Reclaim Your Abdomen's Flatness
A Surgical Solution for a Toned Midsection
Safely and effectively remove excess skin and fat and tighten muscles for a flatter, firmer, and more youthful abdomen.
Tummy Tuck at a Glance
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Overview
A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is a surgical procedure designed to create a flatter, firmer, and more toned abdomen. It removes excess skin and fat, and more importantly, it tightens the underlying abdominal muscles that have been weakened by pregnancy or weight fluctuations.
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Recovery
A recovery period of several weeks is required. You will experience swelling and bruising, and a compression garment will be worn to aid in healing. Most patients can return to work and light activities within two to three weeks, with a full return to normal activities in about six to eight weeks.
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Results
The results of a tummy tuck are immediate and dramatic. The procedure provides a more toned and defined abdominal contour, and the final results become fully apparent as the swelling resolves over several months.
Tummy Tuck
Am I a Good Candidate?
What Do Scars Look Like?
More Details About Tummy Tuck
How a Tummy Tuck Works
The Surgical Process
A tummy tuck is a highly customized surgical procedure performed under general anesthesia. The surgeon makes an incision from hip to hip and a second incision around the navel. The excess skin and fat are removed, and the underlying abdominal muscles — which may have separated, a condition called diastasis recti — are repaired and tightened with internal sutures. The remaining skin is then redraped for a smoother, more contoured appearance.
A Solution to Diastasis Recti
Many women who have had children or have lost a significant amount of weight are left with a condition called diastasis recti, where the abdominal muscles have separated down the midline. A tummy tuck is one of the few procedures that can directly repair these muscles, restoring core strength along with the cosmetic improvement. This is a key benefit that cannot be achieved with non-surgical treatments like liposuction or radiofrequency body contouring, which address fat but not the underlying muscle wall.
Surgeon's Notes
What we look for at consultation
The most common question we hear is whether the goal of a tummy tuck is fat removal. It isn't. The procedure exists primarily to repair the abdominal wall — specifically the separation of the rectus muscles that pregnancy and significant weight changes leave behind. When we plan an abdominoplasty we're thinking about that muscle repair first, the skin redrape second, and any liposuction last. That order matters: a flat-looking abdomen with an unrepaired muscle wall will lose definition within a year. We'd rather decline a patient who isn't ready for the full procedure than rush an aesthetic-only fix that won't hold.
Tummy Tuck
Tummy Tuck Recovery & Results Timeline
Please remember this is just a guide for Tummy Tuck recovery. Every individual and recovery is unique. Your surgeon will provide you with personalized instructions and recovery times after your procedure.
Day 1 – 3
You will experience pain, swelling, and bruising. You will have drains in place to remove any fluid buildup and a compression garment will be worn to aid in healing.
1 – 2 Weeks
The drains will be removed, and you can return to light, non-strenuous activities. The majority of the swelling and bruising will have subsided.
4 – 6 Weeks
The remaining swelling will continue to resolve. You can gradually return to a full exercise routine, but we recommend avoiding heavy lifting.
6 Months – 1 Year
All residual swelling will have completely resolved, and the final results of your tummy tuck will be fully apparent and stable.
Your Surgeons
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Schedule a consultation to discuss Tummy Tuck with our board-certified surgeons.