Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

Dr. Vladimir Grigoryants offers full abdominoplasty, mini abdominoplasty, and lipoabdominoplasty at his Glendale practice. Procedures remove excess abdominal skin and fat through an incision concealed within the bikini line, and tighten stretched abdominal wall muscles and fascia where indicated. Patients typically return home same-day and resume walking immediately; heavy lifting is restricted for 6–8 weeks. An abdominal binder is worn throughout recovery. Liposuction of the abdomen and flanks is routinely combined for optimal contouring.

Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) at VG Plastic Surgery in Glendale, California addresses the triad of concerns that cannot be resolved through exercise or weight loss alone: excess skin and subcutaneous fat in the lower abdomen, diastasis recti (separation of the paired rectus abdominis muscles along the linea alba), and a lax abdominal wall that contributes to the rounded postpartum or post-weight-loss abdomen. Dr. Vladimir Grigoryants performs three distinct procedural variants, with selection based on the degree and distribution of each patient's tissue excess and muscular laxity. Full abdominoplasty is the most comprehensive option, involving a low horizontal incision placed within the bikini line from hip to hip, umbilical translocation (the navel is detached, the abdominal skin is elevated to the costal margins, the muscle repair is performed under direct vision, and the umbilicus is replaced through a new aperture after skin redrapage), and resection of the lower skin and fat panel. Plication of the rectus fascia along the full extent of the muscle separation — from xiphoid to pubic symphysis — restores the structural integrity of the abdominal wall, flattening the abdomen from within before the skin and fat layer is addressed. Mini abdominoplasty is appropriate for patients whose concerns are limited to the infra-umbilical zone and whose upper abdomen skin quality and muscle tone are acceptable; the incision is shorter, the umbilicus does not require translocation, and recovery is faster. Lipoabdominoplasty combines simultaneous liposuction of the upper abdomen, flanks, and adjacent regions with standard abdominoplasty, allowing more comprehensive contouring of the entire trunk in a single session. The fleur-de-lis (vertical scar) abdominoplasty — adding a vertical midline component to address horizontal skin excess in patients with significant post-bariatric deformity — is also within Dr. Grigoryants's surgical scope. Drains are placed at the time of surgery and removed at 7–10 days post-operatively. Patients are discharged the same day in most cases or stay one night for more extensive procedures. Ambulation begins on the day of surgery to reduce venous thromboembolism risk. The abdominal binder or compression garment is worn for several weeks post-operatively. Heavy exertion is restricted for 6–8 weeks to protect the muscle repair. Combination with breast surgery (augmentation, lift, or reduction) is commonly performed as part of a Mommy Makeover at the Glendale clinic, with the two regions operated on sequentially within a single anaesthetic episode where safety parameters are met.