Having a child, losing a large amount of weight, and age itself can all have a major impact on the look and feel of your stomach. When the skin around your belly loses elasticity, it can become loose or saggy. And when your abdominal muscles stretch and separate, you can end up with a permanent bulge that no amount of sit-ups can flatten.
If you have tried everything but can’t seem to get rid of that leftover flab, a tummy tuck at UCI Plastic Surgery could be the solution. A tummy tuck can smooth the skin on your belly, tighten your abdominal muscles, and restore your slim, toned figure.
To learn how a tummy tuck procedure might benefit you, contact UCI Plastic Surgery to schedule a consultation at one of our locations in Orange County, CA. We have offices in Orange, Costa Mesa, and Tustin, CA.
See the Difference a Tummy Tuck Can Make
Real Patients. Real Stories
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I couldn’t be happier with the outcome of my procedure. Their exceptional skill and compassion have truly changed my life, and I am deeply grateful for the care I received.
Read More Patient TestimonialsHow Much Does a Tummy Tuck Cost in Orange County?
The cost of a tummy tuck in Orange County depends on the unique details of your operation, surgical fees, and more. For this reason, we will provide you with an estimate once you have been evaluated by a surgeon in a personalized consultation.
Why Choose UCI Plastic Surgery?
UCI Plastic Surgery is a leader in the field of cosmetic surgery. Each of our specialists is highly knowledgeable, trained, and committed to bringing our patients the latest advancements in the field. Our board-certified plastic surgeons have years of experience performing tummy tuck surgeries. Learn how our experts can help you obtain industry-leading tummy tuck results by scheduling your consultation today.
Start Your Journey Today!What Is a Tummy Tuck?
A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is a surgical body-contouring procedure that removes excess skin and, if needed, tightens and repairs abdominal muscles to achieve a flatter, toned-looking midsection. If a stubborn pocket of fat is contributing to your belly bulge, you can opt to combine a tummy tuck with liposuction. Pairing a tummy tuck with liposuction can enhance a slimming effect, reduce costs, and speed recovery.
Reasons Patients Choose Tummy Tuck Surgery
It’s a fact of life that skin loses elasticity with aging and begins to loosen and sag. Combine that change with significant body changes from pregnancy or weight loss, and you can end up with a permanently flabby belly. That might take the form of loose, drooping skin or a stomach bulge that never flattens.
If you’d like to have a flat stomach profile and a slender waist, tummy tuck surgery can do what diet and exercise can’t.
- By removing excess skin, a tummy tuck restores your smooth belly.
- By tightening stretched muscles and repairing separated muscles, a tummy tuck gives you a flat abdomen and pulls in your waist.
- Muscle repair during a tummy tuck can also restore abdominal strength and improve your posture.
- With liposuction, a tummy tuck can remove belly fat that has resisted your diet and exercise efforts.
Tummy tucks are popular with both men and women.
A tummy tuck is an amazingly transformative procedure, but it’s not a substitute for healthy weight loss with optimal nutrition, eating, and regular exercise. The ideal candidate is in good health and within 20 to 30 pounds of their ideal weight.
What Are the Benefits of a Tummy Tuck?
Tummy tuck surgery can offer a wide range of benefits, including:
- A flatter, firmer abdominal contour
- Tighter abdominal muscles (helpful after pregnancy or significant weight changes)
- Removal of excess, sagging skin
- Improved posture from tightened core muscles
- Easier exercising with improved mobility
- Reduction or elimination of stretch marks located on the lower abdomen
- Relief from skin irritation or rashes that occur beneath skin folds
- Improved fit in clothing and swimwear
- Increased confidence
- Long-lasting results
Who Is an Ideal Candidate for a Tummy Tuck?
You may be a good candidate for a tummy tuck if you are:
- bothered by loose skin, weakened abdominal muscles, or a protruding midsection
- in good overall health
- at or near a stable weight
- realistic in your expectations for surgery
- a non-smoker or willing to quit
If you smoke or use nicotine products, you will need to quit at least three weeks before surgery and stay nicotine-free for at least three weeks afterward to support proper healing.
It’s best to pursue a tummy tuck once you are finished having children, as future pregnancies can stretch the abdominal skin and muscles again, compromising your results. If you plan to have more children, be sure to discuss this with your surgeon during your consultation.
Your Tummy Tuck Consultation
The first step toward a flat, toned abdomen is a consultation with one of our highly qualified plastic and reconstructive surgeons. During this appointment, you and your surgeon will have a thorough discussion covering:
- Expectations: This is your chance to share what you hope to achieve with a tummy tuck. Whether your goals include restoring your pre-pregnancy shape, tightening loose skin, repairing separated abdominal muscles, or improving the overall aesthetic of your abdomen, sharing openly will help you and your surgeon get on the same page. You can also bring photos of the outcome you envision.
- Your medical history: This will include current or past medical conditions, previous surgeries, chronic illnesses, medications, and allergies. This ensures the procedure is planned as safely and effectively as possible.
- Your lifestyle: This includes factors like significant weight changes, exercise habits, plans for future pregnancies, smoking or vaping, and supplement use. This information can influence surgical recommendations and help your provider determine the most appropriate approach and timing for your tummy tuck.
- Risks: Your surgeon will inform you about the risks associated with abdominoplasty.
- Options: Based on your goals, anatomy, lifestyle, and medical background, your surgeon will explain which tummy tuck methods may be best for you.
If it is determined that a tummy tuck is a good option for you, your surgeon will perform a physical examination of your abdomen, assessing skin quality and muscle laxity, and “before” photos will be taken. From there, they will create a tailored surgical plan, discuss associated costs, and help you arrange a surgery date.
Come prepared with any questions or concerns, big or small. Remember, you’re always welcome to reach out after your consultation if anything else comes to mind.
How Is Tummy Tuck Surgery Performed?
You’ll have your tummy tuck surgery while you’re under general anesthesia. One of our highly trained plastic surgeons will make a horizontal incision, from about hipbone to hipbone, along a line low enough that you’ll be able to conceal the resulting scar beneath most underwear and bathing suits.
The surgeon will repair any damage to the abdominal muscles, connecting them where they have separated and tightening them where they have stretched and weakened. The doctor may also remove excess fat with liposuction before reshaping tissue below the skin for smooth contours. Your surgeon will then pull the skin tight to achieve a naturally taut appearance and trim away any excess. You might need to wear a compression garment to minimize swelling and hold the skin in its new position while it heals.
The surgery typically takes about two or three hours, but larger amounts of skin may take longer. After you wake up from the anesthesia, a friend or family member can drive you home.
Types of Tummy Tucks
Depending on your needs, your surgeon may recommend a full tummy tuck or a less invasive mini tummy tuck.
Full Tummy Tuck
A full tummy tuck tightens and smooths the entire abdomen, above and below the belly button. Full tummy tuck surgery removes excess skin and fat (with liposuction, as needed) while tightening and repairing the abdominal wall muscles to contour and shape your midsection.
Mini Tummy Tuck
A mini tummy tuck tightens loose skin and removes excess fat only in the lower portion of the abdomen, and does not include work on the abdominal muscles. A mini tummy tuck requires a shorter incision than a full tummy tuck and involves less downtime for recovery.
What Results Can I Expect From My Tummy Tuck?
The tummy tuck provides men and women with life-changing results. Patients are thrilled with their new, flatter bellies, and most cannot wait to put on their swimsuits and spend an afternoon at the beach.
Initial results are usually obscured by swelling. As swelling dissipates, your new contours will become noticeable. Abdominal muscle repair helps support the spine and improves your posture.
To maintain your results, you should lead a healthy lifestyle and keep your weight stable.
What Is Tummy Tuck Recovery Like?
If you live alone, it’s best to arrange for someone to stay with you for the first 24 hours, or you can stay with us on a 23-hour outpatient basis.
You can expect some bruising, swelling, and discomfort at first, and you may have difficulty standing straight for the first few days. A compression garment can ease discomfort while controlling swelling and promoting healing.
We’ll advise you to avoid strenuous activity for the first two to four weeks, including lifting anything heavy. You may need help with cooking, shopping, driving, and caring for young children.
Within several weeks, you should be standing tall and seeing the results of the procedure in your slimmer, firmer, and flatter contours. From there, your results will continue to improve as swelling gradually disappears over the next three to six months.
Exercise
Light walking around the house is encouraged to promote circulation and prevent blood clots. However, you should not attempt to exercise until your surgeon clears you. After about four to six weeks, you can incorporate gentle stretching. Only under your surgeon’s direction can you slowly resume your usual exercise routine, including stretching, cardio, and core workouts.
Return to Work
Each patient recovers differently after tummy tuck surgery, but you should plan for about two weeks off work while your body heals.
Your Recovery Team at UCI
Our team will provide a plan for follow-up appointments and detailed recovery instructions, including how to contact us with questions or concerns.
Tummy Tuck FAQs
How long will the results of my tummy tuck last?
The improvements made with a tummy tuck are long-lasting. By following a healthy lifestyle and maintaining a stable weight, you can enjoy the results of your tummy tuck surgery for years to come.
Can I combine a tummy tuck with other procedures?
Yes. We’ve already mentioned the option of combining a tummy tuck with liposuction. Many tummy tuck patients also choose to have a tummy tuck with a breast lift or other breast surgery as part of a more comprehensive mommy makeover. We can transfer fat removed with liposuction as part of a tummy tuck via fat grafting for facial rejuvenation or to another part of the body, such as the buttocks in a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL). Men may combine a tummy tuck with breast reduction. Please keep in mind that each patient’s situation is different, and your surgeon will discuss your options with you.
Are there risks to having a tummy tuck?
As with any surgical procedure, a tummy tuck carries inherent risks. Although rare, blood clots or an infection can occur. You can avoid blood clots by getting up and walking as soon as possible after the procedure. That gentle activity will also increase blood flow and stimulate the healing process. Your surgeon may prescribe antibiotics before your surgery to help prevent infections. There is also the possibility that the incision will not heal properly and excessive or abnormal scarring may develop, potentially requiring a second procedure.
How should I prepare for my tummy tuck consultation?
Understand what you are looking for and what your expectations are. Consider writing down what bothers you, why you want a tummy tuck, and what you’d like to get out of surgery. Collect photos of the outcome you’d like, or even older photos of yourself. Additionally, you may need to lose weight if you are not within 20 to 30 pounds of your ideal weight, as a tummy tuck is not a weight loss procedure.
Will I have drains after the surgery? How long will they stay?
Yes, you will have drains placed during your surgery. These drains will remain in place until the volume is low enough to remove them (about one to two weeks).
Do you always repair the muscle?
Yes, repairing the abdominal muscles is part of a tummy tuck.
Will my “abs” show?
Whether your abs will show after your tummy tuck surgery will depend on how much fat remains in the skin flap.
Will this operation help me lose weight?
A tummy tuck is not an operation to lose weight. You should be at your ideal body weight before having the surgery.
Will sutures need to be removed after surgery?
No. All sutures placed during your tummy tuck surgery will be absorbable.
When can I have sex after a tummy tuck?
Patients can typically resume sexual activity approximately four to six weeks after tummy tuck surgery. However, your exact timeline will depend on your specific surgery and recovery process.
Can I get pregnant after a tummy tuck?
Yes, you can get pregnant after tummy tuck surgery. However, pregnancy after a tummy tuck can negate any tightening of the abdominal wall done during the surgery.
How long does recovery take?
Recovery from tummy tuck surgery typically takes four to six weeks.
What are the most common tummy tuck complications?
The most common complications following a tummy tuck include bleeding, infection, skin loss, skin necrosis, and asymmetry.
Can I have full body sculpting at the same time?
Whether you can undergo full-body sculpting at the same time as your tummy tuck will depend on the extent of correction needed and the length of time of your overall surgery.
How long before I can exercise?
Light walking around the house immediately after surgery will help promote circulation and prevent blood clots. However, most patients should avoid exercise, including strenuous activities and heavy lifting, for four to six weeks. Your surgeon will provide you with more detailed information on when you may resume your usual exercise routine, including stretching, cardio, and core workouts.
When can I pick up my baby or toddler after a tummy tuck?
You should avoid picking up your baby or toddler for four to six weeks after your tummy tuck surgery. Your surgeon will advise you on when you may resume lifting your baby or toddler.
My abdomen feels tight after surgery. Will I hurt something if I move?
Lifting heavy objects during the first four to six weeks after your tummy tuck surgery may compromise your results.
Will you use my own belly button?
Yes, if possible, we will use your own belly button rather than recreating a new one.
How do you recreate the belly button?
We may do this at a second sitting for surgery, and this might compromise the blood supply of the abdominal flap.
How do I choose the best tummy tuck surgeon?
Look for a board-certified plastic surgeon with experience performing tummy tuck surgery. Review their before-and-after photos to view the results they have achieved for other patients.
Interested in Tummy Tuck Surgery in Irvine, CA?
Contact us today to schedule a consultation and find out whether a tummy tuck may be the solution to your concerns. We’ll answer your questions and explain what you can expect from the procedure. We have offices in Orange, Costa Mesa, and Tustin, CA.
The doctors at UCI Plastic Surgery are leaders in the field of cosmetic surgery. Through their teaching and lecturing roles at UCI, they stay current with state-of-the-art techniques and technology. With their advanced technical skills, they consistently produce better, more natural-looking results for their patients.
