Your abdomen and tummy area can go through significant changes throughout your life. In many cases, these changes can leave you dissatisfied with the shape and appearance of your abdominal area. Even more frustrating is that diet and exercise alone might not be enough to restore your tummy to a tighter appearance. If this sounds like you, a tummy tuck may be the perfect option for you. Dr. Gabbay’s tummy tuck procedures remove the surplus fat and tighten the muscles along the abdominal wall. The results provide the appearance of a flatter, smoother stomach.
The abdomen is an area of the body where fat easily accumulates in both women and men. Skin laxity in the abdominal region can come about from several factors, including:
- Natural aging process
- Sun exposure
- Environmental factors
- Gravity
- Repetitive motions (squinting or raising your eyebrows)
All these factors contribute to the appearance of a flabby stomach. In many cases, no amount of exercise or dieting will resolve this problem. But a tummy tuck can help you get back a tighter abdomen with a single surgery.
What Can a Tummy Tuck Do?
Some of the specific results patients see after a tummy tuck include:
- Removal of excess skin
- Tightened muscles
- Removal of stubborn pockets of abdominal fat
- Reshaped abdomen
- Defined waist
- Flattened belly
At Gabbay Plastic Surgery in Beverly Hills, we offer the latest in advanced technology to remove excess fat or skin from the abdomen. In some cases, you may achieve optimal results when combining a tummy tuck with liposuction for total abdominal rejuvenation. Dr. Gabbay’s skillful precision and years of experience ensure that his tummy tuck patients will find a boost in self-confidence and excitement about their appearance.
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Different Types of Abdominoplasty
We provide many options and choices for you when considering a tummy tuck surgery. During your consultation, Dr. Gabbay will help you find the tummy tuck that best suits your goals.
Full Tummy Tuck
A full tummy tuck procedure can deliver the most significant results. It involves a horizontal incision in the area between the pubic hairline and the navel. Dr. Gabby then repairs any weakened muscles while removing excess fat and tissue.
This procedure is best for patients with lax muscles or significant excess skin. Patients who have been pregnant or experienced substantial weight loss may benefit from this procedure the most.
A complete tummy tuck can take 2 to 5 hours, depending on the extent of work required. Patients typically are fully anesthetized for this procedure to ensure comfort throughout.
Mini Tummy Tuck
The mini tummy tuck is for patients with a smaller amount of excess skin or fatty deposits. Although the recovery period is shorter, the mini-abdominoplasty procedure only treats the lower abdomen. It does not address or correct issues of the upper abdomen.
During a partial abdominoplasty, the technique Dr. Gabbay uses is similar to a full tummy tuck but on a reduced scale. The abdominal skin is separated only between the incision line and the navel. This skin flap is stretched down, the excess skin is removed, and the flap is stitched back into place.
Standard Tummy Tuck Vs. Mini Tummy Tuck
A standard tummy tuck removes excess skin and fat from the abdominal regions below the belly button. A partial (mini) abdominoplasty tightens only the skin in the lower abdominal area (below the belly button).
Dr. Gabbay typically performs abdominoplasty under general anesthesia. However, patients receiving an abbreviated abdominoplasty may elect to have only local anesthetic and (IV) sedation.
Endoscopic Abdominoplasty
An endoscopic abdominoplasty does not address the issue of loose abdominal skin. It is best suited for patients:
- Relatively tight abdominal skin
- Weakened muscles of the lower abdomen
- Excess abdominal fat
An endoscopic abdominoplasty is performed with the help of a small camera attached to surgical instruments. Dr. Gabbay inserts these through a small incision. The abdominal muscles are tightened and sutured through the incision. Dr. Gabbay may also remove fat with liposuction at this point in the procedure.
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Tummy Tuck Recovery and Downtime
Following your surgery, your incisions are stitched closed and bandaged with a firm, elastic band to promote proper healing. Generally, a tummy tuck is an outpatient procedure. So after 2-3 hours of rest in our recovery room, you will be free to return home. However, you will need someone to drive you home.
During your initial recovery, you will need someone to assist you for a few days. On your end, it will be vital to avoid any physical strain and instead focus on healing.
You will receive complete instructions on how to make sure your recovery goes smoothly. These include tips on how to best position yourself while sitting or lying down. You will also be given pain medication to help ease any discomfort. You may experience a degree of numbness in the abdominal area.
After surgery, you will have to limit strenuous physical activity for at least six weeks. The exact recovery period length will depend upon your body’s unique capacity to heal. Typically, most patients take up to one month off from work to ensure proper recovery.
Once you fully heal, you should see excellent results that will be with you for years! To ensure long-lasting results, it will be important to have a balanced diet and regular exercise.
Is a Tummy Tuck Right For You?
The best candidates for a tummy tuck are patients who are in good overall health but are unhappy with stubborn fat. We do not recommend abdominoplasty for:
- People who intend to lose a significant amount of weight
- Men or women with unrealistic goals or expectations
- Women who plan to become pregnant in the future
- Individuals with scarring from previous abdominal surgery
The first step is to come in for your complimentary consultation. Dr. Gabbay will listen to your goals and help you decide on what procedures will best achieve them. He will provide complete information on our available procedures and answer any of your questions.
If Dr. Gabbay believes you are a good candidate for a tummy tuck, he will discuss your surgery in more detail. As with any surgical procedure, abdominoplasty does carry with it some degree of risk. Be open and honest when informing Dr. Gabbay about any past surgical procedures and current medications you are taking to increase the safety of the surgery.
Schedule Your Consultation Today
At Gabbay Plastic Surgery, our highly skilled Beverly Hills plastic surgery has everything you need to get the trim, toned contours you are looking for. To find out whether you would be a good candidate for a tummy tuck, call us today at (310) 205-9500!
Frequently Asked Questions
The goal of a tummy tuck or an abdominoplasty is to remove excess, wrinkled skin, and subcutaneous fat from the abdomen. When necessary, the underlying muscles may also be tightened resulting in a smoother, flatter abdominal area*.
A tummy tuck is suitable for men and women who are in good health, with excess fat deposits, or loose skin around the belly, that does not respond to diet or exercise. An abdominoplasty is effective for tightening their abdominal muscles and reducing skin*.
A woman planning to get pregnant should not have a tummy tuck until they are finished having children. During pregnancy, the vertical abdominal muscles separate allowing for expansion of the abdominal cavity. In an abdominoplasty, vertical muscles are tightened which would, during future pregnancies, become undone. For people planning to lose a large amount of weight, a tummy tuck is not recommended because it is not an alternative to weight loss.
There are several techniques that may be used to perform an abdominoplasty and the most common involves a “u” shaped incision that extends across the lower abdomen from one hipbone to the other. A second incision is usually required, around the navel, and the skin is separated from the abdomen and lifted up. When required, abdominal muscles are tightened and excess skin and fat is removed. The navel is reconstructed before the incision is closed and the procedure time varies with the amount of tissue to be removed.
General Anesthesia is typically used for a full tummy tuck and for a mini tummy tuck, your procedure can sometimes be performed under Light Sleep IV Sedation. For patients requiring muscle repair, general anesthesia is used because of the involuntary contraction of abdominal muscles in patients who are not deeply anesthetized.
Swelling, bruising, and discomfort are moderate after a tummy tuck and resolve in a few weeks*. At Gabbay Plastic Surgery, you will be provided with pain medication and specific instructions to help speed your recovery. Strenuous activities should be avoided and a support garment must be worn for several days to aid in the healing process. Since a tummy tuck is a major surgery, it will take time to see the full benefits*.
A woman planning to get pregnant should not have a tummy tuck until they are finished having children. During pregnancy, the vertical abdominal muscles separate allowing for expansion of the abdominal cavity. In an abdominoplasty, vertical muscles are tightened which would, during future pregnancies, become undone. For people planning to lose a large amount of weight, a tummy tuck is not recommended because it is not an alternative to weight loss.
There are several techniques that may be used to perform an abdominoplasty and the most common involves a “u” shaped incision that extends across the lower abdomen from one hipbone to the other. A second incision is usually required, around the navel, and the skin is separated from the abdomen and lifted up. When required, abdominal muscles are tightened and excess skin and fat is removed. The navel is reconstructed before the incision is closed and the procedure time varies with the amount of tissue to be removed.
Swelling, bruising, and discomfort are moderate after a tummy tuck and resolve in a few weeks*. At Gabbay Plastic Surgery, you will be provided with pain medication and specific instructions to help speed your recovery. Strenuous activities should be avoided and a support garment must be worn for several days to aid in the healing process. Since a tummy tuck is a major surgery, it will take time to see the full benefits*.
A complete tummy tuck is usually recommended for patients with a lot of excess skin that is typically seen after pregnancy or massive weight loss. This procedure involves the removal of excess fat and skin from the lower abdominal region, and the muscles in the middle of the abdomen are often tightened as well.
A mini or partial tummy tuck is for patients who have minimal excess skin in the lower abdominal region and a smaller incision is made below the bikini line. The skin is tightened and the muscles may or may not be pulled together. Recovery is less than a full tummy tuck and this procedure does not tighten the upper abdomen*.
Although rare, bleeding and infection are risks of any surgery, as well as fluid collection, asymmetry and poor scarring*. You can help reduce any complications by following all of Dr. Gabbay’s postoperative instructions*.
The scars from a tummy tuck are low on the abdomen, so they are usually hidden, and a full abdominoplasty will also leave a scar around the belly button, which is not very noticeable*.
There are several incision methods and surgical techniques used when performing an abdominoplasty that may include endoscopic rectus diastasis correction, reverse abdominoplasty, and vertical scar abdominoplasty. After your complete examination, Dr. Gabbay will be able to determine which option is best for you.
Only Dr. Gabbay will be able to determine which technique is best for your needs, however, if you have a considerable pooch and your abdominal fascia and muscles are stretched out, normally a full tummy tuck is required. If you have tight muscles and minimally loose skin, you may qualify for a mini-tummy tuck.
If you have been pregnant or overweight for some time, the fascia covering your abdominal muscles may have stretched and no amount of exercise and diet will correct the problem. If you are at a healthy body fat percentage and the fascia is stretched, the “pooch” that you see is normally the visceral fat and organs pressing against the overlying fascia. Dr. Gabbay will be able to determine if you need muscle repair, after a full physical examination.
The skin tightening effects of non-surgical methods, such as lasers or radiofrequency (RF) cannot give you the significant improvement a tummy tuck surgery can, nor do their benefits last*. They also have no effect on the underlying muscles and fascia.
Many patients commonly get complementary liposuction around the treatment area (flanks and hips) for contouring and a breast lift procedure, however, this is entirely dependent upon your health and what Dr. Gabbay recommends.
For the majority of patients, the inability to stand up straight lasts no more than two weeks, you will notice that even after that period of time you may still bend your knees slightly to compensate for your surgery. The length of time it will take you to stand up completely straight depends on the tightness at the incision line and underlying muscles, as well as the amount of tissue removed and your personal pain tolerance.
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