Case #1688 · West Hills, CA
Tummy Tuck
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This 34-year-old patient from West Hills, CA had enormous weight loss following a gastric bypass procedure. She wanted to address her excess, sagging skin and tighten her abdominal muscles. Dr. Cassileth performed a tummy tuck, liposuction around her abdomen and rectus diastasis
Continued care
Recommended aftercare, skincare, and MedSpa services for Tummy Tuck.
- Abdominal binder continuously for 6 weeks
- Walking bent forward at the waist for the first week to protect the muscle repair
- Drains typically removed at days 5–10
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy when recommended — improves perfusion at the closure
- Medical-grade silicone sheeting along the hip-to-hip incision
- SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic for scar healing
- SPF 50+ on the scar for 18 months
- Body hydration protocol on the new abdominal contour
- Laser or microneedling along the abdominal scar after 3 months
- Indiba radiofrequency for skin tightening
- Lymphatic drainage starting week 2
- Skincare
Daily silicone sheeting + tightening protocol on newly redraped skin.
Skin retraction after weight loss responds well to consistent topical support.
- MedSpa
Indiba radiofrequency added through month 3 to support skin retraction.
Post-weight-loss patients typically benefit from active tissue tightening.
- Skincare
Sun avoidance and SPF protocol extended through month 12 to minimize scar hyperpigmentation.
Younger skin pigments scars more reliably under sun exposure.
Why this approach
The decisions that shaped this surgical plan.
- Surgical plan calibrated to post-weight-loss tissue. Skin tone, where the redundancy concentrates, and how the tissue redrapes all guided technique choice.
Pre-op preparation
What to do before surgery. Specific to this case.
- Stop NSAIDs, aspirin, and high-dose fish oil two weeks before surgery; the surgical team provides a full medication list at the pre-op visit.
- Nicotine in any form, cigarettes, vapes, patches, gum, paused six weeks before and six weeks after surgery. Nicotine narrows blood vessels and slows wound healing.
- Set up a recovery zone with easy access to water, medication, and comfortable seating. Avoid stairs when possible the first 72 hours.
- Day-of transport and an overnight companion (24 hours minimum) are required for discharge.
Recovery timeline
Milestones specific to this case. Individual recovery varies.
- Day 1–7
Light activity, hydration, and elevation. Expect peak swelling between days 3 and 5, then a gradual easing through the end of the week.
- Week 2
Patients off prescription pain medication, walking 1–2 miles daily, and back to most light household activity.
- Week 4
Most patients back to gym cardio at 50 percent intensity. Scar massage protocol begins. Driving restored if not already.
- Week 6
Standard clearance milestone. Patients return to most exercise, gym work, and sleeping in any position.
- Month 3
Most patients consider this the "final result emerges" milestone. The remaining 10 percent of refinement plays out through month 6.
- Month 6
Final skin tightening achieved. Touch-up consult, if planned, lands here.
