Los Angeles Tummy Tuck

Dr. Nathan Newman is a cosmetic surgeon certified by the American Board of Dermatology. Here the doctor has answered some common questions Bizymoms visitors have about Tummy Tuck.


Q. What is a tummy tuck?

A. A surgical procedure to cut away excess and loose skin from the abdomen and to tighten the abdominal wall muscles. Some patients may not need a complete tummy tuck and may achieve their desired results with smaller procedures such as a mini-tuck.

Tummy tuck (abdominalplasty)

When the abdominal muscles are bulging and when there is much loose skin then an abdominoplasty is done to remove the excess skin and to tighten the abdominal muscles. The upper part of the abdomen and the sides should be liposuctioned before or during the abdominoplasty to remove the excess fat from these areas and contour the body.  Stretch marks that are on the lower part of the abdomen can be removed with this procedure.

Mini-Abdominolplasty

When loose skin is present mostly on the lower part of the abdomen, then a shorter incision is made on the lower abdomen and the excess skin is removed. The scar is more cosmetically acceptable and the recovery time is shorter.

Periumbilical Tuck

In some cases the loosened skin can be removed by cutting around the umbilicus only.  This procedure does not require cutting on the lower abdomen and the scar around the umbilicus tends to heal well and becomes hidden in the umbilicus.

Omega Tuck

When excess loose skin is mostly above the umbilicus, this procedure allows for tightening of the skin with minimal scarring and with minimal surgery.

Q. How is a tummy tuck performed?

A. A full tummy tuck surgery requires general anesthesia, but usually you may go home the same day.

Q. How long does tummy tuck surgery take?

A. 2 to 5 hours.

Q. Are there risks and complications to a tummy tuck?

A. The risks include bleeding, bruising, fluid collection, scarring, infection, skin necrosis, and rarely, death.

Q. What should you expect after the operation?

A. A tummy tuck is a big surgery and should be taken seriously. You will need to avoid lifting or strenuous activity for 6 weeks. I like to treat the scars with lasers to improve the scar. Drains will be in place for a few days to allow for healing from the inside.

Q. How much does a tummy tuck cost?

A. On average a full tummy tuck costs about $9,500.00 including anesthesia and facility fees. Smaller procedures may be done without general anesthesia and cost as low as $2,500.00.  In some cases, insurance may cover some of the cost of abdominoplasty when the problem is considered functional or medically necessary.

Q. How long do the results of a tummy tuck last?

A. The results are permanent. Significant weight changes (more than 10 pounds) and pregnancy will affect the look and the results of the surgery.

Q. How can we contact Dr. Newman if we have further questions?

A. By phone: 310-273-3344, or you can visit our website: www.nathannewmanmd.com