Tummy Tuck Abdominoplasty Surgery In Culver City, CA

Are you unhappy with the shape of your abdominal region? Has pregnancy or aging left you feeling uncomfortable in a bathing suit? Your tummy is one of the most difficult parts of the body to reach with diet and exercise. An abdominoplasty, also known as tummy tuck surgery, may be the solution for you

What Is Tummy Tuck Surgery?

Tummy tuck surgery removes excess fat and skin from the abdominal region. Sutures are also used to tighten connective tissue (fascia) in the abdomen. While it’s primarily a cosmetic surgery, it’s also used for repairing torn or stretched abdominal muscles.

Both women and men get tummy tuck surgery. But its most common use may be to return moms to their pre-pregnancy form. Tummy tucks are effective at treating stretch marks and correcting protruding stomachs caused by pregnancy.

During tummy tuck surgery, your plastic surgeon will make a horizontal oval shaped incision between your belly button and pubic hair. The scar left by this incision falls within the natural crease women often call the bikini line.

Your plastic surgeon will make a smaller incision near the belly button as they reconstruct the area to match your new flatter abdominal region. Your surgeon will usually hide any scarring from this incision within the navel.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Tummy Tuck Surgery?

There are a few reasons tummy tuck surgery may not be for you. For example, if you plan on a future pregnancy, you’ll lose the results from your tummy tuck surgery with the new pregnancy. You’ll need a second tummy tuck surgery to regain your form. For this reason, we usually advise not to have tummy tuck surgery if you’re planning on future pregnancies.

It’s a good idea to have maintained a stable weight near your target weight. Future weight gains and losses can affect the results of your tummy tuck.

Other reasons you may not be a suitable candidate for tummy tuck surgery include:

• You have a body mass index greater than 30
• You’re a smoker
• You’ve had abdominal surgery that left significant scar tissue
• You have a chronic illness such as heart disease or diabetes

You may wonder how being a smoker affects a tummy tuck. It’s because smoking inhibits your body’s ability to heal itself from wounds. Without proper healing, you may not have the desired results. Yet, smokers have surgeries all the time. You will want to discuss this issue with Dr. Partovi.

What Results Can You Expect?

Each person is different. After your consultation, you’ll have a much better idea what a tummy tuck can do for you. As a general rule, you’ll have the flatter, more desirable abdomen.

You’ll have the slim and toned abdomen that no about of sit-ups, core exercises, or healthy eating can provide. You’ll no longer worry about those hard to reach abdominal areas.

How Long Will the Results Last?

The results of a tummy tuck can last a lifetime if you take care of yourself. For women, pregnancy can require a second tummy tuck.

Tummy tucks aren’t a magic bullet that will defeat the damaging effect of too many In-N-Out burgers. To maintain your flat abs, you’ll need to maintain a stable body weight. Gaining significant weight or losing substantial weight has a negative effect on your tummy tuck.

Are There Any Risks With Tummy Tuck Surgery?

All surgery involves risk. Tummy tucks are a major surgery. But they’re usually performed on an outpatient basis. Some risks include:

• Seroma (accumulation of fluid under the skin)
• Infection
• Excessive bleeding
• Blood clots
• Pain
• Failure to heal properly
• Excessive scarring
• Tissue damage that requires additional surgery
• Changes in skin sensation due to nerves affected by tissue repositioning

We do everything we can to minimize risks. Of course, we will prescribe pain medications for you. Sometimes, your plastic surgeon may prescribe blood thinners temporarily if you show a higher risk of blood clots. Antibiotics are used to prevent infection. All these risks are temporary and are common with many surgeries.

How To Best Prepare for Tummy Tuck Surgery

You’ll usually be under general anesthesia during tummy tuck surgery. There’s no food or drink for a set number of hours before anesthesia, regardless of the type of surgery. Make sure you understand the fasting rules we require.

You will need someone to drive you home. Driving after anesthesia is illegal. If you do not have transportation, we won’t be able to perform the procedure. It’s a good idea for a friend or family member to stay with you for at least the first night after surgery.

Stop smoking. You should stop smoking before surgery and at least for the duration of your recovery period. Not following this advice could lead to less than optimal results for wound healing.

It’s best if you reach your ideal weight at least a year before your tummy tuck. It’s a good idea for this target weight to have been stable for the past year. The best course is to maintain this stable target weight for the rest of your life.

Do not take aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, and some herbal supplements before surgery. These could cause excessive bleeding.

What Is the Recovery From Tummy Tuck Surgery Like?

The actual procedure will take 2-3 hours. Add another hour for anesthesia preparation and post-surgical recovery and you’ll be ready to go home. After leaving the surgery center or hospital, the recovery truly starts.

After the surgery, you’ll have mild soreness, swelling, and bruising. These issues are usually temporary. You may require post-surgery drainage tubes for 1-2 weeks. You’ll have follow-up appointments to handle tubes, suture removal, and general recovery checkups.

You should be able to return to work after a week. You’ll want to avoid over-exerting yourself for at least a month. That means no strenuous exercise. It will take a few months for the scars to fade.

You should wear abdominal support compression undergarments for approximately six weeks after surgery. These prevent fluid buildup and help with your abdominal contouring while you’re healing.

Visit True Jewel For Your Tummy Tuck Surgery

Have you had children and want to recover your prepregnancy abs? Are you a guy who has been trying to achieve perfect abs for years, if not decades? Has aging or rapid weight changes left you with belly fat that won’t go away? If you have such issues, tummy tuck surgery may be the best thing you could do.

Everyone is different, so every tummy tuck surgery is different. At your consultation, a physician that’s board-certified in plastic surgery will give you a comprehensive examination. After your consultation, we can answer many of your questions. Such questions often include what a tummy tuck can do for you, whether a tummy tuck is a good idea for you, or how much we charge for a tummy tuck.

For a few reasons, it may take time for you to prepare for your tummy tuck. For example, you may not be at your target weight yet. Once you have a tummy tuck, it takes time to recover and see the full benefit. It doesn’t all happen in an instant.

The quicker you start the process, the quicker you’ll have your happy results. Don’t wait another day to get started. Contact your Culver City, CA abdominoplasty experts at the True Jewel Cometic Center today to set an appointment with Dr. Partovi.