Tummy Tuck
New York City NaturaTuck®

The abdomen, or “tummy,” can be one of the toughest areas to tone or shed fat from. A belly pooch shows up because of weight gain, after a pregnancy, or as a natural part of aging. Despite healthy eating, targeted exercise or other attempts to reduce this trouble area, it often remains. That’s where Dr. Alizadeh's tummy tuck surgery in New York City comes in.

NaturaTuck® Tummy Tuck Overview

A tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, is a surgical procedure that aims to flatten and
tighten the abdominal area. Excess skin and fat are removed, and the underlying muscles are
tightened to create a smoother and firmer abdominal contour. The procedure is often sought by
individuals who have experienced significant weight loss or pregnancy and have excess skin
and weakened abdominal muscles as a result.

Average Cost: Starts at $14,000
Combo Procedures: Liposuction / Body Contouring / Mommy Makeover / Hernia Repair
Discomfort Level: Moderate to Severe
Anesthesia Options: General Anesthesia
Recovery Period: Three to Six Weeks
Results Length: Long-Term, with proper maintenance
Potential Benefits: Removal of excess abdominal skin and fat, tightening of abdominal
muscles, improved abdominal contour, enhanced self-confidence vs a trade off with scars.

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What is a tummy tuck?

A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is a surgical procedure designed to improve the appearance of the abdomen. Excess skin and fat are removed from the abdomen while the muscle is tightened with sutures thereby firming and shaping the abdominal area for a more attractive appearance.

As a highly-experienced tummy tuck surgeon, Dr. Alizadeh’s custom procedure, the NaturaTuck® Abdominoplasty, begins with one incision across the lower abdomen at the level of the pubic hair so that any scarring is hidden by underwear or a bathing suit. Dr. Alizadeh specially designs the operation with the patient's bikini in mind and to minimize the appearance of any scars.

Tummy Tuck Before & After Photos
By Dr. Alizadeh

The below abdominoplasty before and after images show actual patients with Dr. Alizadeh and will help you understand the outcomes and results he can deliver.

AN INTRODUCTION TO DR. ALIZADEH'S PRACTICE

Who is a candidate for a tummy tuck?

Patients who meet the following criteria may be candidates for a tummy tuck:

You are bothered by the appearance of your abdomen
You have severely weakened or separated stomach muscles
You have excess, loose skin
You are at a stable weight you feel you can maintain – BMI 32 or less
You are physically healthy
You have realistic expectations about what a tummy tuck can do for you
You are a nonsmoker
Dr. Alizadeh will discuss your specific condition and vision of how you want your abdomen to look with you during your consultation to determine whether a tummy tuck is right for you.

Patient results may vary
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION

Woman in bikini standing - New York City tummy tuck patient of Dr. Alizadeh

Dr. Alizadeh Explains the NaturalTuck Procedure

What are the benefits of a tummy tuck?

A tummy tuck has a large number of benefits, even beyond the aesthetic enhancement it provides. Dr. Alizadeh's tummy tuck procedure provides the following benefits:

Specific to the NaturaTuck® Abdominoplasty, the abdominal area is made more attractive with very minimal scarring.
It flattens the abdomen and removes excess stomach fat.
It shapes, tones and contours the stomach and waist.
It surgically tightens weakened muscles, providing abdominal support that can alleviate back pain and improve posture.
It removes up to 10 pounds of excess skin from your abdomen
It can give you a toned, well-defined stomach.
It can eliminate stretch marks.
It can help lower your risk of encountering diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea, gallbladder disease, and gallstones.
It reduces unnecessary stress on the stomach muscles (this stress can lead to the formation of a ventral hernia).
It reduces urinary incontinence.

What happens during my consultation with Dr. Alizadeh?

During your consultation for a tummy tuck in New York City, Dr. Alizadeh will:

Discuss your unique concerns and goals for the surgery
Review your medical history and ask about your general health and lifestyle
Photograph your abdomen
Discuss your options
Recommend the best approach to improve the appearance of your abdomen and torso

Throughout the consultation Dr. Alizadeh will answer questions and concerns you have regarding a tummy tuck. He will walk you through all the steps of the procedure in detail, including any risks or potential complications.

Dr. Alizadeh sitting down - a board-certified plastic surgeon in NYC

Testimonial

From my very first visit I had a good feeling coming to the practice. I got to know how sweet and understanding all the staff were as they guided me through the process. After meeting Dr. Alizadeh, I knew he was the doctor for me. He sat and listened to me and my expectations and made me comfortable and gained my complete confidence through the surgery. Thank you to you and your staff for making this Tummy Tuck process smooth and stress free.

- S.A.

Why choose Alizadeh Cosmoplastic Surgery for my tummy tuck in NYC?

Dr. Alizadeh's Qualifications

Our Founder and Medical Director, Dr. Kaveh Alizadeh, is the former Chief of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Westchester Medical Center and the current Professor of Clinical Surgery at New York Medical College. Dr. Alizadeh currently serves as the oral examiner for the American Board of Plastic Surgeons and the primary clinical trial investigator for the FDA, specializing in the evaluation of devices utilized in surgical and non-surgical procedures.

A double Ivy-league alumnus with over 23 years of experience and expertise, he has instructed hundreds of surgeons in 27 countries worldwide and has trained over 100 surgeons in his specialty. He has also published dozens of peer-reviewed articles and given over 100 lectures and presentations in his specialty. Above all, he takes great pride in his nonprofit, Mission: Restore, which provides patients in need with free healthcare.

Dr. Alizadeh will perform your procedure at our boutique, state-of-the-art and fully certified American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF). He has practices in both Manhattan and Long Island.

Dr. Alizadeh's Custom NaturaTuck® Abdominoplasty

A tummy tuck surgeon of exceptional renown, Dr. Alizadeh has spent years perfecting the tummy tuck procedure and has developed a trademarked technique, called NaturaTuck® Abdominoplasty, which improves upon older approaches to tummy-tuck surgery. In addition to better results and minimal scarring, the NaturaTuck® Abdominoplasty uses progressive-tension sutures (PTS), and requires minimal or no use of abdominal drains. Dr. Alizadeh has extensive experience with this procedure with 10 year follow-up satisfaction.

Accomplished Healthcare Team

Dr. Alizadeh's outstanding team of accomplished healthcare professionals include board-certified physician anesthesiologists who will ensure a pain-free procedure and a quick, uneventful recovery from anesthesia.

State of the Art Pain Relief System

In addition, they use the ON-Q Pain Relief System and EXPAREL®, a long-lasting, non-narcotic anesthetic agent to numb the abdomen for up to five days after your tummy tuck surgery. Use of these state-of-the-art anesthesia options translates to an optimal recovery with minimal pain and a faster return to your work and daily life. In fact, they popularly call his NaturaTuck® Abdominoplasty the "no pain, no drain" tummy tuck.

Surgical Excellence From Head to Toe:
Dr. Kaveh Alizadeh

Dr. Kaveh Alizadeh, is a revered, board-certified professor of plastic surgery in Long Island. He is widely regarded as being one of the most accomplished plastic surgeons in the nation. He has done major research in this area and has published a chapter on the advances in abdominoplasty.

A tummy tuck surgeon of exceptional renown, Dr. Alizadeh has spent years perfecting the tummy tuck procedure and has developed a trademarked technique, called NaturaTuck® Abdominoplasty, which improves upon established approaches to tummy-tuck surgery by adding additional tightening of the waistline to result in a more feminine appearance. His technique requires minimal or no use of abdominal drains and has minimal pain and discomfort with no need for suture removal or compressive garments.

DR. ALIZADEH’S TECHNIQUE

Dr. Alizadeh has developed a technique that allows your own umbilicus to stay and improves on its appearance by using your own natural contours and shadows to result in a beautiful rejuvenated belly button

Here are the highlights:

25 years of extensive experience teaching and performing over 1000 tummy tucks
Advancing the surgery with novel techniques reported in Plastic Surgery Research Council and published in the book "Surgery of the Abdominal wall"
Minimal or no need for abdominal drains
No need for suture removal
No need for compressive garments
Ability to shower the day after surgery and ambulate
Ability to drive one week after surgery
Beautiful minimal scars with state-of-the-art post scar therapy
use of your own belly button with hidden scars
Creating a feminine waist line and curve with proprietary plication techniques
Guaranteed follow up care for a minimum of one year with Dr. Alizadeh's dedicated clinical care team

Dr. Alizadeh Tummy Tuck Patient Testimonial - Marina

What is Dr. Alizadeh’s Custom NaturaTuck® Abdominoplasty in NYC?

The NaturaTuck® procedure uses multilayer management to address three layers of tissue:

Muscle - correction of diastasis recti, which is a separation of the left and right abdominal muscles during pregnancy
Fat - excess fat is contoured for a natural look
Skin - excess skin is removed

The procedure uses LTAP (long-acting anesthetic blocks), which numb the entire abdomen for 3-4 days to ensure minimal pain and fast recovery.

There is minimal drain or no drain management to minimize swelling and discomfort.

Dr. Alizadeh's Naturatuck® procedure uses proprietary lateral suspension suturing techniques to create an internal corset, which narrows the waste and creates a more shapely, athletic look for the body.

Dr. Alizadeh's umbilical reshaping technique in the NaturaTuck® procedure was born out of his research in the laboratory and takes advantage of the natural contours of the belly button to minimize scarring and maximize the shadows and contours of a youthful abdomen.

What happens during the tummy tuck procedure?

Anesthesia and Incision

Your NaturaTuck® procedure will usually take about three hours, and it will begin with general anesthesia. Dr. Alizadeh will make one incision across the lower abdomen at the level of the pubic hair so that any scarring is hidden by underwear or a bathing suit. He will then remove the excess skin and fat between your belly button and pubic hair in a horizontal oval or elliptical shape.

Addressing the Abdominal Wall

For the next step, Dr. Alizadeh will secure the abdominal wall to the muscle with progressive tension sutures. Although this last step requires approximately 15 minutes of additional surgical time, it means that most patients do not require abdominal drains following surgery.

Contouring and Suturing

Dr. Alizadeh then performs contouring procedures to recreate the internal corset and outer hourglass shape. The navel is then repositioned, called an umbilical translocation. Your belly button will be brought out through a small incision and sutured in its normal position. The incision will be closed with biological glues or absorbable sutures.

Liposuction for Further Contouring

Patients with large amounts of fat in the area may also opt to have liposuction during their tummy tuck procedure, which provides further shaping and toning of the abdominal area.

What Are The Risks Of Tummy Tuck Surgery?

Like all procedures, tummy tuck surgery has some associated risks:

Excessive bleeding
Reaction to anesthesia
Infection
Hematoma
Blood clot
Pain
Numbness in the area
Dissatisfaction with surgery results
Incision taking longer than normal to heal or becoming inflamed
Scar not fading as expected

Dr. Alizadeh is a board-certified plastic surgeon whose team consists of a board-certified anesthesiologist. Our practice is certified by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF). The doctor makes sure to follow stringent safety measures when performing tummy tuck surgery in New York City.

What is the recovery like after a tummy tuck?

At Cosmoplastic Surgery, we are devoted to getting to know our patients and caring for them as part of our extended family. We listen to what you have to say. After your procedures, we stay connected and in touch, and may even make house calls to ensure that your recovery environment optimizes your healing process.

Immediately following your tummy tuck, Dr. Alizadeh will apply dressings or bandages to your incisions or wrap your abdomen in a compression garment to minimize swelling and support your abdomen during healing. You will be required to wear your compression garment for one or two weeks.

Tummy-tuck patients should expect to take two weeks off from work for recovery, and they should refrain from exercise and heavy lifting for six weeks. However, you will be encouraged to walk with assistance as soon as possible after surgery to promote healthy blood circulation and prevent blood clots from forming in your lower extremities.

Any bruising should subside within two to three weeks, and swelling should resolve completely within three to six months.

Dr. Alizadeh Explains the Three Stages of Tummy Tuck Recovery

Complementary procedures

The following procedures often work well in tandem with a tummy tuck.

Mini Tummy Tuck

For some patients, a full tummy tuck is not needed. If there is a bulge only below the belly button, which is often a result of abdominal muscles separating during pregnancy, a mini tummy tuck may be more optimal. The mini tummy tuck requires a smaller, lower incision and leaves the belly button intact. Using gentle assisted liposuction, Dr. Alizadeh removes excess fat and then repairs the separated muscle tissue by stitching it together. This restores a firm, flat lower abdomen.

Torso Lift Belt Lipectomy

A torso lift, or belt lipectomy, allows Dr. Alizadeh to contour the hips, thighs and buttocks. In addition to the abdomen, the patient’s lower body is lifted, shaped and sculpted. This procedure is designed for patients who have lost a large volume of weight, yet still struggle with excess, unwanted skin.

Lateral Torso Abdominoplasty LTAP

This procedure is designed for those with excess upper abdominal skin or lateral breast skin, and it can also benefit patients who have had previous operations. Dr. Alizadeh will create a tapered contour by removing the excess skin that is hanging laterally and redraping and securing it along the sides of the torso, creating a smoother, tighter physique.

Panniculectomy Surgery For The Abdominal Apron

Also known as a pannus stomach or mother’s apron, apron belly occurs when the belly and fat expands due to weight gain or pregnancy. This appears as an apron-like flap that can hang low below the beltline, cause back pain, and prevent good genital hygiene. Patients who have worked hard to lose significant weight often have this extra pouch. Removing it helps them feel better about their weight loss and proud of their impressive achievement.

Mommy Makeover

After having children, the flesh of the body can sag and hang instead of bouncing back as you want it to. Dr. Alizadeh can provide a "mommy makeover" procedure for women who desire a full-body restoration. This restoring procedure generally includes a tummy tuck and breast augmentation or a NaturaBra® Breast Lift. Once it is complete, you can see your pre-pregancy figure again, firmed, contoured and in a beautiful hourglass shape.

Spot Liposuction

In addition to removing excess skin, liposuction can be done to help achieve a slimmer, shapely result as a part of comprehensive body contouring.

Based on your vision for your body, Dr. Alizadeh may also discuss grafting the fat to your face or breasts to enhance or augment areas that are in need of a lift.

Additionally, Dr. Alizadeh may recommend using the unwanted fat in cellulite removal procedures by layering it to help prevent future scarring or dimpling.

Tummy Tuck FAQs

How soon after childbirth can I have a tummy tuck?

You will need to wait at least six months after giving birth before receiving a tummy tuck. Your abdominal tissue needs a chance to heal fully before the procedure is done.

Will pregnancy after a tummy tuck change my results?

Most patients have reported satisfactory results even after a pregnancy. For some, a touch-up procedure might be required after the pregnancy, However, as long as the patient stays on the healthier side, the results of a tummy tuck will very likely last.

Can you get rid of stretch marks during a tummy tuck?

A tummy tuck can permanently remove white stretch marks and will alleviate stretch marks between your bikini line and your belly button. However, the stretch marks outside of that area will remain. These will be moved lower as the remaining skin is stretched down.

Will tummy tuck surgery help me lose fat?

Depending on the amount of loose skin that you need removed, you will lose 2-10 pounds. If liposuction is done concurrently, you can safely have up to 11 pounds of abdominal fat removed.

What is a mini tummy tuck?

A tummy tuck involves removing excess fat and skin from the abdomen to improve its shape and appearance. On the other hand, a mini tummy tuck is a less invasive version of the procedure that focuses on the lower part of the abdomen and is typically performed on patients with a smaller amount of excess skin and fat to remove.

Can I exercise after a tummy tuck?

Yes, you may be able to do light exercise after a tummy tuck. You will need to check with Dr. Alizadeh first after your procedure to make sure you are ready. He will be able to give you specific instructions on when and how to start exercising again after your surgery. Following these recommendations is important to ensure a successful recovery and avoid complications.

How do I determine the best abdominoplasty technique for me?

There is no easy answer to this question. During your consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Alizadeh, he will assess your individual needs and goals and recommend a specific technique that he feels will provide you with the best possible results.

Where is the scar of a tummy tuck?

The scar from a tummy tuck is typically located just above the pubic area, running horizontally across the lower abdomen. The scar may be visible when wearing certain types of clothing, such as low-riding swimsuits or underwear, but it can be easily concealed with most clothing. Over time, the scar will typically fade and become less noticeable.

Can a Tummy Tuck procedure be covered by insurance?

In most cases, tummy tuck surgery is considered to be elective, meaning it is not medically necessary. As a result, it is typically not covered by insurance. However, there may be some exceptions, such as if the surgery is being performed to correct a functional issue, such as abdominal muscle weakness or separation, or to treat a medical condition, such as a hernia.

What is the cost of a Tummy Tuck in NYC?

The cost of your tummy tuck will depend on how extensive and complex the procedure is required to be in order to achieve your aesthetic goals. There are different levels of tummy tuck procedures, each designed to address a different level of sagging and muscle weakness. During your consultation with Dr. Alizadeh, he will examine your abdominal area and determine what extent of tummy tuck is needed. While the cost of a tummy tuck starts at $14,000, Dr. Alizadeh will design a custom surgical plan specific to you and price accordingly.

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