Expertise in Body Contouring
Tummy Tuck
Life can, unfortunately, take a toll on your body. Milestones like pregnancy, significant weight loss, and the natural aging process can be the cause of unwanted stretch marks, separated abdominal muscles, abdominal wall laxity, loose skin, and other issues that can affect you both mentally and physically. Although diet and exercise are the best way to get back into shape, they’re not always enough to completely fix these issues. Fortunately, a plastic surgery procedure called a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) can restore a more youthful, tighter, and better-contoured midsection.
Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Keyian Z. Paydar of Paydar Plastic Surgery has been providing patients with a renewed sense of self-confidence through the art of plastic surgery for many years at his Newport Beach-based plastic surgery practice. Patients from all over frequently seek out Dr. Paydar because of his skill, expertise, patient-centered approach, and artistry.
What Is a Tummy Tuck?
Your abdomen is often the most challenging area of the body to target when it comes to shaping and toning. It gets even more difficult when factors like childbirth and age come into play. The abdomen is notorious for holding excess fat that is stubborn and resistant to even the strictest diet and exercise plans. Then, when the diet and exercise regimen does work, there is often excess, sagging skin left over that is nearly impossible to get rid of without surgery.
As one of the best tummy tuck surgeons in Newport Beach, Dr. Paydar is entirely sympathetic towards these issues, which is why he designs each tummy tuck he performs to target and improve the appearance of your abdomen, sculpting and defining your midsection. Tummy tuck surgery removes excess skin and fat while also tightening the abdominal muscles, improving the function and appearance of your midsection.
Newport Beach Tummy Tuck Before and After Photos
What Are the Benefits of Tummy Tuck Surgery?
Have you ever chosen not to wear an item of clothing you love because of how your stomach might look if you did? Or perhaps you only shop for clothes that don’t fit you correctly because you’re trying to hide your belly. A tummy tuck can improve your confidence by allowing you to wear your favorite dress, jeans, or shirt with pride.
Excess skin and fat in your midsection or laxity of the abdomen may keep you from having the slender silhouette you want. With a tummy tuck, your waistline can be contoured and shaped to have a slimmer, more refined waistline. Tummy tuck surgery focuses entirely on the midsection, leaving you with a flatter abdomen and a more noticeable hourglass figure.
The majority of tummy tuck patients have weakened abdominal muscles, especially women who have given birth. After stretching to carry excess weight or a baby, your abdominal muscles are left thin, weak, and often separated, which can cause chronic back and stomach pain. Dr. Paydar repairs the abdominal muscles by suturing them together, strengthening the abdominal wall for a tighter core with less back pain.
How Is Tummy Tuck Surgery Performed?
Dr. Paydar conducts all of his tummy tuck procedures in his AAAASF accredited state of the art facility, Newport Aesthetic Surgery Center, under general anesthesia using a board certified anesthesiologist. He begins by making an incision from one hip bone to the other across the lower abdomen. Through this incision, Dr. Paydar will lift the skin and fat removing any excess or sagging skin that may be there. Underneath the skin and fat are the muscle layers of the abdomen, which he will suture together and tighten. The skin is then draped back over the abdomen, and any excess skin or fat is trimmed away. The pubic and anterior thigh skin indirectly improve in their appearances by the abdominal skin excess removal. The belly button stalk will remain in its current position and be delivered out through a new spot on the pulled down skin.
Excellence & Artistry
Dr. Keyian Paydar is an award-winning clinical professor and board-certified plastic surgeon with over 20 years of experience. He performs a full spectrum of aesthetic plastic surgery procedures, including breast enhancement, tummy tucks, and liposuction, in addition to face procedures like facelifts, brow lifts, fat injection, and eyelid surgery.
Am I a Good Candidate for a Tummy Tuck?
Good candidates for tummy tuck surgery are men and women in overall good health who are non-smokers, at a stable weight, and have realistic expectations about what the surgery can achieve. They may also have:
- Excess skin and fat on their stomach that doesn’t respond to diet and exercise
- Back pain or other issues due to weakened abdominal core muscles
- Loose, sagging skin due to significant weight loss or pregnancy
Tummy tuck candidates should be done having children and be within about 15–20 pounds of their goal weight to ensure that the results of the surgery are long-lasting. The best way to determine if you are a good candidate for a tummy tuck is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Paydar.
What Can I Expect From My Tummy Tuck Consultation in Newport Beach?
Before coming in for your tummy tuck consultation with Dr. Paydar, it’s helpful to research the procedure online or talk to friends who have had a tummy tuck. Dr. Paydar believes that his skill as a great listener is essential so he can better understand and deliver the results you’re looking for. Both before and after surgery, he will spend plenty of time with you, making sure that you never feel rushed or pressured. He will see you multiple times to get to know you and establish a comfortable rapport and partnership so that you are on the same page regarding expectations and results.
A consultation is your time to ask questions and voice your concerns. Write down any questions you may have about the operation and bring the list with you. You’ll find that, first and foremost, Dr. Paydar is focused on the safety of his patients and achieving the best possible outcomes. He believes the first chance is the best chance to get optimal results. Before agreeing to any surgery, he first decides if you’re a good candidate for the surgery by diving into your reason for pursuing a tummy tuck so he can address any potential issues.
How Is Tummy Tuck Surgery Performed?
Dr. Paydar conducts all his tummy tuck procedures in his QuadA-accredited state-of-the-art facility, Newport Aesthetic Surgery Center. The procedure is performed using general anesthesia administered by a board-certified anesthesiologist to ensure your safety. A tummy tuck procedure takes anywhere between three to four hours. However, if liposuction is needed for enhanced contouring or you choose to combine additional procedures with your tummy tuck, the surgery will take longer.
Dr. Paydar begins your abdominoplasty by making an incision from one hip bone to the other across the lower abdomen. He will then lift the tissue, removing any excess or sagging skin that may be there. Underneath the skin and fat are the muscle layers of the abdomen, which he will suture together and tighten. Once the muscle repair is complete, the skin is pulled down and draped back over the abdomen, and any excess skin or fat is trimmed away.
Your belly button will be disconnected at the skin level so that the desired corrections can be made. After the skin is pulled down and the excess skin is removed, the belly button will be pulled through a small round incision over much smoother and toned skin.
Dr. Paydar completes the surgery by injecting a long-acting anesthetic medication EXPAREL® along the muscle border to help with pain control during the first five days, followed by closing the incisions with sutures and securing two surgical drains. Drains are placed to help eliminate excess fluid accumulation after surgery, speeding up recovery and reducing your risk of developing seromas as you heal. If you desire a drainless tummy tuck surgery, that is also an option but will require additional time in the operating room to place extra sutures to eliminate dead space.
What Can I Expect From Tummy Tuck Recovery?
In the first few days after your tummy tuck, you can expect swelling, bruising, tightness, and discomfort around your abdomen, which can be managed with prescription or over-the-counter pain medication. Dr. Paydar may advise you to walk slightly hunched over to avoid straining your incision, and you’ll wear a compression garment or an abdominal binder to support your healing stomach and help minimize swelling. He will remove your surgical drains at a follow-up appointment one to two weeks after your surgery.
Dr. Paydar encourages his patients to take short, slow walks as often as possible from the beginning to avoid post-surgical complications, like blood clots. Most patients can return to work and light activities two to three weeks after their tummy tuck, and Dr. Paydar allows a gradual increase in activity and exercise levels weekly. Strenuous activities must be avoided for at least six to eight weeks. Restrictions on activities that engage your core or heavy lifting can last six to eight weeks as well to allow your newly repaired muscles to heal fully. The goal is to return to all activities with no restrictions by eight weeks post-op.
Numbness or changes in sensation in your abdomen are common and can last several months (or longer). Your sutures will dissolve, and once the incision is completely healed, you can treat it with silicone scar gels or strips to help diminish the scar’s visibility. As the swelling continues to subside, your new contours will gradually be revealed, with your final results visible after the swelling dissipates completely, around three months after surgery.
Dr. Paydar—Excellence & Artistry
Dr. Keyian Paydar is an award-winning clinical professor and board-certified plastic surgeon with over 20 years of experience. He performs a full spectrum of aesthetic plastic surgery procedures, including breast enhancement, tummy tucks, Mommy Makeovers, and liposuction, in addition to face procedures like facelifts, brow lifts, fat injections, and eyelid surgery.
Can A Tummy Tuck Be Combined With Other Procedures?
Pregnancy, significant weight loss, and age can all cause changes to a woman’s overall physique, especially her breasts. Following childbirth and weight loss, women experience a significant loss in the volume and shape of their breasts, which can be corrected with breast augmentation or breast lift surgery. Mommy Makeover surgery with Dr. Paydar is an ideal solution for mothers who want to rejuvenate and transform their bodies. Mommy Makeovers often combine a tummy tuck, breast augmentation, breast lift, liposuction, and more into one treatment plan to help women renew their confidence, sexuality, and sense of self.
Why Choose Paydar Plastic Surgery for Tummy Tuck Surgery?
Dr. Paydar is proudly ranked among the nation’s best in multiple adult specialties. As a Clinical Professor in Plastic Surgery and certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, he strives to “make the human body better” by finding the best possible solutions to every patient’s individual concerns and aesthetic goals.
Dr. Paydar acquired his education from multiple prestigious establishments. At the University of California, San Francisco, Dr. Paydar completed a six-year general surgery residency and an additional two years of training in plastic and reconstructive surgery. He utilizes every bit of this experience, artistry, and natural skill to bring forward the best possible outcomes.
Schedule Your Newport Beach Tummy Tuck Consultation With Dr. Paydar
Interested in learning more about what a tummy tuck surgery in Newport Beach can do for your quality of life and appearance? Don’t hesitate to schedule your personalized consultation at Paydar Plastic Surgery to discuss tummy tuck surgery in more detail and learn if the procedure is right for you. Call our office today at (949) 755-0575 or complete the online contact form to schedule an appointment. We look forward to meeting you soon!
Newport Beach Tummy Tuck FAqs
Will a tummy tuck help me lose weight?
Weight loss after a tummy tuck depends on the size of the pannus, or extra skin and fat, hanging or folded in the lower abdominal region, and is usually just a few pounds. Keep in mind that a tummy tuck is not a weight loss procedure—instead, it is a way to contour and shape your body.
Can I get full-body sculpting at the same time as a tummy tuck?
Dr. Paydar often uses liposuction to help define the lateral border of the trunk while performing a tummy tuck, as it accentuates your curves and creates an hourglass figure. Other sculpting operations can also be done, but safety is his primary concern, and there are limitations to what procedures can be performed in the amount of time it is safe for patients to be under anesthesia.
Can I become pregnant after an abdominoplasty? What happens if I do?
Yes, a tummy tuck does not prevent you from becoming pregnant. However, the weight gain and stretching of your abdomen from pregnancy will affect the aesthetic results of your tummy tuck and may require a revision abdominoplasty. Dr. Paydar recommends that you have finished having children before undergoing a tummy tuck.
When can I lift my baby or toddler after a tummy tuck?
As long as the weight you’re lifting is less than 20 pounds (using both arms) or 10 pounds (for single arms), it is allowed a week or two after surgery. For safety, you will also need to be able to stand up straight and have good balance. If your toddler is heavier than 20 pounds, waiting until the eight-week mark is safest.
Do you always repair the abdominal muscles during abdominoplasty?
Yes. The abdominal muscles and the tissue (fascia) covering the muscles are usually stretched after pregnancy or weight loss. Some patients have muscle separation, called diastasis recti, and some have hernias that also need tightening. These conditions lead to a poor physiologic function. It’s essential to repair or plicate the muscles together to improve your core strength and prevent issues like back pain and stress incontinence. After having a tummy tuck operation, you will notice that your core is stronger and the support to your back is much improved.
Is a tummy tuck painful?
The surgery itself is not painful because of anesthesia. However, during your initial recovery, you will experience a good amount of discomfort from sutures in the abdominal muscles. This is why Dr. Paydar likes to use a long-acting pain medication (EXPAREL®) injected directly into the abdominal muscles to lessen your discomfort. Patients are able to walk and stand up without much difficulty immediately after surgery.
My abdomen feels tight after surgery. Will I hurt something if I move?
It’s always best to err on the side of caution, but not to the point where you stop moving around or stay in bed with the fear of ruining your results. The human body is forgiving, so listening to your body and allowing pain to guide your activities is a good rule to follow.
What are the most common complications after a tummy tuck?
Fluid collection, or seroma, is a common complication that may require drainage with a needle in the office. This is why Dr. Paydar places drains over the surgical area for a week or two. Other complications may include infection, poor wound healing, or changes in sensation. If you have any concerning symptoms during your tummy tuck recovery, contact our office immediately.
