Newport Beach Abdominoplasty - What to Expect and How to Recover from Abdominoplasty
I absolutely love this procedure for patients who are appropriate candidates. For patients who have had children and developed excess skin laxity (looseness) as well as muscle laxity in Newport Beach, abdominoplasty is a wonderful procedure which can produce dramatic results.
I refer to this procedure as one of those "wow" procedures in Plastic Surgery, because after we take their initial post-operative bandages off, the patients invariably say "wow, what an incredible difference!" It is truly gratifying to see women feel as though I have brought their abdomen back to where it was before they had any children. Again, patients are always concerned about the scars involved with this procedure, but if there is appropriate attention to detail placed towards camouflaging it within the bikini line (as well as a specific post-operative scar minimizing protocol), the scar fades beautifully.
Request your certificate for a free Newport Beach Tummy Tuck consultation now and Newport Beach Plastic Surgery will send your electronic email confirmation today or call our Southern California plastic surgery center directly at (949) 759-5539 to schedule your appointment with Orange County plastic surgeon Dr. Ambe.
About Tummy Tuck - Orange County
Abdominoplasty, known more commonly as a "tummy tuck," is a major surgical procedure to remove excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen and to tighten the muscles of the abdominal wall. As I tell my patients in Newport Beach, abdominoplasty can dramatically reduce the appearance of a protruding abdomen. But bear in mind, it does produce a permanent scar, which, depending on the extent of the original problem and the surgery required to correct it, can extend from hip to hip.
What to Expect During Abdominoplasty - Newport Beach
Complete abdominoplasty usually takes two to five hours, depending on the extent of work required. Partial abdominoplasty may take an hour or two.
Most commonly, the surgeon will make a long incision from hipbone to hipbone, just above the pubic area. A second incision is made to free the navel from surrounding tissue. With partial abdominoplasty, the incision is much shorter and the navel may not be moved, although it may be pulled into an unnatural shape as the skin is tightened and stitched.
Next, the surgeon separates the skin from the abdominal wall all the way up to your ribs and lifts a large skin flap to reveal the vertical muscles in your abdomen. These muscles are tightened by pulling them close together and stitching them into their new position. This provides a firmer abdominal wall and narrows the waistline.
The skin flap is then stretched down and the extra skin is removed. A new hole is cut for your navel, which is then stitched in place. Finally, the incisions will be stitched, dressings will be applied, and a temporary tube may be inserted to drain excess fluid from the surgical site.
In partial abdominoplasty, the skin is separated only between the incision line and the navel. This skin flap is stretched down, the excess is removed, and the flap is stitched back into place.
Recovering From Tummy Tuck Surgery
For the first few days, your abdomen will probably be swollen and you're likely to feel some pain and discomfort which can be controlled by medication. Depending on the extent of the surgery, you may be released within a few hours or you may have to remain hospitalized for two to three days.
Your doctor will give you instructions for showering and changing your dressings. And though you may not be able to stand straight at first, you should start walking as soon as possible.
Surface stitches will be removed in five to seven days, and deeper sutures, with ends that protrude through the skin, will come out in two to three weeks. The dressing on your incision may be replaced by a support garment.
Call today for your complimentary Cosmetic Surgery consultation with Orange County plastic surgeon Dr. Milind Ambe: 949-759-5539.
