Tummy Tuck is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen and to tighten the muscles of the abdominal wall. It is also known as abdominoplasty. The best candidates for Tummy Tucks would be women or men in relatively good shape who have large fat deposits or loose abdominal skin that did not respond to diet, exercise or both. Women who have had multiple pregnancies and stretched their abdominal muscles and skin will specially benefit from such a procedure. Older patients who are obese and have lost the elasticity of their skin can also benefit from this procedure.Tummy tucks can be used alone or in combination with liposuction to achieve the results you seek.
Ask your surgeon what he recommends for you. Partial and complete tummy tucks are performed on an outpatient basis and can be done under general anaesthesia. Complete abdominoplasty usually takes two to five hours while partial abdominoplasty may take an hour or two. Because any surgical procedure carries certain risks and possible complications, you should discuss the procedure in detail with your plastic surgeon.After surgery, most people return to their jobs in two weeks while some others take three or four weeks before going back. The results of tummy tuck are usually long lasting if you keep your weight under control and exercise.
- Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) removes excess skin and stretch marks after pregnancy or weight loss
- Tummy tuck scars are usually located across the abdomen, below the bikini line
- The typical tummy tuck recovery period is 1-3 weeks
- Over 100,000 tummy tucks were performed last year, an 84% increase from 2000.
Some Tummy Tuck Statistics
- Total tummy tuck procedures done in 2009 — 115,191
- Total tummy tuck procedures done in 2008 — 121,653
- Total tummy tuck procedures done in 2000 — 62,713
- % difference, 2009 vs. 2008 —-5%
- % difference, 2009 vs. 2000 —84%
- % of all cosmetic procedures done in 2009 — 7.6%
- 2009 spending on tummy tuck surgery — $568,616,604
The Cost of a Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
Cost is always a consideration in elective surgery. Prices for Tummy Tuck procedures can vary widely. A surgeon’s cost for Tummy Tuck may vary based on his or her experience as well as geographic location. Many plastic surgeons offer patient financing plans, so be sure to ask.
Cost may include:
- Surgeon’s fee
- Hospital or surgical facility costs
- Anesthesia fees
- Prescriptions for medication
- Post-surgery garments, and Medical tests
The cost of Tummy Tuck varies from patient to patient and it depends on many factors. Tummy Tuck may be performed by different techniques, by Tummy Tuck surgeons of different experience and skill levels. Once you have had a Tummy Tuck consultation you can get an estimate of the cost of Tummy Tuck for you. Like most types of plastic surgery, Tummy Tuck surgery involves surgery related and facility fees. Usually additionally to the cost of your Tummy Tuck you will need to find out the cost of anesthesia or anesthesiologist fee; the cost of the facility or operating room and any other cost associated with your Tummy Tuck surgery such as: medication, blood work, or any other procedure related cost.
Typically; the cost of the anesthesia ranges from $500 to $1,000, depending on the procedure performed. the cost of the facility or operating room may also vary depending on the center chosen and it usually ranges from $800 to $1,200. Ask your Dr. Tavoussi about all the costs involved in your Tummy Tuck surgery. Again; Tummy Tuck costs can vary greatly from surgeon to surgeon. Tummy Tuck prices are also dependent on the surgeon you choose, your location, and other factors. On average, however, the cost of Tummy Tuck nationwide ranges from $6,000 to $12,000.
Prospective Tummy Tuck patients may decide not to go through with surgery because they believe they can’t afford the cost of the Tummy Tuck procedure. However, a Tummy Tuck can be affordable, and there are several cosmetic surgery financing options available to cover the cost of the procedure. It is always best to speak directly with your plastic surgeon’s office staff to find out the cost of Tummy Tuck. Call me Now!.
Also; usually if a patient is going to have more than one procedure performed at once, the surgeon is highly likely to reduce some of the fees and give the patient a discount. It is also recommended in some cases that a patient combines several procedures at the same time if they are a good candidate. This will allow the patient to pay only once for any anesthesia or operating room costs and it also allows the patient to recover at the same time from all the procedures performed.
The price of nose reshaping ranges from $6,000 to $12,000, with the average cost being around $8,500. This cost usually involves three fees:
- Surgical fee => $5,500 – $ 8,000
- Anesthesia fee => $1000 – $ 2,200
- Facility fee => $800
“Your satisfaction involves more than a fee”
How does the scar look like?
Although there are various ways to do a Tummy Tuck, the most common is a low scar in the pubic area stretching from hip to hip. You and your surgeon need to realize the scar will migrate up slightly from where the markings are made prior to surgery, so always make it just a little lower than you think it should be. Dr.Tavoussi prefers to have a patient wear a favorite bathing suit style while staff mark her so we make sure and keep the lines inside the material of the swim suit. A good surgeon has several techniques to minimize the scar, but ultimately your genetic disposition to making scar tissue will determine how thick or thin or red or white the scar is. Do keep in mind though, that with time all scars will lighten and become less visible. And, in most cases, the scar from a tummy tuck will be under the bikini-line. If you bring your favorite swimsuit in to your consult.
How long is the recovery period?
Immediately after a Tummy Tuck you will feel tight, swollen, and not be able to stand fully upright. Your tummy will hurt but the pain can be controlled with pain pills. In Dr. Tavoussi’s practice we offer a pain pump to my patients that slowly infuses local anesthesia in the area of the surgery (under the skin) to help reduce the pain. He has found that the pain pumps really take the edge off and make my patients’ experience a lot better.
The usual progression is that you will walk hunched over a bit and have some pain in the first week. He uses two drains to remove excess fluid and one is usually removed after the first week. The second drain is usually removed during or at the end of the second week. By the end of the second week, you should be walking nearly upright but still feel tight. It takes about four weeks to get back to usual activities without feeling restricted. As for work, if you have a desk job you could be able to return after one week. Generally, it is best if you can manage to take two weeks off for your recovery. At that point you will be able to return to work feeling more comfortable.
There is discomfort from a tummy tuck but it is not too bad if you are a calm and positive person. With pain killers and muscle relaxants, it is manageable. In Dr. Tavoussi’s practice, he tells patients they will feel 85% normal after one month and totally normal between 2-3 months after surgery. He sees all patients the next day and the next visit is to remove their single drain, usually at 7-10 days post-op. All sutures are dissolvable. Next visit is at 8 weeks at which time all exercises are permitted.
Where will my surgery be performed?
Your Tummy Tuck procedure will be performed in OC Cosmetic Surgery Clinique. The environment at OC Cosmetic Surgery Clinique caters to the comfort and security of our clients, from the accommodating reception area to our modern surgical office. Utilizing only the very best technology in the field of cosmetic surgery, all equipments and tools our staff and doctors use are state-of-the-art.
Our Double-Board plastic surgeon, Dr. Tavoussi practices in Los Angeles, Orange County, CA. He is well known for his technical abilities and experience as well as his patient communication skills. His is not only a professional surgeon in Rhinoplasty (nose job) but also in other plastic and cosmetic surgeries such as Face Lift, Breast Lift, Breast Augmentation, Breast Implants, Liposuction, Tummy Tuck , Laser Hair Removal.
Our offices are in Los Angeles,”phone and address”
Following cities are within 60 miles radius of our our office:
- Los Angeles
- Newport Beach
- Irvine
- Laguna Hills
- Mission Viejo
- Fountain Valley
- Aliso Viejo
- Santa Ana
- Anaheim
- Orange
All surgeries and cosmetic surgery procedures are performed in Pacifica Outpatient Surgery Center, a state-of-art, fully accredited outpatient surgery center in a safe and secure environment.
We have board-certified anesthesiology staff who have had years of experience in outpatient anesthesia as well as local hospital privileges. Our nursing personnel are ACLS certified and have many years of experience working in operating and recovery rooms at the local hospitals.
Safety of our patients are our primary concern and will not compromise this for any reason. We have maintained a Center of Excellence. All preoperative work ups are done according to the requirements of American Society of Anesthesiology and the prevailing standards of the community.
During the initial consultation, Dr. Tavoussi will evaluate the structure of your body and face and discuss the possibilities for enhancement with you. Need to schedule a free consultation with Dr. Tavoussi? It’s easy to set up, let us know your name and phone number and we will call you. Click here “Call Me Now” to fill out the form and you are done!