California plastic surgeon, Dr. Daniel H. Lin, performs a variety of body contouring procedures to help his patients achieve their desired body shape. From his state-of-the-art facility, Shine Cosmetic Surgery located in Los Angeles, California, his combination of compassionate patient care and surgical skill help him create rewarding results for his patients. A tummy tuck, also known as an abdominoplasty, creates a firmer abdominal profile by removing excess fat and skin. Designed to improve the appearance of the abdomen in both men and women, a tummy tuck can also re-establish weakened or separated muscles.
There are a variety of different procedures that can be used to maximize the appearance and contour of a patient’s abdomen and Dr. Lin offers numerous tummy tuck procedures to help you select the one that will give you the best outcome. During your extensive preoperative consultation, Dr. Lin will educate you so that you can better understand your goals while creating a customized treatment plan that may include a mini tummy tuck or a modified abdominoplasty depending on your body type. His goal is to provide you a personalized tummy tuck procedure that will give your midsection a more natural and appealing appearance.
At Shine Cosmetic Surgery, most of our patients who undergo a tummy tuck procedure are recovering from either the effects of weight loss or pregnancy. Many people who have achieved significant weight loss are left with large amounts of heavy, loose folds of skin around their abdomen. This excess skin can sag and lead to painful rashes along the hips, groin, and pubic area and a tummy tuck can offer relief. After pregnancy, the misshapenness that occurs is caused by two factors: The first is the separation (diastasis) of the rectus muscle from the pressure of pregnancy and secondly, a combination of both the laxity of the muscle and the excessive amount of skin that has not retracted after delivery becomes a factor. Some mothers are also left with an umbilical hernia after their pregnancy, which may be repaired at the same time the tummy tuck is performed.
The degree of loose skin, excess fat, or the laxity of your stomach muscle will determine whether a traditional, complete abdominoplasty, a partial mini abdominoplasty, or circumferential abdominoplasty is right for you.
- Complete Abdominoplasty: A complete abdominoplasty requires an incision above your pubic hairline, an incision around your belly button (umbilicus), and a tightening of the rectus abdominis muscles or the pair of muscles that run vertically on each side of your stomach’s front wall. Muscle tightening and skin removal are the most important steps in improving your stomach’s contour and liposuction may also be performed at the same time of your complete abdominoplasty.
- Partial or Mini Abdominoplasty: A mini abdominoplasty is performed on patients with little skin excess, mild weakness of the abdominal wall, and ones who need moderate tummy contour changes. During this procedure, the navel incision is avoided and again, liposuction may be performed at the time of your mini abdominoplasty surgery.
- Circumferential Abdominoplasty: Excess skin or laxity involves not only your abdominal area but also your back region. When there is significant excess fat in your back area as well as your stomach, the benefit of the circumferential abdominoplasty is that both skin and fat can be removed in the hip and back region as well as the abdomen, which improves your overall body contour.
Performed at Shine Cosmetic Surgery, your tummy tuck surgery will remove excess fat and skin from your middle and lower abdomen. This surgery can also tighten the muscles of your abdominal wall and dramatically reduce your bulging abdomen. Typically, a tummy tuck surgery takes 2-3 hours depending on the extent of the procedure while a mini tummy tuck takes 1-2 hours. Dr. Lin will make two incisions during your surgery: One long incision above your pubic region extending from hipbone to hipbone and another will be made to free your navel and surrounding tissue. Dr. Lin will separate your skin from the abdominal wall to reveal your abdominal muscles and this will allow him to tighten and pull your abdominal muscles together. Finally, your will be stretched down and any excess skin tissue will be removed.
After your surgery, it is normal to experience some swelling and discomfort for the first few days. Any pain you experience can be treated with medication and after 5-7 days, your surface stitches will be removed. The deeper surgical sutures will be removed after 2-3 weeks and wearing support garments can replace any dressings on your surgical incisions. It may take several weeks before you start feeling normal again and patients in good physical condition with strong abdominal muscles experience a quicker recovery. Exercise is helpful in improving post-surgical healing, though you should avoid strenuous activity or vigorous exercise until Dr. Lin instructs you that you are ready for it. Abdominoplasty does produce a permanent scar and during the first 3-6 months of your healing period, they may appear to worsen but they will eventually flatten out and fade.
At Shine Cosmetic Surgery, tummy tuck surgery produces excellent results for thousands of satisfied patients and complications are rare. Any potential risks will be discussed during your meeting with Dr. Lin and he encourages you to voice any and all concerns and questions you may have. When no amount of diet or exercise helps you achieve the stomach you desire, Shine Cosmetic Surgery offers you the expertise of a plastic surgeon who has perfected tummy tuck procedures to help ensure that you achieve a flat, toned abdomen you can be proud of. Whether you choose to have a partial or complete tummy tuck, at Shine Cosmetic Surgery the overall result will be a flatter, firmer abdomen that is more proportionate for your body type and weight. Most patients lose 5-10 pounds after their surgery and they chose a healthy lifestyle because of their new level of confidence and self-esteem. For more information about this life-changing procedure or any of the other beneficial cosmetic treatments we provide, please call Shine Cosmetic Surgery today.