If your rigorous fitness regimen and countless hours of sit-ups haven't produced the toned, flat stomach you're trying to achieve, then a tummy tuck may be a great option for you. You may achieve dramatic results with your tummy tuck, boosting your self-confidence and helping you look and feel better.
A tummy tuck is a popular body contouring procedure performed at our Beverly Hills plastic surgery practice. During your procedure, Dr. Jay Orringer will remove excess fat and loose, hanging skin while tightening your abdominal muscles. The goal is a flatter, more toned appearing abdomen that could help you achieve the more beautiful body you desire.
You can find out whether a tummy tuck is right for you by speaking with Dr. Orringer in person. Please contact our Beverly Hills office to schedule a consultation.
Benefits of a Tummy Tuck
You'll potentially experience a number of benefits from your tummy tuck procedure, which may include:
- A notable decrease in loose, hanging skin that is commonly experienced after pregnancy or significant weight loss
- A tightening of abdominal muscles
- An improved appearance of your abdominal area
- A possible decrease in stretch marks that occur as a result of pregnancy and weight fluctuation
- A customizable procedure that addresses your unique body type and goals
- Motivation to maintain a healthier lifestyle moving forward
Am I a Candidate for a Tummy Tuck?
In general, ideal candidates for abdominoplasty:
- Have loose, widened abdominal muscles that would benefit from tightening
- Have loose, hanging skin and excess fat of the abdominal region
- Are in good overall health
- Are relatively near their ideal body weight, eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly
- Have realistic expectations regarding the outcome of the procedure
If you don't meet all of the above-mentioned criteria, it doesn't necessarily rule you out as an abdominoplasty candidate. Dr. Orringer will make an individualized recommendation regarding your treatment plan based on your unique concerns and goals.
In addition, you must be willing to quit smoking prior to your procedure and throughout the tummy tuck recovery process since smoking may have a negative impact on your healing and results.
Abdominoplasty vs. Liposuction
In general, abdominoplasty is often the right procedure if your primary goal is to tighten loose abdominal muscles and remove excess skin in order to improve the appearance of your abdominal region. If your primary concern is the removal of belly fat, and you have good skin tone, then liposuction may potentially be a better option for you.
During your initial consultation, Dr. Orringer will perform a thorough evaluation in order to determine the potential best course of action for you. In some instances, he may recommend liposuction in conjunction with a tummy tuck to potentially achieve an optimal cosmetic result.
Abdominoplasty after Pregnancy or Weight Loss
Dr. Orringer often recommends abdominoplasty as part of a mommy makeover in order to help women potentially restore some of the more aesthetic features they enjoyed prior to pregnancy and childbirth. During pregnancy, it is common for your abdominal muscles to become separated, making it impossible to recapture the toned, flat abdomen you had prior to having children. A tummy tuck can tighten these muscles and remove excess skin and fat in order to put the finishing touches on your post pregnancy fitness efforts.
Abdominoplasty is also an effective procedure for men and women who have lost a significant amount of weight and have loose, hanging skin and lax stretched muscles of the abdominal wall. Much of this excess skin can be removed so that your new appearance better reflects the hard work you've put into your weight loss.
Your Tummy Tuck Options
Dr. Orringer takes an individualized approach to tummy tuck surgery. As a result, your procedure will be tailored around your unique concerns and preferences. This is the most effective way to potentially achieve the beautiful, natural looking results you desire.
In general, there are two main tummy tuck options:
- Full tummy tuck
- Mini tummy tuck
A full tummy tuck removes more skin, but involves a longer scar and a scar around the umbilicus. A mini tummy tuck does not involve a scar around the belly button and removes less skin. Both options allow for tightening of the muscles and removal of excess skin and fat.
Tummy Tuck Recovery
The length of the recovery period will vary based on the type of tummy tuck performed. Recovery will also vary among individuals. In general, the more extensive your abdominoplasty procedure, the longer it will take to fully heal and recover.
Immediately Following Your Abdominoplasty
When your tummy tuck surgery is complete, you will spend some time in the recovery room for monitoring and initial recovery from anesthesia. Then, you will typically be taken to the Serenity Aftercare Post-Surgical Facility for your care the first night following surgery.
The First Weeks of Recovery
Beginning the day of surgery, Dr. Orringer encourages walking and deep breathing. Over the next week or two, you will typically gradually increase your level of activity. However, you should avoid strenuous activities, particularly ones that use your abdominal muscles such as heavy lifting, until Dr. Orringer suggests you may do so.
Dr. Orringer will see you the day following surgery at Serenity and then as often as he feels indicated to assist with your recovery.
Full Recovery and Final Tummy Tuck Results
While each individual’s recovery varies, most patients can drive by 2 weeks and resume most normal activities by 4 weeks. Dr. Orringer usually recommends allowing a couple of months of healing before attempting sit-ups.
Although your contour will typically look much better by the end of the first few weeks, your result will continue to take shape for the first year. Dr. Orringer will recommend scar care, as well, during that time.
Mini Tummy Tuck
If your area of concern is primarily below the belly button, Dr. Orringer may recommend a mini tummy tuck. This procedure removes excess skin and fat and tightens loose abdominal muscles similar to a full tummy tuck, but it only addresses the lower abdominal region. A mini tummy tuck is the least invasive abdominoplasty option, and it's ideal for patients who only need:
- Minor muscle tightening in the lower abdominal region
- A minimal amount of excess skin removed
Because a mini tummy tuck is somewhat less involved than a traditional tummy tuck, it offers the following potential benefits:
- Shorter recovery time
- Less scarring
- Less discomfort
- Typically eliminates a scar around the belly button
After discussion with you, Dr. Orringer will make an incision usually near the bikini line. He will then tighten the muscles on your lower and possibly upper abdominal wall, remove excess lower abdominal skin, and tighten the remaining skin in order to potentially achieve a more toned appearance of the lower portion of your abdominal region. He will often combine this with liposuction in an effort to further sculpt the abdominal contour.
Your recovery after a mini tummy tuck will often be shorter than with a traditional abdominoplasty procedure. You should ambulate the night of your procedure, and many patients can resume most normal activities within 2 weeks. To optimize healing, you should refrain from particularly strenuous activities, such as heavy lifting, for 6 weeks following surgery.
Tummy Tuck FAQs
What is a diastasis recti and how can tummy tuck help?
Diastasis recti occurs to most many pregnant and postpartum women. As the uterus expands during pregnancy, the rectus abdominal abdominis muscles ( also better known as the “six pack”) stretch and separate. While the muscles can retract snap back into place after the baby is born, overstretched muscles may no longer have the elasticity to close as completely as they did previously. This leaves a gap between the muscles. Not only does that this detract from the firmness of the stomach, but it can also create a slight protrusion.
Tummy tuck is the most effective solution for addressing a diastasis recti. During this surgery, Dr. Orringer reconnects brings the abdominal muscles back together to restore a firmer, flatter tummy.
How long can I enjoy my tummy tuck?
Fortunately, tummy tuck is not affected significantly as much by the aging process as some other procedures. Many patients who have maintained a steady weight after their surgery have enjoyed a flatter, tighter abdomen for the rest of their lives. As a subsequent pregnancy can also undo the benefits of a tummy tuck, so you may wish to postpone this procedure until after your family is complete.
Can tummy tuck eliminate my stretch marks?
Tummy tuck may be able to eliminate some stretch marks, depending on the location of these stretch marks. The texture of your skin should improve significantly beneath the navel. That is because when Dr. Orringer removes excess skin below the belly button, which directly removes those stretch marks. and pulls the remaining skin on the lower abdomen taut, stretch marks should vanish. If you have stretch marks above the belly button, those will not be improved these may be slightly improved by the skin tightening. You may wish to discuss other cosmetic procedures with Dr. Orringer if those are a primary concern for you.
Will abdominoplasty help me to lose weight?
Tummy tuck is a cosmetic body contouring procedure, not a weight-loss surgery. It is a better choice for patients who have already lost weight through diet and exercise (or perhaps bariatric surgery) and have loose skin around their midsection that they would like to tighten to attain a sleeker shape.
Although Dr. Orringer can remove a modest amount of fat with this procedure, tummy tuck should be combined with liposuction to adequately address stubborn fat deposits that have been resistant to your diet and exercise efforts. In addition to excess skin removal and muscle tightening, Dr. Orringer usually combines liposuction to remove excess fat and further sculpt the abdominal contour.
Will my belly button look different after a tummy tuck?
With a mini tummy tuck, the navel is left untouched. However, with a full tummy tuck, a scar results around the belly button. There are times when the belly button can be made smaller, and its shape improved with the procedure. You may discuss your preferences with regard to how you would like your belly button to look during a consultation.
How soon after pregnancy can I have abdominoplasty?
Dr. Orringer typically recommends that women wait at least six months after their pregnancy to seek cosmetic procedures — not only to give their bodies time to heal from pregnancy, but also to have sufficient time to lose their pregnancy weight. If you are including a tummy tuck in a mommy makeover plan that also features a breast procedure like breast lift or breast augmentation, you should wait until you have finished breastfeeding your baby.
Please call 310-273-1663 to contact Dr. Jay Orringer at The Renaissance Medical Center for Aesthetic Surgery, Inc. to schedule your tummy tuck consultation today. We serve patients in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Hollywood, California, nationally and internationally.
