ABDOMINOPLASTY

New Look New Life Cosmetic Surgical Arts offers personalized care rather than the cookie-cutter approach often provided by other cosmetic surgeons. Our board-certified doctors customize every aspect of your cosmetic surgery and are available every step of the way. Our team is committed to helping you reach your cosmetic goals safely and will follow your progress from your pre-op appointment to your final post-op visit.

Tummy tuck surgery is performed on patients to:

• Create smooth abdominal contours

• Eliminate the “lower belly pooch”

• Correct diastasis recti (separation of the rectus abdominis muscles)

• Tighten loose, sagging skin

Anyone who is self-conscious or embarrassed by signs of aging, visible veins, or spots on their hands may benefit from a personalized hand rejuvenation procedure at New Look New Life.

Our team of trained doctors and cosmetic surgeons will carefully look at your hands and listen to your expectations to create a unique treatment plan for you.

A consultation with one of our highly skilled cosmetic surgeons is required before your tummy tuck surgery to determine if you are a candidate. During your consultation, the surgeon will:

• Review your medical history

• Examine your abdomen, waist, and skin condition

• Discuss your concerns and expectations for the procedure

• Take measurements and photos

• Explain all your surgical options

• Recommend the techniques that will provide the best results

• Develop a surgical plan tailored to help you reach your cosmetic goals

If you want a tummy tuck, contact New Look New Life Cosmetic Surgical Arts at (212)-830-6830.

The techniques used during your tummy tuck are individualized based on the condition of your abdominal skin and muscles.

In a full or traditional tummy tuck, an incision is made across the abdomen above the groin to access excess fat and repair loose musculature. The skin is trimmed and tightened to provide a smoother abdominal contour, and the incision is sutured closed.

Mini and extended tummy tucks will require a shorter or longer incision, and one of these options may be right for you.

The full tummy tuck, or traditional tummy tuck, is performed under general anesthesia.

The incision is made along the lower abdomen and extends from hip to hip. This incision is made at the bikini line so patients can hide the incision and resulting scar when wearing bathing suits or crop tops.

Another incision may be made around the navel if belly button contouring is necessary or the abdominal muscles must be repositioned.

The mini tummy tuck is an excellent alternative for patients with smaller amounts of excess skin and fat. This technique focuses on the lower abdomen—the area beneath the belly button.

The mini tummy tuck is performed under local anesthesia. The incision is made along the lower abdomen, and excess skin is trimmed. This incision is much shorter than the incision used in a full tummy tuck, and the mini tummy tuck does not allow for recontouring of the belly button.

Liposuction may be included to remove deposits of fat under the skin. The lower abdomen area often experiences laxity and can form an unsightly pouch, which is best addressed with this technique.

Additional tummy tuck methods may be performed for qualifying patients, such as the extended tummy tuck, the circumferential tummy tuck, or umbilicoplasty. During your consultation, Dr. Karlinsky-Bellini & Dr. Kim will discuss all of your surgical options.

Liposuction may be an alternative to a tummy tuck for patients who only have localized fat pockets within the abdomen. Since liposuction does not remove excess skin, it is not an ideal option for patients with moderate to significant skin laxity. Liposuction will also not tighten or repair abdominal muscles.

Abdominal liposuction involves small incisions in the treatment area and uses a hollow tube (cannula) to suction away fat cells.

Patients with stubborn pockets of fat and excess skin may benefit from a combination of liposuction and abdominoplasty. These techniques may be performed simultaneously or separately, depending on your specific circumstances.

At New Look New Life Cosmetic Arts, your safety is our number one concern. Combined procedures are preferred for healthy, qualifying patients to reduce procedure time, risk, and recovery time.

Tummy tuck surgery is usually performed as an outpatient procedure, and you can return home soon after the anesthesia wears off. You will need someone to drive you home and stay with you for the first 24 to 48 hours to help with cleaning, cooking, and childcare.

Your incision will be covered with a gauze dressing, and your abdomen will be wrapped in a compression garment to facilitate healing by protecting the incision, reducing swelling, and encouraging optimal blood circulation.

Most patients return to their normal daily activities, including work, within one to two weeks, but strenuous exercise and labor should be avoided for at least six weeks.

Patients who undergo a mini tummy tuck will have a shorter recovery period., with most mini tummy tuck patients returning to work within one week. Extended tummy tuck patients can expect downtime to last a few days to a week more.

Your surgeon will provide you with their cell phone number so you can reach them anytime during your recovery.

Depending on your tummy tuck procedure, a general or local anesthetic will be administered so you won’t feel any pain during the surgery. During your recovery, you can expect to experience some bruising, swelling, tightness, and abdominal discomfort. You will be given a prescription for pain relief; however, you may use over-the-counter pain medication instead.

Most of the discomfort will subside within a few days, but sneezing, coughing, and laughing may elicit twinges of pain. Cover the incision with a pillow whenever you feel one of these is coming on to lessen this response.

Remember to plan for your recovery period with as much pampering as possible to avoid putting stress on the incisions, especially immediately after the surgery. Have extra support pillows, a remote near your bed, and a fridge stocked with healthy meals and snacks that require little to no preparation. It is imperative to have adequate hydration.

Your tummy tuck will result in a scar that matches the length of your incision, though our skilled surgeons utilize techniques to help make the scars fade nicely. They also place incisions low on the abdomen so the scars are easily concealed under clothing and bathing suits.

Strategies to help minimize the visibility of scars include keeping the healing incision out of the sun, applying scar creams or silicone strips, and not rushing your recovery. Overexertion too early can result in a prolonged recovery period and the splitting of the incision—which will worsen the scar.

There are multiple variations of the tummy tuck, and the total cost of your procedure will vary depending on the technique and the extent of the correction needed.

At New Look New Life Cosmetic Surgical Arts, our full tummy tuck starts at $8,500, and our mini tummy tuck begins at $5,000. These amounts may vary once anesthesia, facility fees, pre-surgical tests, and follow-up appointments are included.

Since tummy tuck surgery is elective, insurance does not cover the cost. However, we offer financing options through CareCredit®.

If you have a high body mass index (BMI), you should lose as much weight as possible before surgery. You will be asked to stop smoking and avoid taking blood-thinning medications or herbal supplements for at least two weeks, as using these substances may increase your risk of serious complications, including heart attack and stroke.

Before your tummy tuck, you should fill any prescriptions and establish a comfortable space to recover. Arrange for assistance during your recovery time so that your focus can be on relaxing and getting fully healthy again.

Our surgeons at New Look New Life Cosmetic Surgical Arts have years of experience performing body contouring procedures. They understand the intricacies and difficulties associated with a tummy tuck and can navigate them to ensure your surgery is safe and effective.

Even though complications are rare, this is an invasive surgical procedure, and complications are possible. These potential complications include:

• Harmful interactions with the anesthesia

• Bleeding/Hematoma

• Infection

• Blood clots (deep vein thrombosis)

• Seroma

• Prolonged wound healing

Diastasis recti is a separation of the rectus abdominis muscle (the “abs”) that results in a “pooched” abdominal appearance. While this can occur in men, it is much more common in women following pregnancy and childbirth.

During pregnancy, abdominal muscles expand to allow room for your growing uterus. This pressure can cause the muscles to separate, and separated muscles cannot repair themselves. Surgery is the only way to correct diastasis recti.

Treatment of this condition is also a primary reason why the best candidates for a tummy tuck surgery include those who do not intend to have more children.

Tummy tuck surgery differs from weight loss surgery (such as gastric bypass). A vital benefit of the procedure is that it will effectively eliminate localized fat pockets and excess skin to make weight loss look good. However, patients will not see a significant reduction on the scale.

It is crucial to understand that tummy tuck surgery is best performed on patients who are close to their ideal weight and have already tried to lose excess through a healthy diet and exercise.

You will start to see the benefits of your tummy tuck immediately following your surgery; however, bruising and swelling may obstruct the full extent of your surgical results.

It can take several weeks or even months for the residual swelling to subside, especially if your customized surgery involves multiple areas or procedures.

Even before the final results, you will notice a flatter stomach and a difference in how your clothes fit.

Tummy tuck surgery provides long-lasting results, but you can still gain additional weight or experience skin laxity if you experience a subsequent pregnancy or do not maintain a stable weight.

A healthy lifestyle is the best way to maintain your tummy tuck results. Make sure your surgeon approves a timeline of return to exercise. Begin with gentle movements like walking and wait until you are cleared for more strenuous activities like high-intensity cardio workouts or abdominal exercises. Make sure your doctor approves before embarking on a weightlifting regimen as well. Once you are given the green light, do all you can to keep up your new appearance.