Tummy Tuck & Abdominoplasty in Orange County & Newport Beach

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Procedure: Improvement in abdominal contour by release of abdominal skin and underlying fat, tightening of abdominal muscles, followed by redraping and trimming of all redundant skin, and finally by recreating the belly button and repairing the skin edges.

Length: 3 to 5 hours of operative time.

Anesthesia: General anesthesia may be supplemented with epidural anesthesia.

Place of Treatment: Outpatient surgical suite or hospital operating room.

Recovery: The recovery period for tummy tuck surgeries can be as quick as 1 week following a mini tummy tuck procedure, and as long as 4 weeks following a standard tummy tuck surgery with muscle plication.

Duration of Results: As long as patients watch their diet and keep an active lifestyle, they can enjoy a lifetime of an aesthetically pleasing abdominal contour and body silhouette.

Side Effects: Side effects are events that may be experienced by patients as a result of your surgery and should not be considered adverse events. Our patients are counseled regarding these effects and if experienced they are tolerable and often temporary in duration.

1. Numbness: Numbness is inevitable due to separation of the skin and underlying fat off of the abdominal muscles. Since the sensory nerves to the skin travel in the muscle layer prior to crossing over into the skin, they are unavoidably disrupted when elevating the skin and underlying fat off of the muscle. The nerves will regrow with time and patients do note return of sensation on average by one year following surgery.
2. Hypertrophic scar: Hypertrophic scar refers to the development of a thick scar in the skin. Based on the extent of redundant skin excised, patients may experience increased tightness surrounding skin incisions and should expect a longer period for incision redness to dissipate (on average 3 to 6 months). Treatments of hypertrophic scars are available and include: steroid injection, laser therapy, and silicone pressure therapy.

Risks: Risks are unwanted events that may occur during or following surgery. These events are recognized as “complications” but their occurrence is minimized by appropriate patient selection, proper surgical decision making, effective surgical technique, and thorough preoperative and postoperative patient management.

1. Hematoma: Hematoma refers to the accumulation of blood in the early postoperative period, which pools into a dissected surgical pocket. Hematomas provide a perfect medium for harboring growth of bacteria. So if you have an infection anywhere in your body, the bacteria will travel through the blood stream and grow in the hematoma; this can lead to an infection as well as an open wound. In order to avoid a hematoma, drains are placed in surgery so that any fluid accumulation can be drained. Drains are usually kept in place for 1 to 2 weeks.
2. Seroma: Seroma formation refers to the accumulation of plasma fluid in pockets created by surgical elevation of the soft tissue and disruption of lymphatic vessels. This fluid accumulates due to a low blood count and protein deficiency both of which may be present in tummy tuck patients. This fluid can be a nuisance to patients requiring several aspirations in the office prior to their resolution. More importantly, these plasma fluid pockets may harbor bacterial growth and result in a clinical infection. Drains, which are placed in surgery, are very effective in preventing seroma formation. Consequently, seromas may become apparent following premature removal of drains.
3. Infection: An infection can occur after tummy tuck surgery. The infection will disrupt the incision line and may leave the patient with an open wound. Prolonged antibiotics are required to fight the infection and to prevent further extension of the infection. Infections are usually avoided by using drains, which will prevent hematoma formation. In addition, infections are less likely in patients who don’t smoke cigarettes or in patients who quit smoking for at least 1 month prior to surgery.
4. Skin edge death/open wound: The skin incision can be disrupted if the skin edge dies or if there is local infection. This complication is best avoided by counseling patients on the terrible consequences of nicotine in cigarettes. Nicotine will literally clog all the small vessels found in the skin, which are critical for the healing of the skin edge. Tummy tuck patients are usually mandated to quit smoking for at least 1 month prior to surgery. In addition, uncontrolled diabetes can lead to the undesired sloughing of the skin. Diabetic patients are urged to be vigilant about controlling their blood sugar levels prior to surgery. If patients develop an open wound, they will require prolonged local wound care with frequent dressing changes. Unfortunately, any delays in healing of the skin edges will compromise your aesthetic outcome.
5. Asymmetry in abdominal contour can occur and is secondary to several factors including: 1) Uneven skin redundancy that should be improved following redraping, trimming, and repair; 2) Stretch marks are areas of the skin which have lost their elasticity and are prone to re-stretching. The surgeon attempts to remove as much of the stretch marks as possible. However, if there are stretch marks left and they are uneven (more on one side than the other), this will result in asymmetric restretching of the skin and a resultant asymmetric contour. Any residual asymmetry in contour can usually be repaired by performing a revision mini tummy tuck surgery.
6. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) may occur in the legs immediately following surgery. DVT refers to the clotting of leg veins which may result in compromised blood flow return from the legs; a more critical consequence may develop from this clot if it is dislodged and travels to the lungs causing a pulmonary emboli. Although rare, pulmonary emboli are the leading cause of death following surgery. DVT’s are avoided with routine use of pneumatic compression boots during surgery and encouraging patients to walk as soon as possible following surgery.

1. What is the history of tummy tuck surgery?
2. Do I have to take 1 month off of work to have a tummy tuck surgery?
3. If I have had abdominal surgery can I be considered for a tummy tuck surgery?
4. Will I have any numbness following tummy tuck surgery?
5. Will my silhouette be improved following tummy tuck surgery?
6. Where and how wide will my abdominal incision scar be following tummy tuck surgery?
7. Am I a good candidate for tummy tuck surgery?
8. What does tummy tuck surgery involve?
9. How do I plan my tummy tuck surgery?
10. How do I prepare for tummy tuck surgery?
11. What results can I expect after tummy tuck surgery?
12. Where will my tummy tuck surgery be performed?
13. What type of anesthesia will be used for my tummy tuck surgery?
14. What should I expect after tummy tuck surgery?
15. When will I be able to return to work following tummy tuck surgery?
16. Are there any side effects associated with tummy tuck surgery?
17. Are there any risks associated with tummy tuck surgery?

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