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Tummy Tuck

Beverly Hills Tummy Tuck

A tummy tuck is a surgical procedure used to remove excess skin and fat from the abdominal area and tighten the muscles of the abdomen while reshaping the contour of your waistline. This rejuvenating treatment removes visible signs of aging and helps improve self-image and confidence by restoring a more youthful, slimmer appearance to the abdomen. Dr. Smiley specializes in reconstructing the abdominal tissues to create a dramatically tighter but natural-looking shape and contour. In the tummy tuck surgery, he also creates a new belly button.

Dr. Tarick Smiley is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills, California. He is also an active member of the Plastic Surgery Foundation for which he has received 1st place awards for his publications and presentations.

A tummy tuck is an operation usually performed to remove excess fat and skin, and can also involve tightening of the abdominal muscles. In addition to your tummy, a tummy tuck can also help to improve the appearance of scars from previous pregnancies, or provide a more youthful shape.

TYPES OF TUMMY TUCKS

Dr. Smiley specializes in a full range of advanced tummy tuck techniques to provide patients with the best tummy tuck results with the least amount of scarring and downtime. Depending on the amount of excess skin and the extent of muscle repair needed, Dr. Smiley will discuss your options and determine the best tummy tuck procedure for you.

The most common type of tummy tuck performed by Dr. Smiley is the high lateral tension tummy tuck. Unlike a standard tummy tuck, which tightens the abdomen along the center, a high lateral tension tummy tuck also focuses on the sides, pulling in the abdomen like a corset for a tighter better contoured appearance. Many patients find that this technique provides the best tummy tuck results.

Other Types Of Tummy Tucks Include:

Mini Tummy Tuck – If the area giving you the most trouble is below the belly button, you could qualify for a “mini tummy tuck,” or “mini abdominoplasty,” which tightens the skin between the pubic area and your navel. This is generally considered a less complex procedure and will take less time. It will also leave less scarring since the incisions will be much smaller.
Standard Tummy Tuck – A standard tummy tuck removes excess skin, tightens the center of the abdomen through internal sutures and positions the belly button for a flatter contour. All tummy tuck procedures stem from the basic principles of the standard tummy tuck, which will be discussed below.
Fleur De Lys Tummy Tuck – The best tummy tuck procedure to address concerns with excess skin on the upper portion of the is the fleur de lys technique. This technique requires an additional incision through the center of the abdomen and is typically only performed for patients who have lost a significant amount of weight, such as after gastric bypass or lap band surgery.
Panniculectomy – After your abdominoplasty, you can also get a Panniculectomy, which removes skin and fat below the belly button and around to your lower back area. This technique is also primarily performed on men and women who have experienced massive weight loss.

PLASTIC SURGERY TUMMY TUCK

Tummy tuck surgery is performed in 2 to 5 hours as an outpatient procedure at one of our fully accredited facilities under general anesthesia. Dr. Smiley is an expert in body contouring, combining liposuction.

To perform a tummy tuck, an incision is made from hip to hip along the bikini line. The length of tummy tuck scars are determined by the extent of skin that needs to be removed. For example mini tummy tuck scars are much shorter than standard tummy tuck scars and standard tummy tuck scars are shorter than fleur de lys or high lateral tension tummy tuck scars.

Once the incision is made the abdominal muscles are tightened using permanent internal sutures. Dr. Smiley specializes in the most advanced techniques for internal suturing to provide the best tummy tuck contours with more definition after surgery. As well as for closing the incision after the skin is then pulled down, excess skin removed to allow for minimal scarring and a natural looking result.

In most cases, the belly button will need to be repositioned and re-created. The best tummy tuck results are often determined by the appearance of the belly button. This is why Dr. Smiley also focuses much of his attention to the intricate aspect of the procedure. Please take a moment to view our before and after pictures to view our tummy tuck results.

BEFORE TUMMY TUCK SURGERY

Your tummy tuck journey will begin with an initial consultation and evaluation with Dr. Smiley. During this consultation, he will evaluate your skin tone and abdominal fat deposits, in addition to your overall level of health. When you are talking to Dr. Smiley, it’s important to be honest about all of the medications you are currently taking, as well as whether or not you regularly use alcohol or tobacco.

Once a full assessment of your specific case has been completed, Dr. Smiley will be able to recommend the best course of action for you. Depending on your goals and the shape of your body, he may recommend liposuction, tummy tuck with liposuction, mini tummy tuck, standard tummy tuck, or advanced techniques. Although Dr. Smiley’s recommendation may be different than your initial expectations, you can count on him to provide you with the best tummy tuck recommendation to achieve optimal results.

In addition to discussing the surgery itself, Dr. Smiley will also talk to you about where the procedure will take place, how long it will take to complete, the type of anesthesia that will be used, tummy tuck cost and any other questions that you have on your mind. You will also be given guidelines about how you should handle drinking, eating, medications and smoking prior to your procedure. If you carefully follow these instructions, you will be able to significantly minimize the risk of complications arising during or after your procedure.

AFTER TUMMY TUCK SURGERY

After tummy tuck surgery, you need to have a caregiver for the first 24 hours to drive you home, monitor your recovery and assist you with moving around. During initial recovery, patients may experience swelling and bruising. Any discomfort can be improved with prescribed medication.

After 5-7 days stitches will be removed and Dr. Smiley will discuss how to change your dressings, shower and returning to activities. It is important to start walking after surgery to prevent blood clots. You will be required to wear a compression garment to help reduce swelling and encourage proper healing. Tummy tuck scars will fade over time and can be improved through the use of scar cream.

Dr. Smiley’s Tummy Tuck

Dr. Smiley is regarded as the best in the field for his types of excellent procedures related to tummy tucks. His results speak for themselves and so does his track record. He is a board-certified plastic surgeon and a highly respected member of the medical community, who specializes in tummy tuck procedures. Dr. Smiley has performed thousands of these operations, with excellent results that speak for themselves.

FAQ

Can you get pregnant after a tummy tuck?

The short answer is yes. However, before you decide to go forward with a tummy tuck procedure and subsequent pregnancy, you should consult with your surgeon about having your abdominal muscles repaired. This will help make sure that your abdominal muscles don’t have to work so hard after giving birth as well as help prevent any stomach sagging down the road.

Do you have to be at a certain BMI before you’ll do a tummy tuck?

The answer to your question is no. A tummy tuck can be performed on patients with any height, weight or body mass index (BMI). The primary purpose of a tummy tuck procedure is to remove excess fat and skin from the abdomen area, flatten the muscles underneath and restore any lost muscle tone.

Do I Need to Loose Weight Before Surgery ?

You can work on losing weight after the surgery, but depends on how far you have to go. You should be working on this before the surgery so you are ready for it after your tummy tuck. Dr. Smiley recommends being close to your goal weight before having surgery. And continuing a healthy diet and exercise is recommended after surgery.

Keloids, what will my scar look like?

You have a chance of keloids, but there are options to reduce the likelihood of your forming them. A combination of the right tools, techniques and surgical skill are used to tailor the skin closure to your body type and particular anatomy.

If I have diabetes can I get a tummy tuck?

A diabetes is a very common thing and will not stop you from getting a tummy tuck. However, it may require more frequent checkups with your doctor and possibly extra care with your general health before and after the surgery.