TUMMY TUCK
An abdominoplasty, commonly known as a tummy tuck, is a procedure designed to firm and flatten the abdomen by removing excess skin, and tightening the underlying muscles.
Is a Tummy Tuck Right For Me?
Following a large weight loss or pregnancy, many women are left with excess fat and loose sagging skin. An abdominoplasty may be a good choice for those women desiring a return to a firmer, flatter tummy.


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The Procedure
For a full tummy tuck, an incision is made around the navel and just above the pubic hairline, extending to the hips. The shape and length of this incision will be determined by the amount of excess skin needing to be removed. The more excess skin there is, the longer the horizontal incision will be.
During the procedure, the abdominal skin and fat is lifted off of the muscles. Using permanent sutures, the abdominal muscles are stitched together. The lifted skin and fat is then stretched back down over the abdominal muscles; any access skin is removed. Sutures used to close the incision are mostly dissolvable, however a few temporary sutures will be applied and removed one week after surgery.
Recovery
With this procedure, you will be kept overnight for recovery. You will have two drainage tubes which will remain for at least 10 days. During this time you will not be able to drive. There will be discomfort, so in addition to medication you will also have a pain pump inserted for the first three days following your procedure. Steristrips are applied to incisions while they heal, and topifoam is placed over the abdominal skin. You will be encouraged to walk immediately after surgery. However, bending, lifting and vigorous activity is limited for the first month. You will be required to wear an abdominal binder for at least one month. Initially, you will see immediate improvement, however the final result will not be seen for months.
To find out if an abdominoplasty is right for you, call our office at (949) 722-6644 to schedule a consultation with Double-Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Katharine C. Nitta today