Tummy Tuck
A tummy tuck removes rolls of excess skin and stubborn fat that may accumulate in the abdominal area after one or more pregnancies or a major weight loss. When needed, the procedure can also tighten abdominal muscles. The world-class board-certified plastic surgeons of Beverly Hills Physicians have performed these surgeries on countless patients with consistently outstanding results. (You can see some of these outcomes on our tummy tuck before-and-after gallery.)
Tummy tucks are often obtained by mothers of one or more children and may be the cornerstone of a suite of procedures known as a mommy makeover. The surgery is also popular with people who have lost large amounts of weight after weight loss surgery (also available through our offices). Research shows that tummy tuck patients with weight issues enjoy high satisfaction rates.*
When Do Patients Get a Tummy Tuck?
Post-Pregnancy
Pregnancy stretches the skin of the stomach very rapidly and then unstretches it even more rapidly after the baby is delivered. It can also cause the separation of abdominal muscles (diastasis recti). These issues can reverse on their own after a mother’s first childbirth but, over time and more pregnancies, skin and muscles tend to remain as they were. A tummy tuck surgically removes loose skin and removes excess fat through liposuction. If needed, the surgeon will suture loose ab muscles together for a flatter and more appealing tummy.
After Losing Weight
Losing a significant amount of excess weight is one of the best favors people can do for themselves. Unfortunately, they are often left with unsightly excess skin and fat deposits. Moreover, obesity can cause the abs to separate as they may after pregnancies. Therefore, mothers who experience weight issues can suffer from a diastasis recti double-whammy. In these situations, a carefully performed tummy tuck can reverse what no amount of exercise and good nutrition can cure.
Can I Afford a Tummy Tuck?
Tummy tucks are regarded as cosmetic procedures and therefore are very rarely covered by health insurers – even though in many cases the benefits in terms of pain relief and comfort can make a big difference in someone’s quality of life.
The important thing is not to let potential costs discourage you before you even know what they’ll be. The amount can vary radically based on numerous factors and the only way to find out what your procedure will cost is by scheduling a free consultation. Even if the money involved seems intimidating at first, our consultants can suggest plans to make the procedure work within most people’s budgets.
Why You May Want a
Tummy Tuck
Losing substantial amounts of weight or maintaining your weight following one or more pregnancies can mean a great deal of time and effort – whether that was getting bariatric surgery and permanently changing your lifestyle or staying on top of your diet and exercise regimen after having one or more children. When your reward for this very hard work involves large folds of flabby and sometimes uncomfortable skin and fat, it can be downright depressing. It’s easy to feel let down when you realize that no amount of exercise or low-calorie dieting can get rid of your left-over flab. A tummy tuck is currently the only way to reverse this frustrating situation.
Who Can Get a Tummy Tuck?
If you want the procedure, have had children or have lost a great deal of weight, and are stuck with unsightly and unpleasant flabby abdominal skin, there’s a very good chance you’ll be a candidate for the procedure. There are a few caveats:
- You must be in reasonably good health. Medical screening will be performed to ensure that the procedure can be performed safely.
- If you are a mom, you should not be planning on having any additional children as there are risks to obtaining multiple tummy tucks.
- You should be at or close to your goal weight and reasonably sure you will be able to maintain your weight over the long term. Tummy tucks are not a type of weight loss.
Tummy Tuck Recovery
Once the surgery is complete, patients are provided with surgical dressing equipped with drains; these will be used for eliminating excess fluids during the initial recovery period. Before leaving our facility, the Beverly Hills Physicians team provides patients with prescriptions including antibiotics and pain medication to control any discomfort. They are also given a surgical garment to wear for the next several weeks to ensure proper healing. Patients are also equipped with detailed instructions on how to take care of the dressing, and the wound underneath it, during the very important first stage of healing.
As with all surgeries involving a general anesthetic or sedative, tummy tuck patients will need a designated individual – often a friend or family member – to take them home after being released from the facility. Once at home, patients will need someone to stay with them for the first night and a few days afterward as they will be unable to perform many ordinary tasks at first. If you have young children at home, you also need to arrange to have help until it will be safe for you to take on the rigors of caring for children by yourself.
Tummy tucks impact the core area and therefore involve more downtime than most other plastic surgeries, which is one reason why combining the procedure with breast augmentation or breast lift in a mommy makeover may reduce total recovery time compared to getting the procedures separately. You will need to take some time off of work – perhaps as long as a month – to rest and recover following a tummy tuck. That’s especially true if your job involves physical activity.
During your recovery, the Beverly Hills Physicians team will stay in contact with you to ensure your recovery is progressing appropriately. If any questions or problems come up, it’s important to contact your plastic surgery team as soon as practical.
Patients often ask about how long it will take to see their outcomes. With tummy tucks, the impact of the procedure will become apparent in a few days as the initial swelling begins to disappear. However, it may take as long as about 90 days to reveal the full impact of the procedure.
Choosing Beverly Hills Physicians
While very safe, tummy tucks are serious, detailed surgeries focusing on a very important region of the body. Choosing Beverly Hills Physicians means that you will be working with some of the most respected board-certified plastic surgeons in Southern California. Superb plastic surgeons are more than just outstanding medical technicians capable of handling the smallest details of a complex procedure; they are also artists who understand how to contour the body to produce the most attractive ultimate result with complete safety.
At Beverly Hills Physicians our goal is always the same: to leave patients feeling and looking their best. To learn more about whether a tummy tuck is right for you, your first step should be to set up a free consultation by calling us or reaching out through this website.