Many people are unhappy with the appearance of their tummies, or abdomens, for a variety of reasons. Some women develop stretch marks after pregnancy, or skin laxity and wrinkles that do not resolve with time and weight loss. Both men and women who have lost large amounts of weight also experience loose skin or redundant skin. Others complain of bulging fat, or prominent love handles (also known as muffin top). All of these concerns can usually be improved with surgery, often liposuction or a tummy tuck, or a combination of both.

Liposuction is most helpful for removal of fat pockets, or decreasing and smoothing fat bulges. For best results, patients undergoing liposuction should have fairly good skin quality and tightness in the areas that are treated. If you can “pinch an inch” (or more) on your abdomen, and your skin is not too stretched, then liposuction can produce excellent improvement. Love handles also often respond extremely well to liposuction.

If you have loose tummy skin or redundant abdominal skin, then liposuction may not help much, or might need to be combined with a tummy tuck, also known as an abdominoplasty. A tummy tuck excises (cuts out) extra skin, and also tightens the abdominal muscles, resulting in a smoother, flatter tummy. The extra rolls and wrinkles can be removed, as can most of the stretch marks. The results following a tummy tuck can be so dramatic, as to be “life changing,” as many of my patients have told me.

It is absolutely critical to consult a plastic surgeon like myself, Andres Taleisnik, M.D., who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, and who is also a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, for either liposuction or a tummy tuck. As a respected Orange County and Newport Beach area plastic surgeon specializing in body contouring and “mommy makeovers,” I often see patients who received abdominal liposuction from other physicians (usually not plastic surgeons) when they truly required a tummy tuck, mainly because the other physician had nothing to offer besides the liposuction. To schedule a free consultation with me, during which I’ll help you to determine which procedure or procedures will best accomplish your goals, please call my office at 714-835-6500.

Dr. Andres Taleisnik

Orange County, Newport Beach, Riverside County

Having children is a wonderful experience for most women, but it often leads to many undesired changes in their bodies. Some women are fortunate (not many!), since their bodies recover almost to the pre-pregnancy shape. Most never quite regain the figures they had before giving birth.

Common unwanted changes include deflation or emptying of the breasts, sagging of the breasts, and development of stretch marks or loose skin and muscles on the tummy. These problems can develop even with an excellent diet, vigorous exercise, or use of creams and other “potions.” Fortunately, as a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Andres Taleisnik, M.D. frequently helps women in Orange County to regain their more youthful, pre-pregnancy bodies.

The popular term today for a combination of surgeries designed to reverse or improve the damaging effects of pregnancy is “Mommy Makeover.” Dr. Taleisnik often performs abdominoplasties (tummy tucks) together with breast surgery (breast augmentation, breast lift, or both) to provide a rapid and dramatic appearance improvement. Liposuction, such as for the hips or flanks, can be added as well.

For most women who are in reasonable health, it’s reasonable to do the various procedures at once. This results in a single anesthetic, a single recovery period or absence from work, and a lower overall cost than doing procedures separately. Dr. Taleisnik will help you to determine which procedures will be most beneficial for you, and whether you’re a candidate for the full “Mommy Makeover.” Please call his assistant Linae at 714-835-6500 to schedule your free consultation with Dr. Taleisnik.

Please watch for future articles on the individual surgeries that make up the “Mommy Makeover.”

You may have heard about various options and techniques pertaining to liposuction, such as “tumescent technique,” “ultrasonic liposuction,” or “power-assisted liposuction.” These terms refer to the way a plastic surgeon prepares the fat to be suctioned, and the way it is actually removed. I’ll discuss these issues in more detail in an upcoming blog.

It is critical that you consult a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery if you are considering liposuction, or any other cosmetic surgical procedure, rather than other doctors who may advertise that they do liposuction. The keys to a good outcome include the doctor’s ability to determine whether liposuction is indeed the best option for a given problem or patient, or whether other procedures might be more effective. Doctors who have taken a weekend liposuction course don’t have the large armamentarium of surgeries and skills that a board-certified plastic surgeon does. Also important is the surgeon’s ability, training, and experience. Finally, in the unlikely event that a complication occurs, you’d want a fully-trained and experienced physician caring for you, to make sure your end result is as good as possible.

My website, www.ataleisnikmd.com, reviews my extensive background and training in plastic surgery. I take pride in caring for each and every one of my patients in the most comprehensive, individualized, personalized manner possible. The initial consultation is always with me, not a nurse or assistant. I want to ensure that the patient understands the options and consequences fully, and that I understand what the patient is truly trying to achieve. Whether a patient is seeking breast augmentation, a tummy tuck,liposuction, or any other procedure, every patient has unique preferences and unique challenges. I spend a lot of time with every patient, to an extent that exceeds virtually any other office, to be sure that we are both comfortable with our choices, and are striving for the same goals. Every postoperative visit is supervised personally by me as well. From beginning to end, you will be cared for like nowhere else.

If you’d like to schedule a consultation to meet with me, please call my office at 714-835-6500. You can e-mail questions to me from my website, www.ataleisnikmd.com. I answer each e-mail personally.