Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
Pregnancy and rapid weight gain causes stretching of the abdominal skin as well as the underlying muscles. This results not only in visible stretch marks and loss skin but also in weakness of the abdominal wall. Therefore, despite losing weight many women still carry a “pooch” in their lower abdomen. Abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck addresses this problem by not only removing excess skin and fat, but also by tightening the abdominal muscles, therefore, reestablishing the integrity of the abdominal wall.
One of the most common questions that I get asked is whether a patient needs a tummy tuck or liposuction? Liposuction can only remove excess fat and it does not address redundant flab or abdominal wall weakness. If you have good skin elasticity, rare stretch marks, and minimal skin excess liposuction could be a good option for you. On the other hand if you are mainly concerned about excess flabby lower abdominal skin, want to remove your stretch marks, and have minimal fat you might be a better candidate for a tummy tuck. Despite of what I mentioned, you need to have your plastic surgeon examine your abdomen before you can make an adequate decision.
I perform this procedure mostly on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia. A very low abdominal incision is made that is usually hidden under a bikini. If needed the umbilicus or the belly button will also be rejuvenated. Patients need to have a friend or a family member assist them during the first week after surgery. Depending on the extend of the surgery most patients can return to routine work schedule after 10-14 days. The abdominal skin will be numb for a few months after surgery; therefore, you should be careful not to burn it with hot water. Abdominal area will be swollen after surgery, and it usually takes several months for this to resolve, and for you to be able to see the full benefits of this procedure.
Abdominoplasty is considered a major procedure and therefore carries potential risks and complications. Like many other surgeries there is a 2% risk of infection, which we will try to minimize by giving you antibiotics. There is a very small risk of developing blood clots in the legs. This risk is minimized by wrapping your legs in massage pumps during the surgery and by having you move around after surgery in order to increase your circulation. There is also a chance that a small part of your wound or even part of the abdominal skin might not heal. Although this is rare, if it happens, your surgeon can treat it. You should avoid smoking before and after your surgery because it will hamper healing. Finally, abdominoplasty involves placing a scar in the lower abdomen under where you wear your under-garment. These scars could be very faint or very noticeable depending on how your body heals.
Have a thorough talk with your plastic surgeon before you decide to undergo any surgery, and make sure that all your questions are answered to your satisfaction.
During your consultation Dr. Younai will review your treatment options for tummy tuck, including pros and cons of each procedure, potential risks and complications, recovery course, pre and post operative instructions, and esthetic outcomes. There are also many before-and-after pictures and high resolution images of tummy tuck available in our photo gallery.
Tummy Tuck Los Angeles famous Dr. Younai is a board certified plastic surgeon who receives patients at the California Center for Plastic Surgery from the Northern as well as the Southern California region. Some of these cities include Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Hollywood, Burbank, Sherman Oaks, Encino, Calabasas, Woodland Hills, Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Pasadena, Glendale, Valencia, Palmdale, Fresno, and Oxnard.