Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty)

There are two causes that will result in a person needing a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty). The first, and most common, is pregnancy. The second is after significant weight loss. We are seeing more and more of this second group, especially following bariatric surgery.

There are a variety of procedures that fall under the tummy tuck category, from mini- to major. Choosing which procedure is best for you depends on your anatomy and your goals. That is why a consultation is critical in the decision making process. The minimum procedure usually includes some liposuction and a small amount of skin removal from the lower abdomen. It’s only logical that the more skin that needs to be removed the longer the scar has to be. There are no magic tricks here: a greater need requires a bigger procedure to produce the desired result.

All tummy tucks have in common skin removal and, most often, fat removal as well. When the large abdominal muscles have been pushed apart, as frequently happens with pregnancies, then the additional benefit that can be added in a tummy tuck is to bring the muscles back together. This is not something that you can do for yourself. If the muscles are separated, all of the sit-ups in the world cannot bring them back together, but surgery can. The maximum benefit from a tummy tuck procedure is accomplished by the combination of skin removal, fat reduction, and muscle tightening. The trade off is a longer surgical scar that may extend from hip to hip, but even so it is strategically placed to be covered by the type of swimsuit you wish to wear.

All procedures are performed on an outpatient basis. Recovery is proportional to the extent of the surgery, and almost everyone resumes full activities (other then returning to the gym) within two weeks.