Do I have to lose weight before undergoing a Tummy Tuck?

It is wise to have reached an ideal body weight before undergoing a Tummy Tuck. However, we do not live in an "ideal" world. Therefore, you can have your remaining excess abdominal and body fat removed either before, or during, a Tummy Tuck, with Liposuction – provided that you plan to maintain your weight and stay healthy.

Can a smoker undergo Tummy Tuck or Body Lift surgery?

NO. Patients who are currently smoking, use tobacco products, or nicotine products (patch, gum, or nasal spray) are at a greater risk for significant surgical complications. These complications include skin death, delayed healing, and additional scarring. Individuals exposed to second-hand smoking are also at potential risk for similar complications attributable to nicotine exposure. In addition, smoking can have a negative effect on anesthesia and post-anesthesia recovery, with increased coughing and possibly bleeding. Therefore, you need to refrain from smoking at least several weeks before and after your surgery.

Can I Undergo a Tummy Tuck If I Have Diabetes, or Other Chronic Conditions?

"I had my first daughter at age 15, and two more children after that. I would go shopping with my teenage daughters, and be miserable because I couldn’t buy any clothes for myself. But I wanted to be sure that my family was completed before I had this surgery. My son was three months old when I had a Tummy Tuck, and Liposuction of my hip and abdominal areas at the same time." Alicia, age 35

Men and women who have chronic health conditions, such as thyroid disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and arthritis can still undergo Abdominoplasty – provided that their conditions have been successfully optimized by their physician. Even as a commonly performed cosmetic procedure, a Tummy Tuck is still major surgery, and must be treated as such in all cases. A responsible plastic surgeon will perform blood tests, and take a comprehensive medical history to assure that all risks of surgery are minimized.

Can I Become Pregnant Again Following a Tummy Tuck?

In most cases, women considering a Tummy Tuck should not be planning additional pregnancies. Although it is possible to have more children following a Tummy Tuck, another pregnancy could impact your Tummy Tuck outcome, and lead to the need to have your abdomen “re-tightened.” Therefore, a responsible cosmetic surgeon will advise you that it is preferable to be satisfied with the size of your family before undergoing a Tummy Tuck.

Does a Tummy Tuck Get Rid of Stretch Marks?

There are no creams, or laser treatments that can erase stretch marks. However, because an Abdominoplasty removes most of the stretched out skin below the level of the navel, it does get rid of most of your stretch marks — at least those on the abdomen.

How Does a Tummy Tuck Differ From Liposuction?

One of the most common dilemmas for patients who are concerned with their abdomen is whether they would be better served with a Tummy Tuck or Liposuction.

While a Tummy Tuck or abdominoplasty is designed to remove loose abdominal skin and to tighten the belly, Liposuction is designed only to remove excess fat. A Tummy Tuck or Abdominoplasty will not reduce the dress size in a woman of size 14 who has much fat around her abdomen. Likewise, a woman who has lost all her excess weight after pregnancy and is left with loose, hanging abdominal skin will not be able to tighten her abdomen or remove the stretch marks with Liposuction.

There are some people who are "in-between" these two groups – who have both excess fat and a hanging "spare tire." These people will first need to undergo Liposuction to rid themselves of the fat. They will then need a Tummy Tuck to remove the excess skin and to tighten their abdominal muscles.

Can A Tummy Tuck and Liposuction Be Performed Simultaneously?

Yes and No. It is not safe to perform Liposuction in the areas of the abdomen where the skin is being stretched during an Abdominoplasty. This can cause unnecessary damage to the blood circulation of these areas, resulting in scarring or even skin loss. As long as Liposuction is performed away from the main abdominal skin areas, it is then safe. Therefore, some people choose to have their hips and thighs liposuctioned in conjunction with an Abdominoplasty. Breast lifts and augmentation are also frequently combined with the Tummy Tuck or Abdominoplasty. The surgeon may also simultaneously perform facial rejuvenation procedures, such as eyelid surgery, or procedures to remove fine wrinkles from the face. Because the total length of combined surgeries can affect the overall surgical risks, you should thoroughly discuss the safety of combined procedures with your cosmetic surgeon.

What is the Difference Between Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) and Panniculectomy?

Panniculectomy is similar to Abdominoplasty in that it removes excessive abdominal skin. More specifically, Panniculectomy is designed for those with an extremely large hanging panus or "spare tire". On the other hand, Tummy Tuck is for those who having excess loose skin, but not a spare tire.

Unlike a Tummy Tuck, Panniculectomy does not tighten the abdominal wall, narrow the waistline, or tighten the upper thighs. Panniculectomy only removes the "spare tire".

What is the Difference Between Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) and Body Lift?

Tummy Tuck only corrects the looseness and redundancy of the abdomen. Body Lift combines a Tummy Tuck with the lifting and tightening of the redundant back skin folds, the sagging buttocks and the outer thighs.
Therefore, a Body Lift is a more extensive procedure, with the goal of lifting and tightening the entire lower body. Most people with loose abdominal skin or even with some sagging of the buttocks can be treated with an extended Tummy Tuck or a High Tension Tummy Tuck. For those who, as a result of massive weight loss, develop an abundance of lower body skin excess with sagging of the buttocks and outer thighs are better served with a Body Lift.

Is the Incision for a Body Lift Larger than for Abdominoplasty?

The incision of a body lift extends farther than the incision for Abdominoplasty – past the hips to the back, like a belt. Because of this some people call a Body Lift a "Belt Lipectomy." A Belt Lipectomy, however, does not lift the buttock and only removes excess skin folds.

What is a Thigh Lift?

After weight loss, men and women can get sagging and rippling of their thighs that can extend from the upper thighs to the knees. Often, women complain that they are unable to wear swimsuits and that the loose skin rubs together between their thighs. Also the wrinkled loose skin around the knees keeps many women from being able to wear skirts.

While the sagging of the outer thighs and the buttocks can usually be addressed with a Body Lift procedure that of the inner thighs cannot. A Thigh Lift is a procedure which lifts and tightens the loose skin of thighs — mostly that of the inner thighs.

What is a Traditional Thigh Lift?

Two different types of thigh lifts can be performed depending on the extent of skin laxity. If the skin laxity and rippling is mostly limited to the upper inner thighs, and skin excess does not extend to the entire circumference of the thigh, a Traditional Thigh Lift can be performed. In this procedure the surgical scar is located in the groin crease extending to the buttock crease. This scar is very well hidden.

What is an Extended Thigh Lift?

"I wish I could wear nice skirts again. I hate my sagging thighs and the folds around my knees." Amanda, Age 45

Often, people who were once extremely obese are now left with extensive laxity of the entire thigh all the way to the knees. In these cases, an Extended Thigh Lift is performed. In addition to the scar of the groin crease, there is also a long vertical scar that extends along the inner thigh height. This vertical scar enables the surgeon to remove the lax excessive skin of the entire thigh.

Can Thigh Lifts be Combined with Liposuction?

Yes. Both Traditional Thigh Lift and Extended Thigh Lift can often be combined with limited Liposuction in order to better contour the legs and to reduce the size of the "saddle bags".

During your consultation Dr. Younai reviews your treatment options for body contouring and tummy tuck, including pros and cons, potential risks and complications, recovery course, pre and post operative instructions, and esthetic outcomes. There are also many before-and-after pictures, high resolution images of abdominoplasty available in our photo gallery.

If you are considering a tummy tuck in Beverly Hills or Los Angeles contact us today. Dr. Younai is a board certified plastic surgeon who receives patients at the California Center for Plastic Surgery from the Northern as well as the Southern California region. Some of these cities are Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Hollywood, Burbank, Sherman Oaks, Encino, Calabasas, Woodland Hills, Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Pasadena, Glendale, Valencia, Palmdale, Fresno, and Oxnard.