Tummy Tucks - Frequently Asked Questions

Orange County, California

How is a tummy tuck done?

There are both full and mini tummy tucks. In a full tummy tuck:

  • An incision is made across the lower abdomen, where the scar will be hidden by a swimsuit
  • Liposuction may be used to remove excess fatty tissue
  • Another incision separates the belly button
  • The skin is lifted to reveal the muscles
  • The muscles are pulled closer together and stitched, to tighten them
  • The skin is stretched downwards and any excess removed
  • The navel is stitched into a new location, higher up, since the skin has been pulled downwards and shortened
  • The incision is stitched closed and dressings put in place
  • A drain may be inserted to remove excess fluid over the next day or two

For a mini tummy tuck, the navel isn’t moved and the incision is shorter along the lower abdomen. Also, the skin is not separated all the way to the ribs, but only to the belly button. So only the lower abdomen is worked on.

What sort of anesthesia is used for a tummy tuck?

Sometimes a general anesthesia is used. That means you’d be asleep and would have no memory of the tummy tuck procedure.

Will there be a drain inserted?

There may be a drain, to allow excess fluid to seep out, over a period of a day or two. Drains have another use too: to keep the skin in better contact with the tissue underneath, helping it to heal in the right position.

Your cosmetic surgeon will give you instructions for dealing with the drain.

Will I have a scar?

Yes. Any time the skin is incised, there’ll be a scar. We’re all individuals when it comes to scar formation. For some of us it happens easily, leaving a small, thin scar. Others end up with a thicker, perhaps redder scar. This is partly a matter of genetics but is also affected by how well you care for the incision.

Generally it takes about 6 weeks for a scar to start softening and a year for the healing to be fully finished. In a tummy tuck, the incision is placed very low on the abdomen, so the scar will be hidden by panties and swimsuits.

Don’t be alarmed if the scar seems to get worse over the first weeks. It will gradually lighten and smooth out.

How long does it take to recover from a tummy tuck?

This varies, depending on:

  • Our age
  • Whether we had a full tummy tuck or a mini
  • How well we take care of ourselves during the recovery period
  • How strong our physical condition was before the tummy tuck procedure

Return to work could be after only 2 weeks, or it could be a month or more.
Your plastic surgeon will advise you on how soon to start exercise, but whenever you start it, regard it as a valuable healing help. Start with gentle movement and increase it according to your doctor’s guidelines. Exercise helps with circulation and tones the muscles, and this all speeds up the healing. It also guards against blood clots, which would be a dangerous complication.

Can I have a tummy tuck and liposuction together?

These two procedures often go together, but your cosmetic surgeon will advise you on whether they can be combined in your case. A certain amount of liposuction is often used during a tummy tuck.

  • Any major liposuction would probably be postponed until you had fully healed up from the tummy tuck.
  • The advantage of having them done at the same time is that then it’s only one surgery, which can cost less and be less stress on your body than two separate ones.

A tummy tuck may be a good option for you. Contact Dr. Hendricks today for your confidential consultation. He’ll answer your questions and together you can determine what is the best course of action for you.

Pacifica Cosmetic Surgery Center
Douglas Hendricks, MD, FACS
280 Newport Center Drive, Suite 120
Newport Beach, CA 92660

Email Us or call us at 949.640.9570 to schedule a personal consultation with Dr. Hendricks.

Newport Beach plastic surgeon Douglas L. Hendricks, MD, FACS. Centrally located to provide cosmetic surgery for patients in Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Irvine and all of Orange County.

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