What is a tummy tuck?

A tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, is the removal of loose skin on the abdomen from the belly button to the pubic bone. The skin can be loose for a variety of reasons, but most commonly from pregnancy and weight loss. The skin above the belly button is then pulled down tight, like a curtain shade, and this skin becomes the new abdomen. The tummy tuck procedure usually involves tightening of the abdominal rectus muscles. These muscles run vertically (up and down) from the rib cage to the pubic bone. Often times when a woman becomes pregnant or a person gains a bunch of weight, the connective tissue that is usually tight between the muscles is stretched and does not "snap" back together. This stretched out tissue between the two rectus muscles is called a rectus diastasis, and this is also repaired during a tummy tuck by bringing the two edges of the rectus muscles closer together with permanent stitches. The muscle is not cut in any way, only tightened with these stitches to re-establish that internal "girdle." What happens to the belly button if all that skin around it is moved? Well, the belly button (also called the umbilicus) is released from the skin that surrounds it while still staying attached to abdominal wall below the skin. The skin around it is then pulled down tight as described above and the excess skin is removed. The surgeon will then feel where the belly button is and make a new opening for it in the skin that was pulled down. So, a patient really isn't getting a new belly button, the old one is just coming out through the skin via a new opening. Sometimes a surgeon may also perform additional liposuction to the waist, hip, or love handle area, but this varies depending on the doctor as well as the patient. Recovery for a tummy tuck is quite intense. Patients who have had both a c-section and the tummy tuck have said it is more painful of a recovery than the c-section. Usually there will be two drains and a compression garment. The drains come out typically at one week and the garment is worn for four to six weeks. A tummy tuck patient will need a caregiver for the first week, but after that will be fairly self-sufficient. Returning to work will depend a lot on what type of job a person has; for a desk job probably 2-3 weeks off is sufficient. For a more physical job, 3-4 weeks would be better. Light activities such as walking are good to do at about 10 days out from surgery with a gradual return to the gym at 4 weeks. A tummy tuck is one of those procedures that make such a marked difference in an individual' s physical appearance that it is an absolute delight to perform. Although the financial and time investment is significant, the dramatic change for patients is worth it.