Abdominoplasty & tummy tuck in Walnut Creek San Francisco area, and liposuction for Body Contouring

Abdominoplasty, known more commonly as a "tummy tuck," is a surgical
procedure to remove excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen
and to tighten the muscles of the abdominal wall. The procedure can
dramatically reduce the appearance of a protruding abdomen. At times, a
healthy diet and regular abdominal workouts can do little to eliminate
accumulations of excess fat and loose, sagging skin in the abdominal area. If
you find that you have been bothered by these problems, then
abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) might be right for you. This section of our
website will provide you with a basic understanding of this procedure.

                  Common Questions:

1. Is abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) right for me?
Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) is best suited for women and men who are in
relatively good shape, but have loose abdominal skin and/or a significant
amount of abdominal fat that won't respond to dieting or exercise.   You may
be a good candidate for abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) if you have one or
more of the following conditions:

♦ excess or loose, sagging abdominal skin
♦ protruding abdomen which is out of proportion with the rest of your body
♦ abdominal muscles that have been weakened by pregnancy or aging
♦ excess fat that is concentrated beneath the abdominal skin
♦ you have lost a significant amount of weight, resulting in excess sagging
abdominal skin, as your skin did not shrink with weight loss
♦ you have noticeable stretch marks along with loosening of skin following
pregnancy or massive weight loss.

If you plan to become pregnant or to lose a significant amount of weight, you
should discuss these plans with Dr. Behmand. Scars from previous abdominal
surgeries may limit the results of an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck).
However, in some cases, an existing scar can be used for the new incision, as
is often the case for women with Cesarean section scars.

2. How is abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) performed?
Generally, a horizontal incision is placed just within or above the pubic area.
The length of the incision which extends outward toward the hip bones,
depends largely on the amount of skin to be removed. In other words, the
more loose skin that needs to be removed, the longer the incision will be.

For both women and men, the incision is kept within the swimsuit lines,
whenever possible. Through this incision your underlying abdominal muscles
are tightened by pulling them together at the mid-line and suturing them into
their native position. Also excessive looseness of the underlying abdominal
wall, known as the fascia layer, is corrected by suturing it together to take out
the looseness. By strengthening the abdominal wall the undesirable lower
abdominal "pouch" is alleviated and the waistline is improved. Any excess skin
from the lower abdomen is trimmed away.

Skin that contains stretch marks may be removed as well; however, it may not
be possible to remove all stretch marks in higher positions on the abdomen.
In patients with larger amounts of loose skin, a second incision may be made
around the navel. This way, the excess skin above the navel is separated from
the deeper tissues, so it can be pulled down and removed. Although the navel's
position remains unchanged, its appearance may be slightly altered.

3. What should I expect from my tummy tuck consultation?
A personal consultation is an important step for any person considering
abdominoplasty (tummy tuck). During your meeting, Dr. Behmand will
assess your overall health and discuss your specific cosmetic goals for the
surgery. You should arrive at the consultation prepared to provide complete
information about your past and current medical conditions, previous
surgeries, and medications you are taking, including herbal remedies or
nutritional supplements. During the examination of your abdomen, the
evaluation will focus on:

♦ the quality of your abdominal skin.
♦ the location of any existing scars.
♦ the amount and location of any excess fat.
♦ the status of the underlying muscles and inner abdominal wall

Following the examination, Dr. Behmand may suggest any variations,
alternative or additional procedures which may be appropriate for you to
better meet your appearance goals. For example, some patients may benefit
from liposuction for body contouring alone or in combination with the
abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), or even a more limited type of
abdominoplasty (tummy tuck).

4. What are the other options?
Traditional abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) is not the best choice for
everyone. During your consultation, Dr. Behmand will advise you if either of
these other options will work well with your anatomy and meet your surgical
goals.

♦ The "mini" abdominoplasty:
This procedure may benefit you if you are primarily dissatisfied with the
appearance of the abdominal area below the navel and only have moderate skin
laxity. A mini abdominoplasty requires only a short horizontal incision and
no navel incision. It is important to realize, however, that the mini
abdominoplasty will not correct loose skin above the navel.

♦ Liposuction alone:
If you have good skin elasticity and muscle tone, liposuction alone may be
used to contour your body and remove abdominal fat. This alternative may
appeal to patients who are planning to become pregnant in the future.

5. What is the safety record of abdominoplasty (tummy tuck)?
Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) is a common cosmetic procedure and each
year, thousands of men and women undergo the procedure and experience no
major complications. However, abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) is an
extensive procedure and it is essential for you to be informed of the risks as
well as the benefits. One of the most important aspects of your consultation
is the discussion that you and Dr. Behmand will have about the possible
complications.

Any surgical procedure carries a certain risk of infection, bleeding, poor scar
formation and risks related to anesthesia. Dr. Behmand will discuss these and
other less common risks with you in detail during your consultation.   Be sure
to raise any questions or concerns that you may have about the safety of the
procedure at this time. Remember, by carefully following instructions, both
before and after surgery, you can do your part to minimize some of the risks.

6. What can I do to prepare for my tummy tuck surgery?
When the date for your surgery has been set, Dr. Behmand and his staff will
provide you with specific instructions for the days immediately before and
after your surgery. A number of points will be covered, including:

♦avoiding medication that may complicate surgery or recovery
♦stopping smoking for a period of time before and after surgery
♦arranging for help or special care following surgery
♦limitations on your activity following surgery

7. How will I be cared for on the day of my tummy tuck surgery?
Your abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) surgery may be performed in the
hospital or the outpatient surgery center. Generally, most patients are
observed at the surgery center overnight and are able to go home the next
morning. If you are admitted to the hospital, your stay will be a short one.

Medications are administered to keep you comfortable during the procedure
and a general anesthetic is administered so that you will sleep throughout the
entire procedure. When surgery is complete, you will be taken to a recovery
area. In most cases, small drainage tubes will have been placed beneath the
abdominal skin to help prevent fluids from accumulating. Gauze dressings
will be placed on your incisions and covered with an abdominal binder.

On the day of surgery, someone should drop you off at the surgical facility and
also pick you up when you have been cleared to go home. You will be
encouraged to get out of bed for short periods of time to improve circulation
in your legs. Most of the discomfort you feel will be controlled by
medications prescribed for you.

8. How will I look right after my tummy tuck surgery?
Although you may not be able to stand perfectly straight at first, you will be
encouraged to get out of bed soon after surgery to promote blood circulation.
In this early phase of healing, bending and lifting should be avoided. The best
position for you to sleep will be on your back with your knees up. Despite the
fact that everyone heals at a different rate, you can expect that your recovery
will follow this general time line:

Within the first week to ten days:
♦surgical drainage tubes will be removed.
♦any non-dissolving stitches will be removed.
♦bruising and swelling will reach its peak..

After 3-4 weeks:
♦you will no longer need to wear the support garment.
♦you may gradually increase your activity and exercise after the fourth week..
♦you may return to non-strenuous work (typically within the first 2-3 weeks).
♦bruising and swelling will continue to subside and you will begin to see your
results.

After a few months:
♦you will see a truer picture of the final result of your surgery.
♦feelings of numbness or tightness will disappear.
♦your incision line may begin to fade from its reddish color (full fading may
take a year or more).
♦in the months following surgery, it is important to treat your healing skin
with extra care. That means avoiding sun exposure and keeping your skin well
moisturized.

Follow-up visits with Dr. Behmand:
♦ Immediately after surgery, you will be seen frequently in our clinic.
♦ After the initial few weeks, you will be seen at one, three, and six months
after surgery. It is important to keep these appointments so that Dr. Behmand
can access your long-term results and address any questions or concerns you
may have.

9. What should I know about my tummy tuck results?
Quite soon after surgery, you will see a noticeable difference in your body.
Many people find that their firmer, flatter abdomen boosts their confidence
and makes them feel more comfortable in clothing. As the months pass, your
incision line will continue to fade; however, it's important to realize that your
scar will be permanently visible. Many patients view the permanent scar as a
small trade off for their firmer, sleeker appearance.

Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) produces long lasting results. Unless you
gain or lose a significant amount of weight, you can expect to retain your new
shape for many years. Over time, gravity and aging may cause your skin to
loosen somewhat. If this occurs, you will have the option for additional
treatment for restoring a more youthful abdominal contour.

10. View Abdominoplasty Photos

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