and others into one comprehensive surgery: the mommy makeover.

This procedure addresses multiple post-pregnancy concerns in one surgical session, allowing patients to reduce recovery time and emerge with a toned, rejuvenated, and almost pre-pregnancy physique.

Why Dr. Depew is Atlanta’s “Tummy Tuck King”

Any surgeon can tighten skin. Dr. Depew stands out for his meticulous attention to detail and deep understanding of anatomical nuance. He considers parts of a tummy tuck that few others think about until results miss the ideal mark. His incisions sit low and discreet, disappearing beneath undergarments and swimwear. His muscle repair creates a genuinely flat, athletic core rather than a “deflated” one. And, his belly buttons have become akin to a surgical calling card in Atlanta.

The Umbilicus is where most tummy tucks give themselves away: a round, ringed navel with visible scarring is the classic tell of surgery. Dr. Depew takes a different approach. He sculpts a naturally hooded belly button with the gentle shadow and shape of a navel as it would appear since birth. There is no telltale ring of scarring, just a soft, believable, beautiful belly button.

Recovery

Every recovery is guided by Dr. Depew’s detailed, step-by-step aftercare directions and supported by his comfort-first pain management protocol. With EXPAREL working at the surgical site and JOURNAVX managing discomfort from within, most patients are pleasantly surprised by how little pain they actually feel.

Initially, you can expect some swelling, bruising, and general discomfort around your midsection. These effects will subside on their own as you continue to recover, but Dr. Depew will guide you through how to manage them further. After several days, he will have you return to his office so that he can remove any drains or sutures, and he will monitor your recovery to ensure everything is developing as expected. 

You can return to most of your routine activities after approximately one to two weeks of rest. However, you will need to avoid anything strenuous or arduous until you rest for another several weeks, or until Dr. Depew clears you to return. 

A More Comfortable Recovery: EXPAREL® and JOURNAVX®

Tummy tucks have long carried a reputation for a difficult first recovery week. Dr. Depew’s patients differ, only reporting minimal discomfort thanks to modern, largely opioid-sparing pain management protocols that utilize two advanced medications.

  • EXPAREL (liposomal bupivacaine): During your procedure, Dr. Depew injects this long-acting local anesthetic directly into the surgical site. Its extended-release formulation continues numbing the area for days after surgery — covering the window when discomfort would otherwise be at its peak. (4)
  • JOURNAVX (suzetrigine): Dr. Depew also prescribes JOURNAVX, the first medication in a new class of non-opioid pain relievers approved by the FDA in 2025. It works by calming pain signals at the nerve itself, providing effective relief for moderate-to-severe acute pain without the sedation, side effects, or dependence risks associated with opioids. (5)

Together, these medications allow most patients to move, rest, and recover with far more ease than they expected. This means you can focus on healing, not hurting.

Results

You will be able to notice an immediate change in your figure, but the full results will gradually become more accentuated as any residual swelling dissipates. While they will vary, you can expect to enjoy tighter and smoother skin, a flatter stomach, a more defined waist, tighter and stronger abdominal muscles, elevated proportions, a more alluring figure, and a belly button that looks like it was never touched. 

Abdominoplasties yield long-lasting results, with effects that you can enjoy for several years to come. To best preserve them, Dr. Depew recommends that you maintain a healthy lifestyle and exercise regularly. 

Cost of Abdominoplasties in Atlanta, Georgia

Dr. Depew will discuss your financial obligations with you once he has established your treatment plan. The exact pricing will vary depending on certain details, such as the type of corrections he is performing, the severity of your concerns, as well as the complexity of the procedure overall. He additionally offers financing for those interested. 

To learn more about the pricing of your procedure, we ask that you request a consultation online or call (678) 752-7842.

FAQ

Why does Dr. Depew stand out as a tummy tuck expert?

Because of the results. Dr. Depew has built a reputation in Atlanta for tummy tucks that look natural from every angle — low, discreet incisions, a genuinely flat and sculpted core, and his signature hooded belly button with no visible stitch work. Patients also frequently rave about how comfortable their recoveries are.

Why do Dr. Depew’s belly buttons look so natural?

The navel is where most tummy tucks reveal themselves. Dr. Depew sculpts a softly hooded umbilicus that mimics a natural belly button’s shape and shadow, and he conceals his suturing within its contours — so there is no visible ring of scarring or stitch work.

Will my tummy tuck recovery be painful?

Most of Dr. Depew’s patients report minimal pain and discomfort. He injects EXPAREL, a long-acting local anesthetic, directly into the surgical site during your procedure, and prescribes JOURNAVX, an FDA-approved non-opioid pain medication, for your recovery at home. Together, they keep you comfortable through the days when discomfort would otherwise peak.

What concerns can an abdominoplasty address?

An abdominoplasty can correct sagging skin and excess fat accumulated around the abdomen, as well as weakened or loose abdominal muscles. 

What is diastasis recti, and how does it occur?

Diastasis recti is the separation or weakening of the abdominal muscles along the linea alba, or the fibrous band that runs vertically down the center of your midsection. It is a common occurrence during pregnancy, with incident rates ranging from approximately 21% to almost 30%. (3) 

How long will it take Dr. Depew to perform my abdominoplasty?

The exact duration of your procedure will depend on each detail of your treatment plan, but you can expect it to take a few hours. 

Will my abdominoplasty leave visible scarring?

Dr. Depew places incisions just above the pubic area, allowing you to discreetly conceal any scarring beneath your undergarments or swimwear. Any scars will gradually fade as you continue to heal, and Dr. Depew can provide you with information about minimizing their appearance.

After my abdominoplasty, when will I be able to return to work?

You may return to light activities after resting for approximately one to two weeks, but you must continue to avoid anything strenuous until Dr. Depew clears you to return.

How long will the results of my abdominoplasty last?

When you maintain them with a stable weight and a healthy lifestyle, you can enjoy the results of your procedure for several years to come. 

Can Dr. Depew combine my procedure with any others?

Yes, Dr. Depew can combine your procedure with others for a full-body transformation. During your consultation, he can assess your candidacy for his other procedure and provide you with suggestions suited to your specific goals. 

References

  1. Regan JP, Casaubon JT. Abdominoplasty. Nih.gov. Published July 24, 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK431058/#article-17029.s4 
  2. Bishop SN. Abdominoplasty and rectus diastasis repair-a plastic surgeon’s perspective. Hernia. 2025;30(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10029-025-03460-2 
  3. Du Y, Huang M, Wang S, et al. Diastasis recti abdominis: A comprehensive review. Hernia. 2025;29(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10029-025-03417-5
  4.  EXPAREL® (bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension) [prescribing information]. Pacira BioSciences, Inc. https://www.exparel.com
  5. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA Approves Novel Non-Opioid Treatment for Moderate to Severe Acute Pain. January 30, 2025. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-novel-non-opioid-treatment-moderate-severe-acute-pain