Women and men who have excessive adipose tissue or loose skin in the abdomen may benefit from an abdominoplasty or “tummy tuck” procedure. Tummy tucks can be especially beneficial for patients who have:
• had their abdomen stretched out during pregnancy,
• lost a great deal of weight and have loose skin,
• a protruding abdomen, or
• weakened or separated abdominal muscles.
Tummy tucks may be performed alone, or in combination with our other body contouring procedures, such as specialized liposuction. Patients in need of umbilical hernia repair can sometimes have this taken care of at the time of their tummy tuck procedure.
Good candidates for a tummy tuck or combined tummy tuck procedure are physically healthy, at a stable weight, have realistic expectations, and do not smoke.
Incisions
The incision for a tummy tuck is horizontal and is typically placed below the swimsuit line (just above the pubic area). The length of the tummy tuck incision will vary, depending on the amount of skin and fat to be removed in the abdominal region. (We make it as short as possible.) The incision line will be visible but typically fades over time, as healing progresses.
Post-operative care
After your tummy tuck, we will continue to monitor you closely to ensure that you have the best plastic surgery outcome possible. The frequency of office visits, and resumption of normal activities, will vary depending on how quickly you are healing.
Seek out an expert
A tummy tuck is an extensive procedure and should be performed by a highly skilled, board-certified plastic surgeon. The results of your surgery — as well as your safety — depend on the experience and expertise of your surgeon. Make sure he or she has proper credentials, training, and experience to provide you with the best surgical outcome.