Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) is offered at our fully equipped plastic surgery practice in Mountain View. San Jose Bay Area men and women have relied on Dr. Alexander Ereso’s talent in the abdominoplasty procedure to give them the toned stomach they desire.
A flat stomach is important to a physically fit appearance. However, a healthy diet and regular abdominal workouts can sometimes do little to eliminate accumulations of excess fat and loose, sagging skin in the abdominal area. If you are bothered by these appearance problems, a tummy tuck may be a good choice for you.
Abdominoplasty is designed to firm and smooth the abdomen. This cosmetic procedure removes excess skin and fat and may also tighten the muscles of the abdominal wall. The result is a flatter, tighter abdominal profile.
If you desire a flat, toned stomach, you may be a perfect abdominoplasty candidate. San Jose Bay Area residents should contact our cosmetic plastic surgery practice in Mountain View to set up a consultation with our premier cosmetic plastic surgeon, Dr. Alexander Ereso.
Explore These Topics
- Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) Candidates
- Benefits Of Abdominoplasty
- Comparison To Other Procedures Targeting The Same Area
- Consultation For Abdominoplasty
- Preparation For Abdominoplasty
- Tummy Tuck Procedure Details
- Tummy Tuck Recovery
- Tummy Tuck Results
- Tummy Tuck Risks
- Complementary Cosmetic Procedures
- Tummy Tuck Cost
Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) Candidacy
Abdominoplasty is best suited to people who are in relatively good shape but have loose abdominal skin and/or a significant amount of abdominal fat that won’t respond to dieting or exercise.
You may be a good candidate for abdominoplasty if you have one or more of the following conditions:
- Excess or loose, sagging abdominal skin especially from pregnancy or weight loss
- An abdomen that protrudes and is out of proportion to the rest of the body
- Abdominal muscles that have been weakened by pregnancy or aging
- Excess fat that is concentrated beneath the abdominal skin
If you plan to become pregnant or lose a significant amount of weight, you should discuss these plans with your surgeon. Scars from previous abdominal surgeries may limit the results of an abdominoplasty. However, in some cases, an existing scar can be used for the new incision, as is often the case for women with Cesarean section scars.
Comparison To Other Procedures Targeting The Same Area
Sometimes patients can confuse tummy tuck with abdominal liposuction. The two procedures are not mutually exclusive. Tummy tuck is a more extensive procedure: it includes liposuction on the front and sides of the stomach, repairs the abdominal muscle and tightens the skin. Liposuction only removes fat without addressing the muscles and skin. If you are deciding between the two procedures, know that you will only see good results with liposuction if your skin is still relatively firm and elastic and your abdominal muscles are strong.
Consultation For Abdominoplasty
A personal consultation with Dr. Ereso is the first step. Our plastic surgeon will assess your physical and emotional health, review your medical history and discuss your specific cosmetic goals for abdominoplasty surgery. When examining your abdomen, Dr. Ereso will evaluate:
- The quality of your abdominal skin
- The location of any existing scars
- The amount and location of any excess fat
- The status of the underlying muscles
Dr. Ereso may suggest other treatments to better meet your appearance goals. For example, some patients may benefit from liposuction alone or a more limited type of abdominoplasty. He will cover the safety and success of abdominoplasty as wel
Patient Results
Before 
After 
Before 
After Preparation For Abdominoplasty
One of the most important preparations you will make for tummy tuck is to avoid medications that can increase the risks of surgery. Be sure Dr. Ereso reviews all the medications, vitamins and supplements you take, and follow any instructions about stopping or changing these medications. If you smoke, you should stop several weeks prior to your procedure.
It is also vital that you watch your overall health in the days and weeks leading up to surgery. Stick to a healthy diet that includes plenty of protein and vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables. Do not restrict calories or eat large amounts of processed, prepared foods. Exercise several times a week and devote plenty of time to sleeping and relaxing. Taking care of your body will help you enjoy a smooth procedure and recovery.
Finally, maintain communication with Dr. Ereso as you prepare for surgery. If you have questions about your tummy tuck, ask in advance. If you feel unwell right before surgery, contact our team so we can assess the situation and possibly reschedule your procedure.l as inform you of how you can do your part to minimize any risks.
Tummy Tuck Procedure Details
Generally, a horizontal incision is placed just within or above the pubic area. The length of the incision, which extends toward the hipbones, depends largely on the amount of skin to be removed. In other words, the looser skin that needs to be removed, the longer the tummy tuck incision will be. For women, Dr. Ereso keeps the incision within swimsuit lines, when it is possible. Working through this incision, the plastic surgeon may tighten the underlying muscles by pulling them together and stitching them in place. Any excess skin from the lower abdomen is trimmed away. Skin that contains stretch marks may be removed as well; however, it may not be possible to remove them all. Many variations of abdominoplasty exist:
Types Of Tummy Tuck Approaches
- Abdominal skin excision with or without associated liposuction
- Lower abdominal skin excision with abdominal muscle tightening
- Full abdominal skin excision with abdominal muscle repair and resetting of the umbilicus. Usually, all or most of the skin is removed between the umbilicus and pubic hair. Frequently liposuction of the lateral abdomen and flanks is performed at the same time. This is the traditional abdominoplasty
- Endoscopic tightening of the abdominal muscles with only a small amount of abdominal skin excision
- An extended abdominoplasty, or “belt lipectomy” may be an excellent choice for selected patients who have lost a great deal of weight. This more extensive surgery, which removes the most skin and subcutaneous tissue from the abdomen, thighs, and back, can provide dramatic results!
Traditional abdominoplasty isn’t the best choice for everyone. Dr. Ereso will advise you of your options and explain which will work well with your anatomy and meet your surgical goals.
EXPAREL® & Tummy Tuck
Recently, Dr. Ereso has begun to offer EXPAREL® to his breast augmentation and tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) patients. EXPAREL® in selected individuals can dramatically reduce post-operative discomfort.
To help control your pain after surgery, he will inject EXPAREL® into your surgical incision just before the end of the procedure.
- EXPAREL® is a local analgesic that contains the local anesthetic bupivacaine. Local anesthetics provide pain relief by numbing the tissue around the surgical site.
- EXPAREL® is specifically designed to release pain medication over time and can control pain for up to 72 hours. This is fantastic!
- In addition to EXPAREL®, we may provide other pain medications to control your pain.
- Each patient is different and responds differently to pain medication. Depending on how you respond to EXPAREL®, you may require less additional pain medication during your recovery.
Be sure to ask our plastic surgeon and staff about this exciting way to reduce your discomfort, enhance your experience and help you achieve the superior result that you deserve!
Tummy Tuck Recovery
Once Dr. Ereso has completed your tummy tuck at the Mountain View facility, you’ll be taken to an on-site recovery area. In many cases, small drainage tubes will have been placed beneath the skin to help prevent fluids from accumulating. Dressings may be applied to your abdomen and covered with tape or an elastic bandage.
Any discomfort you may feel can be controlled with medication prescribed by Dr. Ereso. EXPAREL® may be used to reduce your need for post-operative pain medication. Make sure to ask our plastic surgeon or staff about the use of EXPAREL® to reduce your post-operative discomfort.
Although you may not be able to stand perfectly straight at first, you will be encouraged to get out of bed soon after surgery to promote blood circulation. In this early phase of healing, straining, bending and lifting should be avoided. Dr. Ereso will instruct you to sleep on your back with your knees up.
Although everyone heals at a different rate, you can expect that your recovery will follow this general timeline:
Within The First Week
- Surgical drainage tubes may be removed
- Sutures will be removed (may take 10 days)
- Bruising and swelling will reach its peak
After Several Weeks
- You will no longer need to wear the support garment
- You may gradually increase your activity and exercise
- You may return to non-strenuous work (typically within the first 2 weeks)
- Bruising and swelling will continue to subside and you’ll begin to see your results
After A Few Months
- You’ll see a truer picture of the final result of your surgery
- Feelings of numbness or tightness will disappear. Your incision line may begin to fade from its reddish color (full fading may take 1-2 years)
In the months following surgery, it’s important to treat your healing skin with extra care, which means avoiding sun exposure and not wearing black or other dark colors when you are outdoors. Heat absorbed by dark-colored clothing can actually burn your healing skin and complicate recovery.
Risks/Safety
With any plastic surgery procedure, there are risks. Tummy tuck risks include anesthesia complications, infection, fluid accumulation, excessive bleeding and poor wound healing. Generally when tummy tuck is performed by an experienced, board-certified plastic surgery, the procedure is safe and the outcomes are excellent. Talk to Dr. Ereso about any specific safety concerns you have, so he can give you the information you need to proceed.
“Definitely one of the best experiences I’ve had with doctors. Dr. Ereso is not just a great doctor but awesome person to go to. His confidence in what he does shows through his work. He really makes one feel at ease about the procedures he will do and their results so even though he’s the only surgeon I’ve seen, I couldn’t have asked for a better one. Hell, he is the BEST! I appreciate that he is caring enough to personally talk to you and answer any questions you may have outside the office. Thank you Dr. Ereso and thank you to the amazing staff that works with him!”
Complementary Cosmetic Procedures
Many women choose to combine tummy tuck with breast surgery (e.g., breast augmentation and/or breast lift) into a comprehensive mommy makeover. If you wish to recapture the full breasts and flat stomach you enjoyed before having children, inquire about your mommy makeover options with Dr. Ereso.
Tummy tuck is also frequently combined with liposuction in other areas of the body, such as the hips, lower back, buttocks or thighs.
Tummy Tuck Costs/Financing
The cost of tummy tuck with Dr. Ereso can range, but typically starts at $10,000. Our office allows you to finance your tummy tuck through CareCredit®. For more information about tummy tuck costs or financing, please contact us today.
If you have questions about abdominoplasty, contact Dr. Ereso at our private cosmetic plastic surgery practice situated in beautiful Mountain View. He will be glad to answer any questions or concerns and guide you toward the appropriate decision.
