Our Newport Beach tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, is a plastic surgery procedure that offers a solution for women and men with excess skin and loose muscles in the abdominal area.
Through surgical removal of excess skin and retightening of the tissue encasing the abdominal muscles, this procedure can help you achieve a firmer, flatter, tauter abdomen.
Dr. Savalia performs two types of abdominoplasty procedures—a mini tummy tuck and a full tummy tuck. The right procedure for you will depend on the level of correction needed to achieve your goal.
For either procedure, Dr. Savalia uses plenty of numbing injections during surgery, to minimize your post-op discomfort. Also, he routinely uses a Pain Pump device that will deliver a continuous flow of pain medicine directly to the stomach, so you are very comfortable after surgery, with minimal need for narcotic pain medications.
A mini tummy tuck, sometimes called a partial abdominoplasty, is a less invasive surgery that leaves your belly button intact and uses a smaller incision. Typically performed on an outpatient basis, the mini tummy tuck can only help with lax skin and muscles from the navel down and is ideal for patients who need less surgical correction.
A full (or traditional) tummy tuck is a more complete surgery that is designed to improve the appearance of the entire upper and lower abdomen, as well as the belly button. Dr. Savalia uses this technique to repair the abdominal muscles and remove a greater amount of skin and tissue compared to a mini tummy tuck. A full tummy tuck also delivers more comprehensive results.
Here are some of the common reasons we hear about why a person is considering a tummy tuck in Newport Beach:
I perform both the full and ‘mini’ abdominoplasty techniques. We can discuss your best option during your consultation. My goal is to help you achieve a firmer, flatter abdomen.
Abdominoplasty removes the loose skin and tissue that remains behind following pregnancy or rapid weight loss. The procedure also can repair lax or separated abdominal muscles. We find there is often some confusion between a tummy tuck and liposuction. Liposuction only removes excess fat, while a tummy tuck is focused on the removal of excess skin and, if necessary, surgical repair of the tissue encasing the abdominal muscles.
Abdominoplasty is about far more than just flattening out your belly. Dr. Savalia is looking to create a more toned appearance, not a pulled, abnormally taut stomach. His conservative approach to abdominal sculpting allows him to create a flattering look for a wide range of patients.
Following your Orange County tummy tuck at Newport Beach Center for Plastic Surgery, you can expect your abdomen to look swollen and feel sore at first; you may notice these symptoms, particularly when standing fully upright.
You will receive detailed post-operative care instructions from our office to ensure your recovery is as comfortable as possible. Although internal stitches will dissolve on their own, Dr. Savalia will have you return to the office to remove any external sutures within the first week.
To decide which approach to abdominal contouring will work best for you, it is a good idea to understand the primary differences between the two types of tummy tucks:
At your initial consultation, Dr. Savalia will discuss your goals and preferences with you in addition to conducting a physical exam to determine if there’s one option that may work better for you.
Having a few questions before your tummy tuck is only natural. After all, choosing any cosmetic procedure can feel like a big commitment. That’s why Dr. Savalia makes sure to give you all the information you need to make the decision that’s best for you and to help ensure that he is meeting your cosmetic goals.
Below, he has answered some of the tummy tuck questions he hears most often from men and women who are considering body contouring surgery.
Like a tummy tuck, liposuction can also be used to slim down the waistline, which is one reason why so many patients are confused about the differences between the two procedures. Although both lipo and a tummy tuck are body contouring surgeries, liposuction can only remove fat and cannot help with loose skin or repair separated muscles. A tummy tuck does include the removal of extra skin along with fatty tissue, on top of tightening both skin and muscle. A tummy tuck is a much more involved surgery compared to liposuction, although either procedure can deliver positive results in the right candidate.
In many cases, stretch marks that are visible on the front of the tummy and below the belly button may be removed during a tummy tuck. However, the question of whether this will occur depends primarily on the location of your stretch marks before surgery. Stretch marks present on skin that is excised during your abdominoplasty are removed, while those that are visible on the sides of your abdomen or above your belly button will likely remain, although they may be shifted in position somewhat. The improvement of stretch marks can vary greatly among different individuals. Dr. Savalia can discuss the issue in more detail with you during your consultation.
Your initial consultation at Newport Beach Center for Plastic Surgery in Orange County will mostly consist of you and Dr. Savalia getting to know each other so he can better understand your goals for an abdominoplasty and what you hope to see in your results. He will also examine your abdomen to determine the amount of skin laxity present and whether your abdominal muscles have separated. Finally, you will talk about the benefits and risks associated with a tummy tuck, and he will give you more information about what to expect during your surgery and recovery.
You should notice a difference immediately after surgery, although you’ll also see some initial swelling. You will most likely feel some discomfort at first, particularly along your incision, although this can be improved with some oral medication. Dr. Savalia may ask you to wear a special compression garment to help your body conform to its new contours, to control swelling, and to help keep you more comfortable. He takes care to place your incision low enough that it is covered by normal clothing, underwear, and swimsuits. You should have a good idea of your new shape after several weeks, and final results should be visible by six months after surgery.
A tummy tuck, technically referred to as an abdominoplasty, is ideal for those men and women who notice loose skin and extra tissue around their belly that does not go away with diet or exercise. Tummy tucks can also repair separated abdominal muscles (diastasis recti) that can occur following pregnancy or as a result of weight gain. The best candidates for a tummy tuck should be at or near a healthy target weight, as a tummy tuck is not a weight-loss procedure. It is also important to be in good health, mentally and physically, and to have realistic expectations about your results.
Please contact us today to schedule a consultation for arguably the best tummy tuck Newport Beach has to offer. Newport Beach Center for Plastic Surgery is committed to helping you reach your cosmetic goals. Dr. Savalia will personally take time during your consultation to give you the best recommendations and to educate you about the tummy tuck options.
During this uncertain time with unclear information, we have decided to do what is safest for you, our patient.
We will not be seeing any patients in-office for elective, non-urgent services until we have more clarity.
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