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Tarola Plastic Surgery

Plastic Surgery Murfreesboro Nashville & Hendersonville

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Who Is a Good Candidate for a Tummy Tuck?

A tummy tuck is a big step for those looking to address excess abdominal skin and fat while achieving a firmer, more defined midsection. At Tarola Plastic Surgery in Nashville, TN, we perform tummy tucks with careful attention to your specific concerns, making sure our approach aligns with your goals.

Not everyone is an ideal candidate for a tummy tuck. This surgery requires a thorough assessment to determine if it is the most appropriate choice for the individual. We are committed to guiding patients toward the procedure that best addresses their specific concerns, prioritizing both safety and desired outcomes in every recommendation we make.

What Is a Tummy Tuck?

Abdominoplasty, commonly known as a tummy tuck, involves removing extra skin and fat from the abdominal area while tightening weakened or separated muscles. This surgery can create a firmer, more toned look, especially for individuals who have experienced major weight changes or pregnancy. During the procedure, the abdominal wall is carefully reconstructed, which not only refines the waistline but also addresses muscle laxity that exercise alone may not resolve.

Your Guide to Tummy Tuck Candidacy

Physical Health Considerations

Before considering a tummy tuck, we carefully evaluate your overall health because this surgery is one of the more invasive options. Good candidates are in stable physical condition without any major health issues that could impact healing. Health factors such as blood pressure, heart health, and chronic conditions are essential considerations.

Weight and Body Mass Index

Maintaining a stable weight within a healthy body mass index (BMI) range is also important for tummy tucks. While this procedure can remove excess skin and some fat, it isn’t a weight-loss solution. Ideal candidates have already reached a weight they can sustain and are close to their target weight. For those actively working on weight management, we recommend stabilizing your weight before considering this procedure.

Skin Elasticity and Abdominal Muscles

Healthy skin elasticity can help make your results smoother, but patients with concerns like stretch marks or loose skin can still be great candidates. Our tummy tucks can improve the appearance of stretch marks if they are located on the excess skin being removed which makes your skin look more toned. This surgery is also ideal for patients who are experiencing abdominal separation, often an effect of pregnancy. If you have diastasis recti and are prohibited from certain types of exercises that can make the problem worse, this can often be resolved with a tummy tuck.

Lifestyle Factors

Your lifestyle, including exercise habits, diet, and alcohol or tobacco use are all considerations for tummy tuck candidacy. A commitment to a healthy lifestyle supports a smoother recovery and helps you maintain results long-term. Smoking, in particular, can complicate healing, so we have our patients avoid tobacco both before and after surgery. We’ll discuss these factors with you to assess how they might impact your recovery and results.

Family Planning and Pregnancy

For women considering a tummy tuck, we take family planning into account. Future pregnancies can affect the results of the surgery, especially since abdominal muscles are tightened during the procedure. If you plan to have more children, it may be beneficial to wait until your family is complete since pregnancy can stretch the abdominal area again and undo the effects of the surgery.

Age as a Factor

While age isn’t a strict limitation for tummy tuck surgery, it can affect factors like skin elasticity and muscle tone. We evaluate each patient on an individual basis rather than setting an age cut-off since overall health and lifestyle tend to matter more than age alone. Many patients over 40, or even 50, are excellent candidates due to their overall wellness and commitment to health.

Desire for Combination Surgeries

Some patients opt to combine their tummy tuck with other breast and body procedures, such as breast lifts or implant procedures. This approach, often called a “mommy makeover,” allows for more comprehensive body contouring in a single recovery period. If you’re interested in multiple areas of improvement, we’ll discuss how these procedures can be combined to suit your goals, making sure the plan aligns with safe surgical practices and achievable outcomes.

Realistic Expectations and Goals

We emphasize the importance of realistic goals and expectations. While a tummy tuck can enhance your abdominal area, we want you to understand the procedure’s limits and how it aligns with your body shape and structure. We’ll go over what a tummy tuck can achieve for your body type and clarify how it fits with your goals.

Holistic Wellness Considerations

We look beyond physical health to consider your mental and emotional readiness for surgery. Both are important in your overall experience and your recovery. This holistic view helps us recommend procedures in a way that supports your overall wellness and ensures the timing feels right for you.

What to Expect From Your Consultation Process

  • A Medical History Review: We’ll start by reviewing your health history, including any past surgeries, medications, and conditions that may impact your ability to undergo tummy tucks safely.
  • A Discussion of Your Goals: Next, we’ll discuss what you hope to achieve from a tummy tuck. Understanding your vision allows us to align the treatment plan with realistic expectations and suggest the options that best address your concerns.
  • A Physical Examination: A physical exam helps us evaluate the current state of your abdominal area, including skin elasticity and muscle tone.
  • A Review of Similar Cases: We’ll look at before-and-after photos of patients with similar body types to give you a clearer idea of what we can do in your situation. This visual comparison helps you understand the typical outcomes and refine your expectations.
  • A Discussion of Surgery Options: We’ll go over different levels of tummy tuck procedures, from a mini tummy tuck for minor adjustments to a full abdominoplasty that addresses more severe concerns. If needed, we can also incorporate other procedures, such as liposuction for contouring or a breast lift to balance your features.
  • A Review of Typical Recovery and Aftercare: We’ll discuss the general timeline and aftercare requirements to see how this fits into your schedule. We want to make sure you’re prepared for the healing process and will give you the support you need during that time.
  • Review of Cost and Financing Options: We’ll also go over the financial aspect, including the cost of the procedure and available financing options. We will provide you with all the information upfront so there are no surprises and you can plan accordingly.

Find Out If You Are a Good Candidate for Tummy Tuck

Dr. Tarola’s expertise in abdominoplasty reflects his focus on achieving excellent surgical results and supporting patients throughout their experience. With a tummy tuck at Tarola Plastic Surgery, we carefully address both muscle and skin concerns to help you achieve a smoother, more defined midsection. If you’re considering a tummy tuck in Nashville, Murfreesboro, or any of the surrounding areas, please contact us at (615) 624-8914 or visit to complete our online form.

Filed Under: Blog, Tummy Tuck

What Specific Areas Does CoolSculpting Target Effectively?

Do you have one or two problem areas preventing you from sculpting your ideal physique? Are you tired of the disciplined caloric deficit and strict exercise routine you stick to? Do you feel confident you can maintain your weight after you achieve your desired aesthetic? If so, keep reading this comprehensive guide by your aesthetic experts at Tarola Plastic Surgery in Murfreesboro, TN to learn everything you need to know about CoolSculpting.

What Specific Areas Does CoolSculpting Target Effectively? 

CoolSculpting effectively targets many specific areas with moderate or severe excess fat deposits, including the chest, upper back, and lower back. Other large areas that can benefit from treatment include the buttocks, inner thighs, outer thighs, flanks, and abdomen. However, the cryolipolysis device can also be used to eliminate excess fat from smaller areas, including the: 

  • Upper arms
  • Underarms
  • Submental region

How Many Sessions Are Required To Achieve Optimal Results? 

Dr. Nicholas A. Tarola, MD uses the most advanced cryolipolysis technology on the market. In the past, up to six sessions per area of concern were required to achieve optimal results. When treated with the CoolSculpting Elite device, you may only need one session to sculpt your desired contours. However, individual treatment plans vary. We’ll let you know during your consultation if you are likely to need more than one session per area.

How Soon Will My Optimal Results Become Apparent? 

Initial results of treatment will begin to be seen as early as three weeks after the treatment session. However, everyone’s timeline of results is unique, and it may be closer to four weeks before you start seeing a change. All told, it may take you around four months to enjoy the final results of your non-invasive fat removal treatment.

Are There Any Preparation Steps Required Before Treatment? 

No, there isn’t anything special you need to do to prepare for treatment. However, it is advisable to wear loose, comfortable clothing and skip applying cosmetics before your appointment. During your treatment, a special gel will be applied to your trouble region, and we’ll clean your skin off before we apply the gel.

Am I a Good Candidate for Freezing My Stubborn Fat Away? 

We’ll let you know if cold therapy can effectively eliminate your stubborn fat during your initial evaluation. Generally, a good CoolSculpting candidate is near their ideal body weight if they are not at their desired weight already. This treatment isn’t effective for people who suffer from obesity. You also should have good skin elasticity, a healthy lifestyle, and at least an inch of pinchable fat in each of your areas of concern.

Are There Any Contraindications? 

There are contraindications for this treatment that make it unsuitable for some people. You should hold off on getting this treatment if you nursing, pregnant, or trying to conceive because the FDA has not approved this treatment for use in such women. Additionally, this may not be the ideal fat removal treatment for you if you have very lax skin.

Additionally, you’ll be deemed a poor cryolipolysis candidate if you suffer from a medical condition triggered by cold temperatures, like paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria or cold agglutin disease. Furthermore, we won’t be able to treat your trouble regions if you experience any skin irritation in the areas, like eczema, sunburn, or open wounds.

How Long Will My Appointment Take? 

Generally, each treatment takes between 35 and 75 minutes to complete depending on which area is targeted for treatment. If you want to treat several areas, your appointment may take around one to three hours. We’ll give you a better idea of what to expect once we’ve evaluated your problem areas and discussed what results you want to get out of treatment.

Are There Any Aftercare Rules I Need To Follow? 

There are several things you should do after treatment to facilitate rapid results. One vital step is massaging the treated areas several times daily. You should also apply warm compresses and wear compression garments.

What Other Cosmetic Treatments May I Be a Good Candidate for? 

If you are tired of always looking tired due to dynamic wrinkles, you may be a good candidate for BOTOX injections. This FDA-approved neuromodulator has been used for decades to treat myriad concerns. However, it is typically used to treat signs of premature aging in the upper face, like crow’s feet, forehead folds, and brow lines.

Note that a consultation is required to determine if you qualify for BOTOX. There are contraindications for this treatment, including a history of anaphylaxis, bleeding disorders, and hypertension. You also may not be a great fit for BOTOX injections if you have a history of keloid scarring or suffer from a disorder, like diabetes, that causes slow wound healing.

Schedule Your Initial Consultation Today

If you have a moderate or severe amount of excess fat in a problem area, it can probably be treated effectively with CoolSculpting. Cryolipolysis is usually used to treat large areas with excess fat deposits, but stubborn fat can also be removed from smaller areas. To confirm your candidacy for this treatment, schedule an appointment with us at Tarola Plastic Surgery in Murfreesboro, TN today. 

Filed Under: Blog

Understanding Lipedema: A Comprehensive Guide to Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management

Living with lipedema can cause both emotional and physical challenges. The condition leads to swelling in areas such as the legs, arms, and buttocks, which can be emotionally and physically distressing. Those affected often experience low self-esteem and feelings of rejection due to their physical state.

Unlike obesity, the fat accumulated in lipedema is resistant to most diets and exercises. While it can be managed through surgery, there is no cure for this condition.

What is Lipedema?

Lipedema is characterized by the accumulation of fat, leading to disproportion and asymmetry in the lower extremities and sometimes the arms. This condition primarily affects women, with an estimated one in nine women in the United States experiencing it. Although rare, men can also be affected.

Common Symptoms:

  1. Pain and Tenderness: Affected areas can be very painful and sensitive to touch.
  2. Disproportionate Fat Accumulation: Excess fat accumulates asymmetrically in the legs, arms, buttocks, and occasionally the hands and feet.
  3. Bruise-Prone Skin: Due to fragile blood vessels, bruises can appear easily.
  4. Swelling: Prolonged standing or sitting can worsen swelling, which tends to improve with elevation and rest.

Treatment Options

While diet, supplements, and exercise can help alleviate pain and some symptoms, they do not reduce the accumulated fat. The most effective holistic treatment for lipedema is liposuction. This surgery not only reduces fat but also improves mobility, appearance, and the patient’s overall quality of life.

Recovery from this surgery varies among patients but typically includes bruising, some pain, and initial inflammation. Post-surgery, patients often experience significant improvements in their quality of life, mood, and self-confidence.

Diagnosis and Professional Guidance

Obtaining a medical diagnosis is crucial for appropriate management. At Tarola Plastic Surgery, Dr. Tarola performs liposuction for individuals with lipedema. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Tarola by calling 615.713.1695 or emailing info@tarolaplasticsurgery.com.

Filed Under: Blog

7 Reasons to Consider Getting a Brow Lift

Brow Lift

One of the most common signs of aging is loose skin, and it’s often most visible on the forehead. If you’ve been undergoing noninvasive treatments to achieve a smoother brow and youthful skin but aren’t seeing your desired results, we can help. At Tarola Plastic Surgery in Murfreesboro, TN, we offer a surgical procedure called the brow lift that tightens the skin above the eyes and reverses visible aging and deep lines and wrinkles on the forehead.

7 Reasons To Consider Getting a Brow Lift

1. It Visibly Reverses the Signs of Aging

This procedure addresses the most common signs of aging on the upper half of the face by treating skin laxity, tightening the skin, and smoothing out lines and wrinkles. Deep lines and wrinkles on the forehead are very visible because they’re front and center. This procedure addresses those visible wrinkles in a way that other injectables and non- or minimally invasive treatments cannot by using surgical techniques to tighten the skin.

2. The Results Last Longer Than BOTOX

BOTOX is a popular and effective treatment option for patients with visible wrinkles on the forehead, but some patients need something more advanced to effectively target these lines.

Patients who want smooth lines and wrinkles above the brows–not just temporarily but indefinitely–can undergo a brow lift to achieve their desired results. The results of this surgical procedure last much longer than BOTOX injections, and after your recovery, you’ll enjoy smoother skin for years to come.

3. It’s Completely Customizable

At Tarola Plastic Surgery, we offer several versions of the brow lift and will choose the best option for each patient’s unique needs. Men and women who undergo this procedure have different goals and have been affected by the aging process differently. Therefore, they need a surgical treatment plan customized to their exact needs. The types of brow lift include:

  • Endoscopic
  • Mid-forehead
  • Direct
  • Internal
  • Temporal

These three versions of the procedure use different techniques to address specific signs of aging around the brows, including sagging skin, drooping eyelids, and deep forehead wrinkles. Different techniques can also address visible aging in those with high foreheads. At your consultation, we will discuss each option and choose the best option for you based on how aging has affected the upper half of your face.

4. You’ll Receive Excellent Care

At Tarola Plastic Surgery, we take pride in creating customized treatment plans for each patient and making them feel comfortable throughout every stage of the surgical process. When you choose our office, you can expect excellent care from our team of professionals from your initial consultation through your follow-up appointments and after your recovery.

Our goal is to make you feel seen and understood and inform you about every step of the surgical process so that there are no surprises and you are fully prepared and have realistic expectations going forward.

5. Your Results Will Look Completely Natural

When you trust the team at Tarola Plastic Surgery to perform your brow lift, you can expect the most natural-looking results. The goal of this procedure is to tighten loose skin and eliminate deep-set forehead wrinkles without making you look unnatural or like a different person.

When Dr. Nicholas Tarola performs this cosmetic surgery, his goal is always to make patients look refreshed, rested, and more youthful, never unnatural. For that reason, you can feel confident that you’ll achieve beautiful and natural-looking results once your procedure is complete.

6. Most Patients Make Good Candidates

Patients in their 40s, 50s, and 60s make good candidates for the brow lift. While younger patients can undergo this procedure, it’s most commonly performed on those older patients who have tried injectables and other noninvasive treatments but want a longer-lasting and more advanced solution for aging above the eyes and on the forehead.

As long as you’re in good health, not a smoker, and have realistic expectations about the procedure and the results, you can move forward with this procedure and undergo a customized surgical treatment plan, after which you’ll achieve smooth and youthful-looking skin.

7. It Can Be Combined With Other Surgical Procedures

The brow lift is often performed as a standalone procedure but also pairs well with other surgical procedures. Patients who want to address loose skin and wrinkles on the forehead but also want to reverse the signs of aging around the eyes or the middle and lower half of the face can undergo additional surgical procedures simultaneously to achieve the most comprehensive results. It also pairs well with skin resurfacing treatments.

Adding additional procedures to the brow lift can often maximize the results, enhance other areas of the face, and take a three-dimensional approach to reversing visible aging.

Reverse Visible Aging

If you’ve been searching for a solution for drooping brows, loose skin, and visible aging on your forehead and want to achieve long-lasting results, you may be the perfect for a customized brow lift. We can give you more details about this procedure, answer all your questions, and confirm that it’s right for you so we can proceed. Contact us at Tarola Plastic Surgery in Murfreesboro, TN, to schedule your pre-surgical consultation.

Filed Under: Blog

How Can BOTOX Improve Asymmetrical Facial Features?

BOTOX is a popular, safe, versatile, and effective cosmetic injectable. At Tarola Plastic Surgery in Murfreesboro, TN, we use this injectable to meet the needs of men and women who want to reverse aging, enhance their appearance, and achieve wrinkle-free skin. Results appear relatively quickly after the treatment and will last for several months.

How Can BOTOX Improve Asymmetrical Facial Features?

BOTOX is well known for its ability to smooth lines and wrinkles, but it also has some off-label uses that only the best and most experienced injectors should attempt. One off-label use for this wrinkle-relaxing injectable is the correction of facial asymmetry. Botulinum toxin A is the active ingredient in the injectable, which can be carefully administered into different muscles to balance the facial features and make them more symmetrical.

The active ingredients will temporarily weaken the muscles to address different facial features that aren’t symmetrical, including the eyebrows, asymmetry resulting from Bell’s Palsy, imbalances of the masseter muscles on the jawline, asymmetrical lips, and more. One of our experienced and skilled injectors can address your facial asymmetry with a customized treatment plan.

What Else Does It Treat?

Aside from its off-label uses, BOTOX is FDA-approved to treat visible expression lines, also known as dynamic wrinkles on the upper half of the face. We can use it to meet the needs of patients who want to smooth horizontal lines on their forehead, vertical indents between their eyebrows known as frown lines, and crow’s feet at the outer corners of the eyes.

Injections into specific muscles surrounding these dynamic wrinkles will relax them, which results in smoother and younger-looking skin for several months at a time.

What Should I Expect During the Treatment?

The treatment process is virtually the same regardless of why you choose BOTOX to reverse aging or enhance your features. When you arrive for your appointment, we will cleanse your skin to prepare it for the injection process. Then, we will administer the exact amount of product necessary to specific facial muscles based on your concerns and the injector’s judgment.

The treatment process is quick, virtually painless, and will be over in minutes. We can treat multiple areas during the same appointment, so you don’t have to schedule multiple appointments to achieve your cosmetic goals. When it’s over, we will provide you with aftercare instructions, and you can resume your normal daily activities.

Is There Downtime? 

There’s no downtime after a BOTOX treatment. It’s known as a lunchtime injectable because you can return to work or your daily activities without any significant interruption. However, it is important that you follow the aftercare instructions to ensure the best results.

The Aftercare Instructions

We recommend that patients schedule treatments at a time when they will be able to keep their heads elevated for several hours afterward. It’s important to avoid lying down after your treatment, as doing so can increase the risk of product migration, during which the injected ingredients move to a different area than desired.

It’s also important to avoid strenuous activities for the first 24 hours, alcohol consumption, blood-thinning supplements and medications, and anything that increases your body temperature. You must also avoid touching the injection sites so they can heal quickly and you can enjoy your results as quickly as possible.

Am I a Good Candidate?

The best candidates for BOTOX treatments are patients over 21 who are in good health and want to prevent wrinkles, improve facial symmetry, or target visible lines and wrinkles on the upper half of the face. Patients should have realistic expectations about the treatment process and the outcome and be willing to undergo follow-up treatments to maintain the results long-term.

Ideal candidates should also have clear, healthy skin without any active infections in the planned treatment areas and be willing to follow all of the aftercare instructions.

When Will I See the Results? 

After your treatment, you may see results within the first 24 to 48 hours. For some patients, it can take a few days to see visible improvements in the appearance of dynamic wrinkles and other treatment areas. However, you can expect visible results within seven days of your appointment and the best results within 30 days.

How Long Will My Results Last?

The results of a BOTOX treatment typically last three to four months. The longevity of your results all depends on how quickly your body metabolizes the ingredients. When you come in for your treatment, we can give you a better idea of how long your results will last based on the areas you want to treat. Most patients need follow-up treatments after three to four months to maintain their desired appearance.

Achieve Facial Symmetry and Relax Your Wrinkles

Whether you want to target asymmetrical facial features, visible lines and wrinkles, or a combination of both, we can design a customized treatment plan to help you achieve your cosmetic goals. We’ll answer all your questions about this product, make other treatment recommendations, and help you feel confident about the injection process. Contact us today at Tarola Plastic Surgery in Murfreesboro, TN, to schedule your initial consultation to learn more about this injectable and determine if it’s right for you.

Filed Under: Blog

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  • Monday 8am - 5pm
  • Tuesday 8am - 5pm
  • Wednesday 8am - 5pm
  • Thursday 8am - 5pm
  • Friday 8am - 5pm
    **Afternoon hours may vary**


Murfreesboro
1216 N. Maple Street, Suite 1
Murfreesboro, TN, 37130
615-624-8914
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Recent Posts

  • Who Is a Good Candidate for a Tummy Tuck?
  • What Specific Areas Does CoolSculpting Target Effectively?
  • Understanding Lipedema: A Comprehensive Guide to Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management
  • 7 Reasons to Consider Getting a Brow Lift
  • How Can BOTOX Improve Asymmetrical Facial Features?
  • What Is Kybella Used for?
  • How Does BOTOX Work?
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