Abdominoplasty

An abdominoplasty, also known as a “tummy tuck,” is a procedure designed to remove excess fat and skin from the abdomen. This procedure can improve the appearance of the abdomen and increase your core strength by tightening loose abdominal muscles. 
Pregnancy, weight fluctuations, and aging can change your skin, resulting in droopy pockets of tissue that can diminish your self-confidence. Pregnancy and weight changes can also stretch the abdominal muscles, or cause diastasis recti. 

Azra Ashraf, MD, is a double board-certified plastic surgeon at Panache Plastic Surgery. She has over 10 years of experience. As a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Dr. Ashraf is dedicated to setting the highest standards in the industry, both on the East and West Coasts. Before she started offering her services in Southern California, Dr. Ashraf was voted a Top Doctor in Washington, D.C. for her expertise and ability to consistently deliver stunning results. 

Enhance your waist and the quality of your life with a tummy tuck. To speak to Dr. Ashraf about your abdominoplasty, please fill out our contact form or give us a call to schedule a consultation at one of our convenient Southern California locations:

Before and After Photos

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About Abdominoplasty

An abdominoplasty reshapes the abdomen by removing excess skin and fat to sculpt your figure. The tummy tuck has been one of the most popular and widely performed procedures in the country for the past three years, with over 170 thousand procedures performed in 2023. ⁽¹⁾

An abdominoplasty is an ideal treatment for patients of all backgrounds who wish to remove excess tissue to give themselves a smooth, sculpted torso. Those with loosened abdominal muscles (diastasis recti) can have their core muscles repaired during an abdominoplasty procedure. ⁽²⁾ Patients can also enjoy balanced body proportions and improved mobility after removing excess skin. Afterward, many patients notice improved self-confidence and quality of life.

Suitable Candidates

Suitable candidates for an abdominoplasty are individuals interested in reducing excess skin around the abdomen for a slimmer, more desirable appearance. Those who have recently lost a significant amount of weight or women with excess skin after pregnancy can benefit from this treatment. 

The best candidates are those who can maintain a stable weight, as weight fluctuations can impact results. ⁽³⁾ If you are planning on having children, we recommend that you wait to undergo the procedure because pregnancy can also affect your results.

Candidates interested in this procedure should be in good overall health and free from underlying medical conditions that may impair healing. If you smoke, you must be willing to stop temporarily and refrain from using nicotine until you are fully healed. 

You must also have realistic expectations about what you can achieve with the procedure. Although a tummy tuck can remove excess skin for a slimmer, smoother appearance, it cannot help you lose weight. 

To find out if you may be an ideal candidate for a tummy tuck, please call (949) 877-7910 or fill out our contact form to schedule a consultation at one of our Southern California offices.

Personal Consultation

Before treatment, patients should schedule a personal consultation with Dr. Ashraf to discuss their medical history and aesthetic goals. She can recommend the best treatment plan for your specific goals. Each consultation also includes personalized preparation and recovery instructions and an estimated cost of the established treatment plan. 

No matter what concerns you may have about your treatment, Dr. Ashraf and her expert staff can determine the best treatment plan for your underlying anatomy. 

To schedule a personal consultation at either our Ontario or Newport Beach offices, please call (949) 877-7910 or fill out our contact form, and a member of our team will respond as soon as possible.

Preparation

You must follow your preparation instructions carefully before an abdominoplasty. The preparation process will vary depending on your specific treatment plan. Dr. Ashraf will provide personalized preparation instructions during your personal consultation. 

General preparation requirements for abdominoplasty often include:

Abdominoplasty Procedure

We offer two different types of abdominoplasty at Panache Plastic Surgery: full abdominoplasty and mini abdominoplasty. A full abdominoplasty addresses the full abdomen, while a mini abdominoplasty removes excess skin from below the navel and is primarily reserved for milder cases. ⁽³⁾ Both procedures begin with the administration of anesthesia to ensure you feel as comfortable as possible.

Full Abdominoplasty

During this procedure, Dr. Ashraf will make an incision across the lower abdomen, extending from hip bone to hip bone. ⁽³⁾ She will remove excess skin, fat, and tissue. Next, she will repair your abdominal muscles to strengthen the abdominal wall and core. ⁽²⁾ She will reposition the remaining skin and tissue to create a toned, athletic look. She can also reposition the navel for a more proportional appearance before closing the incisions with sutures. 

Mini Abdominoplasty

Dr. Ashraf will also make the incision for a mini tummy tuck in the lower abdomen, but this incision is noticeably smaller compared to the incision for a full tummy tuck. ⁽³⁾ Since a mini tummy tuck is designed for mild to moderate amounts of excess skin, the modifications tend to be less extensive. Dr. Ashraf will remove excess fat or skin from the lower abdomen before closing the incision with sutures. 

Recovery

Each patient’s recovery time will vary depending on the techniques used in the procedure and the extent of treatment. Dr. Ashraf typically recommends that you take a week away from work and any other social commitments to focus on recovery. Patients must refrain from heavy lifting and swimming for approximately 6 weeks following the procedure. Dr. Ashraf may ask you to wear a compression garment to help your body heal. Dr. Ashraf will provide each patient with detailed recovery instructions.

She will also ask you to attend a follow-up appointment anywhere between 4-6 weeks after the procedure. These appointments are imperative because they help her monitor your progress, as well as allow you to ask any questions you may have. 

Results

After an abdominoplasty, you can enjoy a flatter, smoother torso, and a tighter figure. You can enjoy the full results after the swelling subsides and your skin heals, which can take several weeks. This procedure offers lasting results. However, weight fluctuations, pregnancy, or other lifestyle factors can affect your figure. Over time, your incision will continue to fade, and you can easily conceal it beneath your clothing. Patients often report high levels of satisfaction as their mobility and overall quality of life are restored and improved. 

Cost of an Abdominoplasty in Southern California

At Panache Plastic Surgery, we are currently partnered with multiple reputable financing companies to help each of our patients finance the cost of their treatment. Our partners can help offer different financial plans to help patients break down the cost of their treatment into affordable monthly payments. Dr. Ashraf will discuss the full cost of the treatment during your personal consultation. 

To schedule your personal consultation and discover the full cost of your treatment plan, please call (949) 877-7910 or fill out our contact form. 

FAQ

References

1. American Society of Plastic Surgeons ® Endorsed Partner.; 2023. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/documents/news/statistics/2023/plastic-surgery-statistics-report-2023.pdf 
2. Ramirez AE, Hsieh TY, Cardenas JP, Lao WW. Abdominoplasty: My Preferred Techniques. Annals of Plastic Surgery. 2021;86(3S):S229. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/SAP.0000000000002639 
3. Regan JP, Casaubon JT. Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck). PubMed. Published 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK431058/