Tummy Tuck FAQs

Serving San Francisco, San Jose, & Walnut Creek, California

Am I a good tummy tuck candidate?

Men and women who can benefit from a tummy tuck may fall into the following categories:

• People of a healthy weight with excess fat and skin the abdomen area
• People with weakened abdomen muscles
• Women who have had children that do not plan on having additional children
• People who have experienced stomach weight gain due to slowed metabolism, aging, stress and pregnancies
• People who cannot shape their abdomen areas with diet and exercise

To find out if you are a good candidate for the tummy tuck procedure, contact a skilled cosmetic surgeon.

What happens during the tummy tuck surgery?

The tummy tuck procedure begins with a horizontal incision in the lower abdominal/pubic area. For patients who have sagging skin in the stomach area, you may require a second incision in the navel area. The cosmetic surgeon will remove the excess fat and skin and tighten the stomach muscles. The appearance of stretch marks may be minimized too when skin containing stretch marks is removed.

 

How long will I need to recover after tummy tuck surgery?

After the abdominoplasty surgery, you can expect some pain and discomfort for a few days following surgery. The treatment area will be bandaged to help with the healing process, and the doctor may have you wear a special support garment. The stomach area can swell and show bruising, which should subside as healing progresses. You will be encouraged to get up and walk slowly to help with healthy circulation and prevent blood clots, and strenuous bending and lifting will be restricted. The recovery process will vary for each patient - your doctor will be able to give you an estimate of when you can return to work, exercise and other activities following your surgery.

Do I need a tummy tuck or liposuction?

The tummy tuck and liposuction procedures are both body contouring procedures that are designed to give patients a more desirable figure, specifically targeting the problem of excess fat. While the tummy liposuction procedure will only remove the top layer of fat in the abdomen, the tummy tuck procedure allows your surgeon to remove excess skin, to remove deeper layers of fat, and to tighten weakened abdominal muscles if necessary. If you are unsure about which procedure can give you the best results, our skilled cosmetic surgeon can recommend your ideal procedure following a thorough body evaluation and health history review.

To inquire further about tummy tuck surgery or to schedule a complimentary abdominoplasty consultation, please contact us or fill out our online cosmetic surgery form.

For questions about Financing options please see our cosmetic surgery finance page.

Randall B. Weil M.D., F.A.C.S

San Francisco Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

909 Hyde St., Ste. 602, San Francisco, CA 94109 | 415-781-2081