Tummy Tuck

The tummy tuck, also called abdominoplasty, is a surgical procedure performed by a specialized plastic surgeon that removes excess fat and skin to create an abdominal profile that is smoother and firmer and tightens the muscles in the abdominal wall. A tummy tuck is not intended for weight loss.

A tummy tuck will help achieve a flatter, firmer abdominal contour that is more proportionate with the patient's body type and weight. The results of a tummy tuck might not be fully noticeable right away because the patient will be swollen and unable to stand fully upright. Within a week or two, a tummy tuck patient should be standing tall and notice a new, much slimmer profile.

Tummy Tuck Procedure

A tummy tuck is a surgery that is typically performed in a hospital; however, some tummy tucks may be performed in a fully accredited outpatient surgical center. The location of the operation depends on the patient's body mass index (BMI) at the time of the tummy tuck surgery. The higher the BMI, the more time the surgery takes, and the more likely it will take place in a hospital where the patient might spend one to three nights. The time of abdominoplasty itself ranges from one to five hours, and it is performed under general anesthesia, which means the patient is asleep during the procedure.

There are two basic options for a tummy tuck: complete and partial (mini) tummy tuck.

Complete Tummy Tuck

In a complete tummy tuck, an incision is made on the abdomen from hipbone to hipbone just above the pubic hair area. The tummy tuck surgeon will contour the skin, tissue and muscle to give the patient a smooth, natural-looking result. Drainage tubes to help evacuate excess fluid might be placed under the patient's skin, which will be removed a few days after surgery. The belly button might be repositioned and have a new opening if it is necessary to free the patient's navel from the surrounding tissue. A complete tummy tuck takes two to five hours.

Complete tummy tuck is the best option for patients who require more extensive correction.

Partial or Mini Tummy Tuck

A mini tummy tuck is most often performed on patients whose fat deposits are below the navel and who require less correction. This allows the surgeon to make shorter incisions, and the recovery time is less than for a complete tummy tuck.

The patient's belly button might be removed. The tummy tuck surgeon then separates the skin between the belly button and the line of incision. In some cases, a mini tummy tuck may be performed with an endoscope, which is a device with a small camera attached to the end of a tube. A mini tummy tuck usually takes one to two hours.

Click here to read more about tummy tuck techniques.

Tummy Tuck Candidates

A good tummy tuck candidate suffers from loose (inelastic) skin on many or most areas of the body as a result of age, childbearing (women) or extreme weight loss from diet, exercise or bariatric surgery. Usually a tummy tuck is performed when the patient's mid-section skin is overly flabby and is encumbered by rolls of excess skin and fat and doesn't respond to other weight-loss methods such as diet, exercise or bariatric surgery.

Ultimately, that decision is determined by you and your cosmetic surgeon.

Tummy Tuck and Bariatric Surgery

Candidates who have had gastric bypass, Lap-Band® or other gastric-restrictive procedures should wait at least one year after their weight-loss surgery. This will allow the patient to fully recover, have more time to lose weight, and reduce the impact of health problems associated with obesity.

Tummy Tuck and Pregnancy

Many times a tummy tuck surgery is performed in conjunction with liposuction to give the patient better results.

For women who plan to have children, it is recommended that they postpone their tummy tuck surgery until after childbirth. In a tummy tuck surgery, the vertical muscles of the abdomen are tightened. The muscles can become separated again if there is a pregnancy after a tummy tuck, requiring abdominoplasty revision.

Normal-weight women in their 30s and 40s may opt for a tummy tuck to remove remaining excess skin and fatty tissue after reducing excessive post-pregnancy weight.

Tummy Tuck Recovery

A tummy tuck is a major surgical procedure that requires significant recovery time. Most people require four to six weeks to recover from their tummy tucks before returning to normal activities. All the swelling should dissipate after eight weeks, which is typically when patients see results.

Pain and discomfort right after surgery are managed with oral pain medications. A specific dietary plan might be encouraged, if the patient is not already following one. The tummy tuck surgeon will supply complete instructions that must be followed to reduce the risk of complications and maximize results after a tummy tuck surgery.

Tummy Tuck Considerations and Risks

The abdominal scars from abdominoplasty will appear to worsen during the first weeks after tummy tuck surgery. It might take up to 18 months before the scars flatten and lighten in color. Tummy tuck scars never completely disappear, but they can be hidden by clothing. Your tummy tuck surgeon might recommend complementary treatments to reduce the scarring. Click here to read more about tummy tuck incisions and scarring.

Like any surgical procedure, tummy tuck includes risks, such as:

• Infection
• Bleeding
• Temporary numbness
• Blood clots
• Pain
• Decreased feeling in that area
• Scar tissue buildup
• Hematoma
• Seroma (fluid accumulating under the skin)

Finding a qualified and experienced cosmetic surgeon and following post-surgical instructions will help minimize these risks.

Finding the Right Surgeon

Choose a good tummy tuck surgeon to make sure you have a successful surgery. Follow the doctor's directions before and after your procedure to reduce the risks of infection, complications and disappointing results. Use our Surgeon Locator to find a qualified cosmetic surgeon in your area.

Tummy Tuck Preparation

Before a tummy tuck surgery, you should stop smoking and consuming alcohol for a least a week. It is also recommended that you stop taking certain medications before the tummy tuck surgery including aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) and blood thinners, because these increase the risk of bleeding. Stop using herbal remedies that can increase the risk of bleeding: vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, green tea and gingko biloba. Your doctor will talk to you about when it is safe to resume these.

Tell your tummy tuck surgeon everything you are taking. Consult your regular physician before stopping prescribed medication.

Tummy Tuck Follow-up Consultation

After the tummy tuck surgery, your surgeon will give you a list of medications to take, after-care instructions and a follow-up appointment. Keep a note pad nearby during your recovery days, so you can write down questions and concerns that come up.

In follow-up appointments, your tummy tuck surgeon will make sure healing is going on as planned, and he or she might take out sutures and assess what aftercare is needed with your tummy tuck recovery.