What are the specifics of the abdominoplasty procedure?

For a full abdominoplasty:

1) An incision is made from hip to hip just above the pubic area.

2) Another incision is made to free the navel from the surrounding skin.

3) The skin is detached from the abdominal wall to reveal the muscles and fascia to be tightened. The muscle fascia wall is tightened with surures.

4) The remaining skin and fat are tightened by removing the excess and closing defect.

5) The old belly button stalk is brought out through a new hole and sutured into place. The surgery generally takes about 4-6 hours depending on the size of the patient.

How do I find a tummy tuck surgeon in my area?

Ask friends, search on Realself.com. Make sure to find a board certified plastic surgeon with years of experience. Ask to view before after photos (and make sure you are happy/impressed) with the results!

Will future pregnancy affect the results of a tummy tuck?

It is recommended to wait to have a tummy tuck until you are done having children.

Are tummy tucks covered by insurance?

Generally, tummy tucks are not covered by insurance, but financing may be available.

What is the abdominoplasty recovery period?

It may take weeks or months to completely recover. Patients that start out in top physical condition with strong abdominal muscles tend to recover from abdominoplasty at a much faster rate. Some patients return to work after two weeks, while others take three or four weeks to rest and recuperate. Light exercise will help you heal better & faster. Even patients who have never exercised before should begin an exercise program to reduce swelling, lower the chance of blood clots, and tone muscles. Vigorous exercise, however, should be avoided for a while. Tummy tuck scars may actually appear to worsen during the first three to six months as they heal. Keep in mind that this is normal. It may take nine months to a year before scars flatten out and lighten in color. While they'll never disappear completely abdominal scars will not show under most clothing, even under bathing suits. Also, there are several options to treat surgical scars such as the Vbeam laser. It is best to start treating scars early.

What happens during the tummy tuck procedure?

Abdominoplasty or tummy tuck is a cosmetic surgery procedure used to make the abdomen more firm. The surgery involves the removal of excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen in order to tighten the muscle and fascia of the abdominal wall.