Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) in Beverly Hills

Removes loose, sagging skin and stubborn fat deposits resulting from pregnancy, weight fluctuations, or aging.

Almost every tummy tuck patient has some separation of the abdominal muscles, and Dr. Killeen repairs it on all of her patients as part of the procedure, stitching the muscles together from the pubic bone to the rib margin. The repair puts the muscles back in position; core work after surgery is what makes them stronger. Learn why muscle repair matters.

Stretch marks on the skin that is removed, usually below the belly button, go with it. Stretch marks on the skin that remains will still be there, because a stretch mark is a break in the skin's strength layer that surgery cannot repair.

An umbilical hernia can usually be repaired at the same time, often without any imaging beforehand. A larger hernia can raise the risk of healing problems at the belly button, which Dr. Killeen will go over with you. More on hernia repair during a tummy tuck.

• Addresses the whole abdomen: loose skin is removed and the muscles are repaired from the pubic bone to the rib margin
• A low hip-to-hip incision, with your own belly button brought out through a new opening

• Treats only the lower abdomen, so it does not address the upper abdomen
• Very few patients are good candidates; most get a better result from a full tummy tuck

• Suitable for extensive loose skin after significant weight loss
• Incision extends around the hips for comprehensive body contouring

• Corrects dog ears, belly button problems, or contour issues from a previous procedure, usually after waiting at least six months

Liposuction is optional, most often for the flanks (love handles). Liposuction of the abdomen itself is done sparingly and deep, because the blood supply to the skin runs in the more superficial layer.

Combine a tummy tuck with breast lift, breast augmentation, or additional body contouring in a mommy makeover. If the combined surgery would be too long under anesthesia, Dr. Killeen may stage the procedures about three months apart.

The scar sits low and is planned around the clothes you wear. Its length depends on how far your loose skin extends: where the loose tissue ends is roughly where the scar ends, and cutting it too short risks dog ears. Scars are usually still pink at six months and keep fading for one to two years, and follow-up visits catch any thickening early. Learn what determines scar length.

Keep a stable weight and build core strength once you are cleared. A compression garment is a post-op tool, not a lifestyle; wearing one for months can actually weaken your core. A future pregnancy can stretch the skin and separate the repaired muscles again.

• A seroma, a fluid collection that is usually drained in the office
• Bleeding or a hematoma, infection, and wound separation
• Healing problems in the lower center of the incision, where blood supply is weakest, including skin necrosis and firm lumps of fat necrosis
• Belly button problems, such as narrowing or slow healing
• Dog ears at the ends of the scar, which often improve on their own
• Blood clots in the legs or lungs, which walking and leg compression devices help prevent
• Numbness of the lower abdomen and scarring

A seroma is not an emergency unless it becomes infected, but let the office know. If you see purplish discoloration along the incision, or pain, redness, or swelling that gets worse, tell your surgeon right away.