Orange County Tummy Tuck Newport Beach Abdominoplasty Specialist

Candidates for the tummy tuck include men and women who are looking to improve the appearance of excess skin and/or fat around the waistline that have not responded to diet and exercise. The procedure can be particularly beneficial for women who have developed excess skin and a loss of abdominal wall integrity due to pregnancy and childbirth. It’s often advised that surgery be postponed for individuals who are planning to have more children or those who are planning to lose a significant amount of weight. An initial consultation with Dr. Kapoor in Orange County will help to determine if the tummy tuck is right for you.

Dr. Kapoor may perform the tummy tuck surgery onsite at the Wellness Surgery Center, a state-of-the-art AAAHC-certified facility. While surgical times will vary, the typical tummy tuck procedure takes about two hours to complete and is commonly performed with general anesthesia.The incision for the tummy tuck is located just above the pubic area running from hipbone to hipbone. Working through the incision, Dr. Kapoor will lift the skin and remove any excess. He will then tighten the muscles of the abdominal wall using numerous sutures that will later dissolve. In some cases, a second incision may be made to free the belly button and suture it into a new position. The incisions are then closed with stitches.

Once the surgery is complete, a small drainage tube may be inserted at the surgical site. This will remain in place for about two weeks. Pain medication, muscle relaxants and antibiotics will be prescribed and will need to be taken during the first two weeks after surgery. Swelling and bruising are common  and will fade within several weeks to months. A support garment should be worn for about one month after surgery. All external sutures will be removed within about one week. Patients can expect the complete recovery to take approximately four to six weeks.

Most patients are able to return to work within about two weeks after the tummy tuck provided that their work is not overly active. Vigorous exercise and strenuous activities will need to be postponed for four weeks or longer.

Frequently Asked Tummy Tuck Questions

Q. Who can benefit from abdominoplasty?
Both men and women who have excess skin and/or fat around their waistline can benefit. With men, this condition, regardless of its actual cause, is often called a "beer belly" and can be a turn-off as well as a health risk. Women, who have had children and as a result developed excess skin and loss of abdominal wall integrity, will benefit. The procedure is also used to reduce or eliminate unsightly stretch marks due to pregnancy, to correct umbilical hernias, and to strengthen the abdominal wall (to correct a condition caused by accident or illness). This helps them to look more attractive, especially when wearing slacks or swimwear that can't hide the bulges. Patients typically request a tummy tuck when diet and exercise programs fail, as is often the case.

Q. What causes excess fat or skin?
Over-eating in general, eating too many fat-producing foods, excessive liquor consumption, and lack of exercise are the obvious causes of weight (fat) gain, but are not the only ones. Many women who gain excess weight during pregnancy are unable to get rid of unsightly bulges afterwards; if they don't plan to have more children, they may look for this type of surgical correction. Also, persons who have successfully lost a lot of weight via exercise and/or diet, or by gastric-bypass surgery, may end up with excess skin, and the only way to remove it is with an abdominoplasty.

Q. What, exactly, is abdominoplasty?
As its name indicates, it's plastic surgery on the abdomen. Commonly (and appropriately) known as a tummy tuck, this procedure not only removes excess skin and/or fat from the abdomen, it also tightens the muscles of the abdominal wall, to better support its contents. In addition, we use state-of-the-art techniques of abdominal wall contouring, hidden incisions, and adjunctive liposuction (see the Q&A on liposuction) for the best possible results.