Smart Tuck™ in Miami

What Is the Smart Tuck?

The Smart Tuck is PURE Plastic Surgery's proprietary tummy tuck procedure that combines traditional abdominal restoration, including skin excision and complete muscle repair, with VASER liposuction, high-definition ab etching and fat transfer to the hips. The result is a more sculpted, hourglass silhouette that a standard tummy tuck alone cannot achieve.

“If you're looking for a tummy tuck that's more curvy and sculpted, then the Smart Tuck is the one to consider. It's based on our proprietary Smart Aesthetics approach, where we blend your anatomy, measurements, goals, and desired outcome to come up with a plan for long-lasting, enhanced, natural-looking results." — Dr. Alexander Earle

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How Does the Smart Tuck Differ from a Standard Tummy Tuck?

A standard tummy tuck does three things, and it does them well. It removes excess skin below the belly button, sculpts the waist with liposuction, and repairs weakened or separated abdominal muscles. The Smart Tuck builds on that foundation with several additional contouring steps, including:

• Extended liposuction. Rather than treating only the waist, the Smart Tuck contours the entire side from the armpit down, including the axillary region in the front. 
• High-definition VASER ab etching. VASER ultrasound technology is used to create soft athletic definition along the center and sides of the abdomen. 
• Fat transfer to the hips. The fat removed during liposuction is strategically placed into the hips to build a more balanced, hourglass shape.‍
• Complete muscle repair. Like a standard tummy tuck, the Smart Tuck includes a full repair of the abdominal muscles from top to bottom.

Is the Smart Tuck Right for Me?

The Smart Tuck is designed for patients who want more than a flatter stomach. They want a more proportionate, sculpted silhouette. Because it includes high-definition VASER ab etching, ideal candidates need to meet a higher bar than a standard tummy tuck alone.

You may be a strong candidate if you:

• Have excess skin or muscle laxity from pregnancy or weight loss
• Are at or near your goal weight and have been stable for at least six months
• Have reasonable muscle tone and skin quality in the abdominal area (enough to show definition with VASER etching)
• Want more comprehensive contouring than a standard tummy tuck provides
• Are bothered by hip dips or a lack of hourglass proportion
• Are in good overall health and a non-smoker (or willing to stop well before surgery)
• Have realistic expectations and understand this is a body contouring procedure, not a weight loss solution

Patients who have excess fat throughout the torso may benefit from a standard tummy tuck first, followed by additional liposculpture in a second stage once healing is complete. Your surgeon will make this determination during your consultation.

What Happens During the Smart Tuck?

The Smart Tuck is performed under general anesthesia at our Joint Commission-accredited surgical suite in Miami, Florida. This is the highest level of accreditation for office-based surgery, ensuring hospital-grade standards for patient safety. 

Procedure time varies depending on the extent of contouring and whether additional procedures are combined, but most patients can expect surgery to last three to five hours, slightly longer than a traditional tummy tuck.

Here’s what you can expect at each step of your procedure:

1. Tumescent solution is infused throughout the treatment areas to prepare tissue and minimize bleeding.
2. VASER liposuction is performed along the flanks, abdomen and axillary (armpit/front bra bulge) area. Ultrasound energy helps loosen fat cells while preserving the surrounding tissue, allowing for more controlled sculpting.
3. Hi-def VASER etching creates soft athletic definition throughout the abdomen.
4. Fat is processed and transferred to the hips to address hip dips and enhance hourglass proportions.
5. Excess abdominal skin is excised through a low, curved incision.
6. Muscle repair is performed from top to bottom, with triple plication added along the sides when indicated for additional waist narrowing.
7. Incisions are closed and you move to recovery as the anesthesia wears off.

Because the Smart Tuck combines liposuction with excisional surgery, it is performed within Florida’s safety guidelines, which limit liposuction during procedures like abdominoplasty to 1,000 cc of fat removal. The Smart Tuck technique is specifically designed to work within these constraints by focusing on strategic contouring of the waist, flanks and axillary area. 

Patients who want additional sculpting of the abdomen (including the back) can return for a Lipo 360 procedure after their Smart Tuck recovery.

What Is the Smart Tuck Recovery Process Like?

Recovery from the Smart Tuck procedure is similar to a standard tummy tuck, with some additional considerations given the extended liposuction and VASER work. However, your experience will depend on how much contouring was performed and how your body heals. Most patients can expect the following milestones on their recovery journey.

Can the Smart Tuck Be Combined with Other Procedures?

Yes, and for many patients, combining the Smart Tuck with breast surgery as part of a mommy makeover produces the most comprehensive result. The extended axillary liposuction included in the Smart Tuck is particularly complementary to breast augmentation or a lift with implants, as the upper body contouring helps frame and enhance the chest. The Smart Tuck can also be enhanced with rib remodeling for patients with flaring of the lower floating ribs who want maximum waist narrowing.

At PURE, there is one procedure a Smart Tuck will never be paired with: the BBL. Combining a tummy tuck with fat transfer to the buttocks increases surgical risk (including the risk of blood clots) and compromises results on both ends. When patients want both a tummy tuck and a BBL, we recommend getting the tummy tuck done first, then coming back for liposuction and fat transfer a few months later, once everything has had time to heal and settle.

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Why Patients Choose PURE Plastic Surgery for the Smart Tuck

The Smart Tuck was created right here in Miami, at PURE Plastic Surgery. It was developed as a direct expression of our Smart Aesthetics™ philosophy, which combines expert surgical skill with thoughtful, personalized planning to achieve natural results that fit your body. 

• Joint Commission Accreditation. PURE's surgical facilities hold the highest accreditation available for office-based facilities. 
• Three double-board-certified plastic surgeons. Dr. Earle, Dr. Vidal, and Dr. Wegerif all have advanced training that goes well beyond what most practices in Miami offer.
• Smart Aesthetics. Every Smart Tuck is built around your specific anatomy, proportions and goals. There is no template, just a surgical plan designed for you.‍
• Coordinated out-of-town support. Patients traveling to Miami for their Smart Tuck receive coordinated accommodations through AC Hotel Miami Dadeland, transportation assistance and structured post-op care.

What Our Patients Say

“If I could give it 10 stars I would without a doubt. I am now 3 months post op on a Tummy Tuck. From beginning to end the experience was immaculate. Dr. Earle was very professional, he listened to all my concerns and as well as my expectations. The staff was always kind and caring. This has to be the best practice ever. I am so glad I went with Pure Plastic Surgery and without a doubt come back for any other procedure.!” — Janet C.

"After doing a lot of research, I decided to travel from NYC for a tummy tuck with Dr. Wegerif. Definitely one of the best decisions I've ever made. After only a couple of weeks, I'm already seeing amazing results. Even the therapists doing my lymphatic massages back home say it's better than some of the tummy tucks they've seen from NY surgeons. From the very beginning, everyone has been so kind and helpful. They are hands down some of the nicest people I've ever interacted with. If I can do it all over again, I'd go with Pure every time” — JYM

“Dr. Vidal Was Amazing. The staff at pure plastic was attentive, friendly and informative at all times. I was so scared in the beginning until I came into my post op appointment. My appointment was at 11am and at exactly that time I was called. Everything was smooth. Dr.Vidal truly did an amazing job on my tummy tuck. From my incision to my belly button everything is a work of art. I will forever recommend this office to anyone looking to have real and safe results. Thank you so much !!!” — Nicole C.