Tummy tuck is a surgical procedure that is used to remove excess skin and fat from the abdominal area. It is one of the more commonly performed procedure by Dr. Grigoryants. In addition to sagging abdominal skin, in some people in Glendale the abdomen may be protruding due to stretched abdominal wall muscles. In these patients, in addition to removing excess skin and fat, the abdominal wall (muscles and fascia) is tightened which results in a flatter appearing abdomen with a better defined waist.
Who would benefit from tummy tuck?
– Patients with stretched abdominal skin and excess fat. Many of these patients state that they tried exercising and dieting with no improvement in the appearance of the abdomen.
– Patients who after losing weight have a significant amount of loose skin that does not shrink.
– Women after pregnancy with excess fat in the abdominal area and stretched / protruding abdomen which does not improve with exercises.
– Patients with stretch marks in the lower abdomen with loose skin.
How is tummy tuck done?
We place the incision in the lower abdomen so that it is hidden within you underwear. The length of the incision depends on the amount of skin and fat that needs to be removed. In some patients, mini-abdominoplasty (mini-tummy tuck) can be done using a shorter incision. During your consultation, we evaluate the amount of skin and fat access to be removed. We will the draw the location and likely length of the incision on you or on your pictures (as you prefer).
Some patients with fat excess but good skin quality and not a lot of skin excess can benefit from liposuction alone.
During surgery, the abdominal skin is elevated and pulled down. Skin excess is then removed. The abdominal muscles and fascia are tightened if they are weak and stretched.
What is recovery like after abdominoplasty (tummy tuck)?
Most patients go home after abdominoplasty. However, some patients may stay in the hospital overnight. You will have small drainage tubes placed under the skin to prevent fluid collections under the skin.These tubes will be removed once their output decreases (usually within 7-10 days). You will be able to walk the same day. We will ask you to wear an abdominal binder for support for several weeks. We use mostly absorbable sutures that do not need to be removed. You will notice results immediately. Over the next couple of months the swelling will resolve. You may start lifting heavier objects after 6-8 weeks.
