Tummy Tuck

Sometimes, no matter how much we diet and exercise, stubborn fatty deposits in the waist and tummy settle into bumps and bulges that keep us from achieving that truly streamlined, smooth body contour we all want.

If no amount of core exercises are producing the tight, firm tummy and slim waist that you dream of, or if years of accumulated fat and flaccid muscle tissue in your abdomen won’t respond to any amount of diet, you should consider our Newport Beach tummy tuck, also known by its medical name abdominoplasty.

In Southern California, one plastic surgeon that has earned an impeccable reputation among both his patients and his peers is Dr. Douglas Hendricks, a triple board-certified plastic surgeon in Newport Beach, is known for his surgical skill and excellent tummy tuck results. Dr. Hendricks brings more than 30 years of experience performing cosmetic and reconstructive surgical procedures on both male and female patients to his practice, Pacifica Cosmetic Surgery Center.

Why Pacifica Cosmetic Surgery Center?

When you visit our relaxing office, you will receive the best of care. Dr. Hendricks is a dedicated surgeon who is triple board-certified in general, hand, and plastic surgery.

Dr. Hendricks is regarded among the most experienced and skilled Newport Beach Tummy Tuck providers. Since opening Pacifica Cosmetic Surgery Center 20 years ago, he has transformed his patients’ lives providing gorgeous, lasting results. Dr. Hendricks and his staff work hard to provide a customized plan with the best solution to your specific needs. We will help restore your beauty by recapturing and rejuvenating your true aesthetic.

Preparing for Tummy Tuck Surgery

Your first step is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Hendricks. During your initial consultation for a tummy tuck Newport Beach plastic surgeon, Dr. Hendricks will inquire about your aesthetic goals and assess your overall health as well as the specific condition of your skin and muscles in order to formulate a customized plan for your abdominoplasty procedure. If you smoke, you will be required to quit smoking at least two weeks prior to the surgery and refrain from smoking for at least two weeks following the surgery in order to minimize the risk of complications and ensure optimal recovery, as smoking has been shown to increase the risk of complications and impede the healing process.

Inform your plastic surgeon about any medications or supplements that you take, including prescription drugs, herbal remedies, nutritional supplements, and over the counter medications. You may be required to suspend the use of certain medications for a period of time before and after the surgery in order to minimize risks.

What Is A Tummy Tuck?

tummy tuck is a surgical procedure that re-sculpts a slimmer waistline and tightens abdominal muscles, as well as extracting excess fat, tightening flaccid skin, and producing a firmer and flatter abdomen.

The procedure can be done on both men and women. It is most commonly associated with resolving excess loose skin after significant weight loss and with women who have had children and want to improve their post-pregnancy bodies. Abdominoplasty is usually considered a cosmetic surgery, but in some cases, they may be medically necessary.

How Can A Tummy Tuck Improve My Appearance?

A Tummy Tuck produces a flatter, firmer belly by extracting excess fat and tightening lax skin, as well as tightening the abdominal muscles and sculpting a slimmer waistline, rejuvenating the torso and producing a leaner and tighter silhouette that allows for a looser and more comfortable fit in your clothing and an overall slimmer appearance.

Am I A Candidate For A Tummy Tuck?

A tummy tuck is ideal for adult men and women who are in overall good health. Ideally, you should be a non-smoker or quit smoking in preparation for tummy tuck surgery in order to ensure the greatest likelihood of healing optimally.

Women who have been through one or more pregnancies often choose to have abdominoplasty to tighten lax abdominal muscles, recover a slimmer and more defined waistline, and create a flatter abdomen. In many cases, the Tummy Tuck may be combined with breast enhancement procedures such as a breast lift, as part of a Mommy Makeover.

Tummy tuck surgery may also be recommended for male and female patients who once were obese and have undergone dramatic weight loss, either through surgical or natural methods, but may still have excess fatty deposits in the form of bumps and rolls, or flaccid folds of loose skin around the waist and belly.

If you’re currently in the process of losing a lot of weight, it may also be smarter on your part to hold off on having body sculpting done until you are much closer to your ideal weight. While a tummy tuck achieves some degree of weight reduction, and particularly, helps to take inches off your waist and tummy, it is not a weight loss solution and should not be used in place of conventional weight loss methods such as diet and exercise, or bariatric surgery in cases of extreme obesity.

A tummy tuck can address these aesthetic and physical issues:

  • Loose skin in the abdominal area
  • Excess fat in the abdominal area
  • Separation of the abdominal muscles (diastasis recti)
  • Stretch marks on the abdomen

Abdominoplasty can give you a flatter, firmer stomach and a waistline you can be proud of. It can also help you feel more confident in your clothes and even in a bathing suit.

What Is The Tummy Tuck Procedure?

tummy tuck surgery is performed under general anesthesia and may take anywhere from one to five hours to complete. There are two types of abdominoplasty, and the choice of which will be performed depends on the condition of your abdominal muscles as well as your aesthetic goals.

  • Complete Tummy Tuck, also known as a full Tummy Tuck. During this procedure, the surgeon will make a hairline incision across your abdomen extending from hipbone to hipbone. This will allow for fat extraction as well as tightening of the abdominal muscles. The skin is then pulled tightly over the resulted muscle tissue, and excess lax skin is trimmed away as needed. In many cases, the belly button may have to be moved from its original spot and elevated to a higher position.

  • Partial or Mini Tummy Tuck, this procedure may be ideal for patients whose fatty deposits are concentrated in areas below the navel. During the mini tummy tuck procedure, a smaller incision is made, fat extraction and tightening of the muscles are concentrated in the area below the belly button, and the bellybutton is typically not repositioned. A mini tummy tuck procedure typically takes less than two hours to complete.

Benefits of a tummy Tuck

tummy tuck provides tremendous benefits. You will be able to remove excess skin and fat that you can’t otherwise remove. A abdominoplasty can restore weakened or separated abdominal muscles. The procedure will create a smoother and sleeker profile. You will notice the appearance of stretch marks may diminish.

  • Look slimmer
  • Finally remove excess fat
  • Fit into your clothes nicely
  • Create stronger muscles

Recovery After A Tummy Tuck

After liposuction Newport Beach patients must wear an abdominal compression garment for about six weeks. This binder helps to avoid a dangerous buildup of fluids, reducing swelling while protecting and supporting delicate abdominal tissue during the healing process. You may experience mild discomfort following a tummy tuck. This can usually be controlled with prescription medication. Most people feel well enough to return to work and other daily activities within two weeks, but strenuous activity should be avoided for at least six weeks.

The discomfort is not typically reported at the site of the incision, which will typically remain numb for several days, but from the sensation of muscle tightening that may feel like mild cramping. While most patients are ready to resume working and normal non-strenuous daily activities within two weeks, it may take 4 to 6 weeks following your procedure before you can gradually begin working out and incorporate more strenuous physical activity into your lifestyle. While the recovery period is naturally shorter for patients who undergo a mini-tummy tuck procedure rather than a full tummy tuck, you must nonetheless avoid vigorous activity for a period of at least six weeks and refrain from strenuous exercise, bending, and heavy lifting.

 

Tummy Tuck Scars

The tummy tuck scars will be visible for some time after surgery, but they will eventually fade. To help make the scars fade faster, you can use skincare products and follow proper wound care. Skincare products that contain aloe vera or vitamin E can help to speed up the healing process and make the scars less visible. Wound care includes keeping the incisions clean and dry, and applying antibiotic ointment to help prevent infection. You should also avoid exposure to the sun, as this can make the scars more visible.

Tummy Tuck results

The results of a tummy tuck are long-lasting, but may be affected by weight fluctuations or pregnancy. To maintain your results, it is important to live a healthy lifestyle and avoid any drastic changes in weight. If you do become pregnant after a tummy tuck, you may notice some stretching of the skin, but this can usually be corrected with a second surgery.

How Long Do Tummy Tuck Results Last?

Tummy tuck results are typically permanent. As long as you follow the guidelines of not having high fluctuations in weight, your results will last forever.

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