Tummy Tuck Benefits Await You
Tummy tucks aren’t just about cosmetic appeal. They offer tangible benefits that go beyond surface-level changes. From improved physical comfort to increased self-esteem, the advantages of undergoing this procedure are multifaceted. Here are three key benefits:
Restore Your Pre-Pregnancy Stomach
Wave goodbye to stubborn belly fat! Achieve a flat, pre-pregnancy stomach and feel like yourself again.
Tighten Abdominal Muscles
Straighten up and strut! Tightening weak abdominal muscles significantly improves posture and reduces back pain.
Boost Self-Confidence
Shine inside and out! Enhance self-image, self-esteem, and self-confidence with a lean and toned abdomen.
Persisting Fat Areas
People who eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and maintain a stable weight may still struggle with a flabby belly and weak or stretched abdominal muscles. Let’s face it, an abdomen after pregnancy doesn’t necessarily bounce back to its earlier shape (a flat abdomen) or tone even after months of effort at the gym. After massive weight loss, excess skin and “problem areas” may persist. The good news? A tummy tuck can finally tighten those abs and flatten that belly.
What is a Tummy Tuck Surgery?
Abdominoplasty, otherwise referred to as a tummy tuck surgery, is a popular cosmetic procedure that removes pockets of fat and excess skin from the abdominal area. The procedure can also tighten the abdominal muscles, which are sometimes overstretched. Most abdominoplasty patients are women who have given birth or men and women who have lost a significant amount of weight but still struggle with excess skin or heavy belly fat.
With an abdominoplasty at LEA in Newport Beach, the surgeon will remove excess skin and reduce stretch marks, adjust the belly button, tighten the muscles, and eliminate some excess fat with liposuction. A tummy tuck’s main focus is removing excess skin and body contouring, not weight loss. To obtain long-term results from an abdominoplasty, patients must sustain an ideal body weight through diet plans and exercise.
Candidates for Abdominoplasty Procedure
Your provider may recommend an abdominoplasty if you have recently achieved extreme weight loss or if you are a woman who has experienced one or more pregnancies. Ideal candidates have a body mass index of less than 30 and should be at an ideal weight before abdominoplasty surgery.
Dr. Ho Taghva doesn’t recommend abdominoplasty for every patient in Newport Beach. Individuals who plan to lose a substantial amount of weight or are planning future pregnancies should wait to undergo the surgery to ensure long-lasting results.
The doctor may approve the abdominoplasty procedure for healthy men and women, she may recommend waiting, or she may instead propose less invasive procedures like liposuction, depending on the patient’s aesthetic goals.
Your Tummy Tuck Consultation
Dr. Ho Taghva offers private abdominoplasty consultations in Orange County at the LEA Plastic Surgery office. During an abdominoplasty consultation, the doctor completes a physical examination and evaluates the patient’s health history before making an ideal treatment recommendation.
She encourages patients to ask questions during this consultation, and she will also share before and after photos from previous tummy tuck patients to help set expectations for the procedure. Approved candidates will receive a personalized abdominoplasty surgical plan.
Call today to schedule your consultation
The Tummy Tuck Procedure
Dr. Goretti Ho Taghva performs abdominoplasty procedures in Newport Beach at the Medicare-accredited GALEA Center for Advanced Surgery, which holds the highest accreditation level for outpatient ambulatory surgery centers. The surgical facility is located adjacent to LEA Plastic Surgery.
The doctor conducts abdominoplasty procedures under general anesthesia. First, she makes a long incision extending from hip to hip. Once she can access the abdominal tissues, Dr. Ho Taghva removes extra skin and fat deposits from the abdominal area and tightens the connective tissue (fascia) with sutures.
She will create a second incision around the belly button, which will be skillfully relocated, and she will reposition the skin and muscles for a toned and smooth appearance. Dr. Ho Taghva may also perform liposuction during a tummy tuck to remove stubborn, excess fat.
Post-Pregnancy Surgical Technique
Dr. Ho Taghva can typically remove the appearance of stretch marks and excess skin from below the belly button. However, stretch marks outside of this area cannot be corrected with abdominoplasty. For patients who have given birth via C-section, the doctor will typically incorporate the existing C-section scar into the tummy tuck scar to reduce final scarring and provide exceptional results.
Mini Tummy Tuck
The mini tummy tuck is a modified abdominoplasty that requires a smaller incision. This surgical procedure only addresses issues with loose skin or a protruding lower belly. The patient will not need a separate incision around the belly button.
This treatment does not address significantly stretched, sagging muscles or skin. The doctor may recommend a full tummy tuck to strengthen the abdominal wall and to treat lax muscles and upper belly fat, or sagging skin higher up on the abdomen.
Abdominoplasty Recovery Process
Dr. Goretti Ho Taghva provides each patient with post-surgical recovery instructions to ensure comfort, minimize complications, and encourage healing. During abdominoplasty healing, patients should anticipate some initial swelling, bruising, and soreness, plus changes in sensations.
Most patients will return to work and other daily activities within one to two weeks, depending on the extent of their custom abdominoplasty procedure in Newport Beach. The patient will wear a fitted compression garment to encourage healing, and the doctor may place drains to prevent fluid buildup. The stitches will dissolve over time, and the doctor may use skin glue, tape, and/or dressings to hold the newly adjusted skin and muscles in place.
Patients should walk slightly hunched over and keep the waist in a somewhat flexed position for about 2 weeks after surgery because the muscles will be tight. Patients can place a pillow under the knees while in bed to keep pressure off of the incision. The abdomen will begin to relax as the healing process takes place. Patients can resume more strenuous activity at around 6 weeks.
Why Should I Choose Dr. Goretti Ho Taghva?
- Board-certified by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons
- Received additional post-residency training in Korea for Asian Aesthetic Surgery
- Experienced in a diverse range of surgeries including both Western and Asian rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty, breast lift, full facial rejuvenation, facelifts, and endoscopic brow lifts
- Understands both Western and Asian cultural background
- Highly skilled in cosmetic surgery and provides natural-looking changes that match each patient’s goals, add beauty, and bring facial harmony while preserving unique aesthetics
- Keenly attuned to the delicate complexities of the nose and facial features