As an Orange County plastic surgeon, I have many patients who request tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) to improve the loose skin and stretch marks around the abdomen area.
The question always arises with elective, cosmetic surgery: should you, the patient, spend thousands of dollars for a medically unnecessary procedure which makes you feel and look bad for a few weeks, so that you can look and feel good in the future?
The answer is yes, if and only if you have realistic expectations, are a good candidate for the procedure and are doing the surgery for yourself and no one else.
The ideal candidate for tummy tuck surgery is someone who is healthy or has medical issues which are under control. The patient can be within 10-15 pounds of their ideal weight and still obtain a good result, if the fat above the umbilicus (belly button) is thin and the skin is loose. If the fat is thick and the skin “stuck”, there is no way the skin and fat can be moved down to cover the area where the loose skin was removed. Even if it can be moved down, the thick fat will bulge out and the result will not be ideal.
Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) can be combined with breast augmentation and lift in patients who have had children. This procedure is now commonly known as Mommy Makeover.
Michael A. Jazayeri, M.D. is a board certified plastic surgeon in Santa Ana with over 10 years of experience. His office is located in central Orange County. If you like to schedule a complimentary consultation, please call (714) 834-0101.