How Much Does a Tummy Tuck Cost in Los Angeles?
A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is a highly transformative plastic surgery when performed by a board-certified physician like Dr. Stephen Bresnick in Encino, CA. The body contouring procedure restores a woman’s trimmed, toned body after pregnancy, aging, or significant weight loss and can give a man back his fit, masculine look. It always involves removing excess midsection skin, and for most patients, it also eliminates stubborn fat deposits and tightens and reconnects stretched and weakened abdominal muscles.
This long-lasting rejuvenation of your body contours comes with specific costs. Considering tummy tuck surgery, it makes sense to go in with your eyes open as you weigh the benefits. You’ll also need to do your due diligence and find a surgeon who will deliver the highest-quality results with the maximum attention to your health, comfort, and safety. The adage “You get what you pay for” applies, especially when choosing plastic surgery.
Tummy Tuck Before-and-After Gallery
What Should I Expect to Pay for My Abdominoplasty in LA?
Tummy tuck prices depend on many factors, including your procedural costs and the plastic surgeon you choose. Actually, one of the largest factors is location of the doctor’s office. For example, in the Los Angeles area, Encino costs tend to be less than nearby Beverly Hills costs, regardless of the experience and quality of the doctor. Other factors, including patient safety precautions such as aftercare nursing, long-lasting local anesthetic use (Exparel), and extent of postoperative care also play a role.
In the Los Angeles area, the average nationwide cost of a tummy tuck, with anesthesia, operating room, and aftercare is between $10,000 and $20,000. Regional variations affect the cost, too. For example, plastic surgery generally costs more in major metropolitan areas with higher overall living costs, such as Los Angeles.
Your unique surgical plan will also affect costs, especially if you add lipo to an adjacent area such as the low back or love handles. However, it may make sense to do several procedures together to reduce costs and to allow one healing time for all the procedures which you would like to combine. Of course, the safety of the procedures to do together will be reviewed with Dr. Bresnick to find the best combination.
Tummy Tuck Variations and Combinations
If you’re in the early phases of your tummy tuck research, you may be surprised to learn there’s more than one way surgeons can perform this procedure to get you the desired results.
- A full or classic tummy tuck removes loose skin and excess fat and tighten up weakened muscles over the entire abdomen, above and below the belly button.
- A mini tummy tuck tightens only the lower portion of the abdomen, below the belly button.
- A limited or skin-only tummy tuck removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen but does not repair stretched or separated muscles.
- A lower body lift tightens the entire midsection, including the abdomen, love handles, and low back.
No matter which of these variations is suitable for you, whether it is straightforward or complex, you can combine a tummy tuck with liposuction for more extensive fat removal or other procedures to enhance your body contours.
The specific details of your procedure or combination will determine the total cost. Only a consultation with a trusted plastic surgeon can give you realistic expectations for your treatment and its price.
Preparing for Your Tummy Tuck
While preparing for tummy tuck surgery, we may ask you to:
- Get a medical evaluation or lab testing
- Stop smoking and vaping nicotine products
- Take certain medications
- Adjust current medications
- Avoid taking anti-inflammatory drugs, aspirin, and herbal supplements, as they can increase bleeding
Dr. Bresnick performs tummy tucks in an accredited and licensed ambulatory surgical center, Encino Surgicenter.
Tummy Tuck Recovery
Following your abdominoplasty, you will rest in a recovery room for a short period. A surgical nurse trained in immediate post-surgical care care will look after you. This extra layer of precaution ensures you receive top-quality care with professional assistance as you begin the healing process. Dr. Bresnick will evaluate your healing process the day after surgery. You can expect to get your sutures removed within a week after the procedure. Most patients return to work within a few weeks and may do gentle exercise four weeks after surgery, avoiding direct abdominal workouts.
Dr. Bresnick employs a long lasting local anesthetic, known as Exparel, to provide comfort and local anesthesia to the muscle area and to the incisions. This medication is placed directly into the muscle area where the muscles are tightened. Exparel is typically used in hospitals after major surgery to reduce discomfort, but we have expanded its use to our tummy tuck patients. The comfort level is dramatic with the use of Exparel so our patients require less narcotic pain medication. Some patients have used only Tylenol after a tummy tuck if Exparel was utilized. Our patients find this added process greatly enhances their tummy tuck recovery experience, helping them rest comfortably for the first few days after surgery. Of course, we’ll also prescribe pain medication as needed.
Choose a Tummy Tuck Surgeon You Can Trust
Dr. Bresnick is one of the most skilled, experienced, and highly rated plastic surgeons offering procedures in the Los Angeles area. He has unique expertise in tummy tuck surgery, having pioneered using the pain pump to ease discomfort in recovery. In addition, Dr. Bresnick uses layered muscle tightening for superior shaping results and individualized incisions to minimize scarring. To put surgery costs within reach for more patients, he also offers financing options to help you pay for the procedure. Call us at (818) 981-3333 or contact us today to schedule a consultation.