How to get the Best Tummy Tuck Result   

What is a Tummy Tuck?

Although tummy tucks are a widely performed procedure in the United States, most people don’t understand everything that goes into achieving the best result. A tummy tuck is one of the most life-changing procedures available in cosmetic surgery. A flabby belly with or without stretch marks can be transformed into an attractive stomach with nice contours. What many individuals often overlook in this metamorphosis is the belly button.

A full tummy tuck addresses the upper and lower abdomen eliminating excess skin and stubborn fat, tightening the abdominal muscles, and, when necessary, repairing diastasis recti. If stretch marks are present, they may be reduced or eliminated as well.

What Happens During a Tummy Tuck?

During a tummy tuck, an incision is made horizontally and will vary in length depending on how far across the abdomen the excess skin and fat reaches. For most a standard tummy tuck incision is placed from hip bone to hip bone. What many people don’t know is that there is an addition incision made at the location of the belly button to free it from surrounding skin. Unfortunately, not all plastic surgeons are able to achieve the ideal incision placement. Dr. Cruise is known for his low tummy tuck incisions and natural belly button technique.

Most patients don’t want their tummy tuck to be a dead giveaway to the world. Horizontal incisions placed too high can be visible when wearing low cut pants, bikini bottoms or underwear. And, another telltale sign that someone had a tummy tuck is an incision around the outer edge of the belly button. The standard way of placing an incision around the opening for the belly button is to make an incision in the shape of a simple circle. The incision doesn’t recess inward, therefore, it is more apparent. Dr. Cruise’s technique is to hide the incision inside so the new belly button and to create a hooding so it is much more attractive and natural appearing.

Other Considerations for your Tummy Tuck

Every belly button is actually attached to a stalk and when the navel is detached from the skin around it, it remains attached. Once the excess skin is removed, the remaining abdominal skin is re-draped over the midsection. During this process, Dr. Cruise creates a new opening for the original belly button so you have the same navel, but the skin around it is new and your abdomen is dramatically improved.

Tummy tucks are more involved than most other cosmetic procedures and require a special skill set to be done well. It is also important to understand that the abdomen should be viewed not only from the front but also how it looks from a full 360 degrees. The best result is one that looks good from the front, sides, and back.

Understanding how a tummy tuck is performed and what it takes to achieve a great result is beneficial when determining who to select to perform your surgery. Viewing a surgeon’s before and after pictures is one of the best ways to vet a doctor.

Schedule a Consultation

To learn more about your tummy tuck options and the recovery period, schedule a consultation with Dr. Cruise. Call our Newport Beach, California office or contact us online. If you prefer, you can also begin a virtual consultation by submitting photos to Dr. Cruise.