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Tummy Tuck

Tummy Tuck IN LA JOLLA AND NEWPORT BEACH | TIM SAYED MD

The tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, is one of Dr. Sayed’s favorite operations to perform.

Time and time again, San Diego based Tim Sayed, MD, MBA, FACS has seen how this treatment can offer significant improvement and dramatically transform the body. This procedure is quite popular because of its exceptional ability to contour the midsection into a flatter, trimmer, and more aesthetic looking form.

Women who have gone through pregnancy are particularly good candidates for this procedure. A tummy tuck is an incredibly powerful way for women to restore the body to its pre-pregnancy form by removing excess skin, reshaping the waist, and correcting stretched abdominal muscles.

One of the most common issues that women experience after pregnancy is “diastasis recti” – a condition wherein the abdominal muscles have separated and are unable to return to their pre-pregnancy position. This condition creates a protruding lower belly that diet and exercise cannot remedy.  Your abdominoplasty can correct this by tightening the internal fascia overlying the rectus abdominis muscles (think of it as the tendon-like sheath around the abs). Tightening the rectus abdominis muscles is a common component of many abdominoplasty surgeries and helps bring in the waistline and reduces bulginess. Treatment can also effectively address draped, stretch-marked skin on the lower abdomen. The skin overhanging the pubic area can be removed and the whole lower abdomen tightened.

Learn more about the best tummy tuck in Newport Beach and La Jolla, CA by reading on or scheduling a consultation with Dr. Sayed today. Dr. Sayed has offices in both La Jolla and Newport Beach, and he proudly serves patients coming from all over Orange County, San Diego County, and Southern California. 

Tummy Tuck 101

To achieve its tummy-toning effects, a tummy tuck surgery requires an incision above the pubic bone and a small one around the belly button. Abdominoplasty incisions are strategically placed in the lower abdomen so that the final scar can be concealed by underwear; in fact, the placement of the scar can be moved depending on the patient’s preferred style of underwear. Certain factors, such as the patient’s anatomy, could lead to a somewhat longer scar or a scar that’s positioned slightly higher than usual. In general, Dr. Sayed will place your scar as low as possible for optimal concealment.

During the tummy tuck procedure, Dr. Sayed uses the incision on the lower abdomen to access the inner tissues; he then tightens the abdominal wall and removes the excess tissues that cause a bulging stomach. The length of the incision will be determined by how much loose skin there is on the abdomen and what the underlying soft tissue on the abdomen looks like. When it’s combined with a procedure like liposuction, abdominoplasty becomes a particularly powerful contouring procedure.

The final scar may take many months to blend in and may still be somewhat visible, especially in patients with olive-toned skin. Darker-skinned patients have a slightly higher risk of developing thicker scars; however, Dr. Sayed will employ certain techniques to try to minimize this. Many patients benefit from special scar-minimization products and some have had laser treatments to further improve their scars. Of course, Dr. Sayed always strives to make his incisions as fine and low as possible, employing superb suturing technique and sewing the incision in a way that minimizes the risk of forming “dog-ear” bulges at either end.

How Do I Know If I Am a Candidate for a Tummy Tuck in Newport Beach?

The ideal candidate for usually has the following characteristics:

  • Extra skin and fat in the lower abdomen
  • Bulging of the central abdomen or love handles
  • Enough extra skin to be able to put the scar in a low enough position to be reasonably concealable
  • No hernias on physical exam – although we can repair them in some cases
  • General good health, meaning you do not have major uncorrected cardiovascular, respiratory, kidney or other major organ conditions, and would be able to be medically cleared for general anesthesia by an internal medicine physician if you are over a certain age
  • Not pregnant or immediately planning to become pregnant – in very selected cases, we will consider performing a tummy tuck to follow delivery of a pregnancy
  • Nonsmoker or willing to commit to NO NICOTINE IN ANY FORM for at least 3 weeks preop and for the duration of your recovery
  • A body mass index below 35 and ideally below 30 for optimal results, with rare exceptions

How Can I Prepare for My San Diego Tummy Tuck Surgery?

There are many ways you can prepare for the procedure:

  • Have a reasonable expectation of what cosmetic surgery can accomplish – understand that this is not a surgery for weight loss
  • Look at before-and-after photos and understand what kinds of techniques you are interested in
  • Don’t smoke or take nicotine in any form for at least 3 weeks and ideally longer before (and after) surgery
  • Stay well rested and well hydrated and eat a nutritious diet balanced with plenty of protein
  • If your diet is lacking in vitamins, take vitamin C and zinc supplementation but ask Dr. Sayed about other supplements. We have a list of ingredients we ask you to avoid in the immediate preop phase to optimize healing and minimize bleeding risk.
  • Designate a caretaker who can help you through the first 7-14 days after your abdominoplasty
  • Identify whether you think you might have a hernia bulge in your belly button or abdomen
  • Lose weight to get to a target which we can set together based on your body mass index (BMI) – ideally, we’d like to help you get it below 30, but there is a reasonable range depending on other factors

Meet Tim Sayed, MD, MBA, FACS

Double board-certified plastic surgeon | Breast Explant Expert

Dr. Tim Sayed and his staff believe that the commitment to undergoing cosmetic treatment is a momentous decision that needs to be approached with kindness and compassion, and this starts by offering a comprehensive, detailed consultation process with an emphasis on educating the patient about plastic surgery procedures and options. Dr. Sayed uses sophisticated drawing tools, the patient’s images, and anatomic education tools that he helped develop himself to inform the patient of every aspect of the procedure. Dr Sayed’s signature procedures include breast implant removal, breast lift and tummy tuck.

What Is the Tummy Tuck Recovery Like?

Our tummy tucks are performed on an outpatient basis in a local, San Diego or Newport Beach AAAASF-certified operating room, meaning the facility operates on the highest levels of safety (hospital-level or higher). Patients usually spend up to a couple of hours in the postoperative suite before being discharged into the care of a companion, family member, or friend. Some patients may be advised to spend the night in a 24-hour observation facility here in San Diego, or even the hospital, although most patients are good candidates for ambulatory surgery. Dr. Sayed gives a phone number to all patients that’s available 24/7 so that they can reach him for urgent questions, and we also issue access to a patient engagement application that allows the patient or companion/caregiver to send SMS messages, photos, video and other content to our team in a secure, private digital format. This keeps us mutually informed on your recovery and allows us to update your instructions while requiring a respectful number of face-to-face visits in the office.

Early in their post-operation recovery, patients experience abdominal pain, muscle cramping, mild nausea, back discomfort from walking in a semi-bent position, bruising and swelling, numbness or diminished sensation in the skin, and some mental adjustment to the process of healing—although this is common for patients of any surgery. Most patients are advised to take up to 3 weeks out of social circulation and we’d prefer that you not drive yourself in the first 14 days or as long as you are taking any prescription pain medication. Most sutures are dissolvable, but there may be a few that need to be removed at around 14 to 21 days after. To help reduce fluid collection, you will probably have drains in place that are usually removed in at our San Diego office at 10-14 days.

When Do I See My San Diego Abdominoplasty Results?

Most of our see an immediate improvement after their surgery, but all patients experience swelling for some time after their procedure. A majority of the swelling ends after 2-3 weeks, but residual swelling can occur for up to 6 months. For some patients, it might take a full year before your tissues fully settle and your final results are present.

How Long Do Tummy Tuck Results Usually Last?

For the most part, the results may last indefinitely if the patient maintains a reasonable goal weight through diet and exercise. Certainly, if a patient becomes pregnant after their procedure, the result may change, but it is possible to do a revision in most such patients. Changes associated with aging will continue, of course, but the overwhelming majority of patients are highly pleased with having had their tummy tucks years before.

Explore our stunning gallery of patient results

Schedule Your Tummy Tuck Consultation Today

Double board-certified plastic surgeon, Tim Sayed, MD, MBA, FACS, has helped countless women achieve the results and confidence they desire. Dr. Sayed and his expert team are committed to providing the best results and experience possible. To start your tummy tuck journey in Newport Beach or San Diego, CA please call us at (858) 247-2933 or complete our online form. 

Tummy Tuck in Newport Beach FAQs

Most abdominoplasty procedures are two to three hours in duration, but they may take longer if you are also having liposuction. Dr. Sayed has performed abdominoplasty on a slender patient in less than 90 minutes, but it has also taken nearly 4 hours on heavier patients or those requiring extension of the incision along the sides due to being overweight. There are a number of combinations of the tummy tuck with liposuction that we can perform—and safety and operative time are always our primary consideration. Treatment can also be combined with breast augmentation and/or breast lifts in select patients (often called a “Mommy Makeover”), which can take about four to 6 hours.

A cost schedule is available at our San Diego office. Tummy tuck cost will partly depend on where you have it, and whether you combine it with liposuction, breast surgery, or other procedures. Further, because costs are dependent on matters outside our control such as anesthesiologist fees, we prefer to provide you with a cost schedule during your consultation at our office.  Conversely, review our pricing page to build a “wishlist” and get estimated pricing on a tummy tuck or a combination of procedures. We also have a fee schedule available in the office after your consultation. Feel free to contact us for a pre-consultation and we are happy to provide more information on costs. One thing to keep in mind for tummy tuck patients considering combining BBL (Brazilian Butt Lift) and tummy tuck: Dr. Sayed most likely will recommend that you stage these operations for your safety and to optimize the results; although in selected patients it may be reasonable to combine them.

Many of our patients are eager to find out if they qualify for this procedure, which is an alternative treatment with a shorter scar and a faster recovery. This is one of the most common questions we receive in our office. Who wouldn’t want a “mini” operation instead of a “full” one if given the choice, right?

However, things are not that simple when evaluating a patient for a mini-abdominoplasty vs. a traditional, full abdominoplasty. The major difference between the two approaches is that the mini-abdominoplasty does not usually include an incision around the belly button, and is typically a somewhat shorter scar. This operation is appropriate for only select patients who have minimal upper abdominal looseness and excess fat, and whose main problem is some loose skin in the lower abdomen. The mini tummy tuck procedure does not usually include full correction of looseness of the muscle since the belly button is not freed up to allow access to the upper abdomen. In our experience, the best candidate is a thin, athletic bodied woman with a small amount of extra skin above the pubic area after pregnancy or weight loss. Patients with more medium or heavyset builds are much better candidates for a full abdominoplasty, especially if they have had multiple children.

Many surgeons try to limit the length of the surgical scar by gathering it in from each end, but in our experience, this can lead to a “pleating” or wrinkled look to the scar, which we do not think is as aesthetic as a nice, smooth scar. The decision on how long to make the incision and whether to include liposuction and muscle tightening is made after a careful examination on consultation with Dr. Sayed.

Since the procedure involves removing excess skin below the belly-button, it can help remove the stretch marks that often result from a growing belly. Because of the nature of the surgery, it can only target a certain area with stretch marks – the area from the belly button down to the pubic region. Removing stretch marks is a beneficial byproduct of the procedure; stretch marks above the belly button and some below might not be fully corrected by the tummy tuck. Dr. Sayed can draw on a photo or your own body which areas of stretch marks would be expected to improve with the procedure.

It’s highly recommended to wait at least a month after tummy tuck procedures before engaging in any strenuous activity—and sticking to only a light workout at that. Dr. Sayed will let you know when it’s the right time to ramp up your workouts.

We ask that you abstain from exercise for 4 weeks and then return to light fitness routines after that for the best outcome. It is very important that you get up and walk even the first night following your procedure. You may have to walk doubled-over for the first week or so as your body adapts to the tightened muscles. To help with swelling, you will be asked to wear a surgical garment for about 3 months. In the first three weeks of your recovery, it’s highly recommended that you stick to tops that button from the front. Dr. Sayed and his team provide close postop care in the office but also try to reach you with our remote engagement tools. You will be asked to take some supplement medications to aid in your tummy tuck recovery that may include medications for pain, bruising, swelling, constipation, and dietary optimization.

Diastasis recti is a condition that develops when the abdominal muscles fail to return to their former position post-pregnancy. Diastasis recti contributes to the appearance of a bulgy, protruding belly. This condition is resistant to diet and exercise, making it impossible for women to achieve a flat belly regardless of what they eat and how often they work out. A tummy tuck can tighten these muscles by pulling the muscles down and suturing them closer together, allowing for a flat and toned stomach once again.

While Dr. Sayed has occasionally performed abdominoplasty without drains, he has never seen evidence that shows that removing drains results in consistently better outcomes. Like many plastic surgeons, Dr. Sayed feels he can better avoid some of the issues associated with the fluid collection and other complications by using drains, as they are “tried and true.”

Treatment will leave you with a gently curving horizontal scar that lies slightly above the pubic bone. Depending on the specific technique used, it might span from hip to hip or be somewhat shorter.

You will be put under anesthesia during your tummy tuck, so you won’t feel a thing or even remember the procedure.

As for the recovery, tummy tuck techniques have evolved so much in recent years that the recoveries have become much more comfortable. We’ve heard many of our patients report that their recovery was easier than they expected, and many patients quickly transition to over-the-counter pain medicine rather than continuing their more powerful prescription medicine. An Enhanced Recovery Program can include the addition of Exparel, a local anesthetic numbing medication that can provide additional internal pain relief for up to a few days after surgery. Ask us about this upgrade!

In addition to his tummy tuck expertise, Dr. Sayed has mastered other body contouring procedures such as Brazilian butt lift, liposuction, hi-def liposculpture, body lift, mommy makeover, and more. Dr. Sayed also maintains the highest levels of expertise in face and breast procedures.Â