San Jose Morgan Hill Also known as an abdominoplasty, a tummy tuck is a surgical procedure that helps flatten, tighten and sculpt the abdomen and waist area. The best candidates for our San Jose or Palo Alto tummy tuck are those who are in good physical condition but have excess fat or loose skin in the abdomen area that is not responding well to diet and exercise. Performed in our QUAD A-accredited outpatient surgery center, abdominoplasty is a common procedure for patients at Illuminate.
4–6 Hours
2–3 Weeks
1
Outpatient
Swipe To Next
There is no “one-size-fits-all” technique for abdominoplasty. Dr. Boudreault takes the time to assess your midsection and discuss the technique that is right for you and your goals. For a typical tummy tuck, Palo Alto and San Jose plastic surgeon Dr. Boudreault makes a smooth, curved incision along the panty line from hip to hip. Excess fat and skin are removed, and the abdominal muscle walls are tightened and repaired. Dr. Boudreault includes liposuction in almost all abdominoplasty surgeries because this helps further shape the waist and reduce fullness in the upper abdomen. The skin is pulled downward, often eliminating some areas of stretch marks, and a new belly button is positioned and reconstructed. This results in a smoother and flatter stomach area with a new, natural-looking belly button, improving the body’s overall profile and physique.
A tummy tuck is done at our Palo Alto or San Jose plastic surgery facility. During a Palo Alto or San Jose tummy tuck, you’ll be fully asleep under general anesthesia. Dr. Boudreault will prescribe pain medication for you at the time of your preoperative visit so you can manage any initial discomfort after your surgery. You may need to sleep on your back or in a reclined position for the first 2–3 weeks. You’ll be asked to wear a compression garment for up to 24 hours a day for at least the first week to reduce swelling as you heal. For minimal tummy tuck revisions and smaller procedures, you may be offered moderate sedation instead of general anesthesia.
Recovery from a tummy tuck in San Jose or Palo Alto varies from person to person, but we generally see our patients take about 2–3 weeks of downtime. Factors that may affect your recovery time include:
We understand there are several factors in coordinating time to relax at home for your recovery, and Dr. Boudreault can provide you with a doctor’s note for you to request ample time off from school or work. After the procedure is complete, Dr. Boudreault will be there every step of the way in your aftercare process, and generally, most patients will begin feeling like themselves again after three weeks.
A tummy tuck removes loose skin and excess fat and tightens the weak fascia of the abdominal area. It tightens abdominal muscles that tend to loosen over time due to age, weight gain and pregnancy. A tummy tuck can also remove some stretch marks by removing excess skin in the lower abdomen below the belly button. If you’ve previously had a C-section, Dr. Boudreault will assess whether he can remove your C-section scar with this procedure. If you’ve had fat removed from your abdomen with liposuction, you may decide to have a tummy tuck because liposuction removes fat but does not remove excess skin. A tummy tuck can also be done in combination with other body-contouring cosmetic procedures, such as breast surgery.
For more significant skin and fat removal, changes will be noticed immediately after surgery. Initial swelling will be present after the procedure and can obscure the results initially. Patients are also required to wear a compression garment for two weeks after surgery before transitioning to a lightly compressive garment, like Spanx®, to minimize swelling. Swelling after surgery is the most common reason for any delay in seeing your final results, but most swelling will resolve after the first 1–2 months. After any residual swelling fully subsides, your final results are expected to be seen by nine months, and most before-and-after photos we take are taken at 3–6 months after the procedure.
Your surgical plan comes first. Once we understand your needs, we determine the best technique for your tummy tuck—and because techniques vary in time and complexity, pricing varies along with them. Transparent, personalized pricing is shared during your consultation.
If you would like to finance your abdominoplasty, our patients occasionally apply through CareCredit. Join our many patients who’ve had a tummy tuck procedure to achieve a flatter stomach.
Trust is our Best Feature
At Illuminate we’re with you during every step of your journey toward greater self-confidence. Schedule a consultation with us today and let Illuminate’s expert team listen to your concerns and guide you through treatments and procedures to help you reach your individual goals. We look forward to seeing you and celebrating your renewed appearance and realized potential.
