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Enhancing your appearance with a tummy tuck
A flat and well-toned abdomen is something many of us strive for through exercise
and weight control. Sometimes these methods cannot achieve our goals.
Even individuals of otherwise normal body weight and proportion can develop an
abdomen that protrudes or is loose and sagging. The most common causes of this
include:
Pregnancy
Aging
Significant fluctuations in weight
Heredity
Prior surgery
Also known as abdominoplasty, a tummy tuck removes excess fat and skin, and in
most cases restores weakened or separated muscles creating an abdominal profile
that is smoother and firmer.
What it won’t do:
A tummy tuck is not a substitute for weight loss or an appropriate exercise program.
Although the results of a tummy tuck are technically permanent, the positive outcome
can be greatly diminished by significant fluctuations in your weight. For this reason,
individuals who are planning substantial weight loss or women who may be
considering future pregnancies may be advised to postpone a tummy tuck.
Also, a tummy tuck cannot correct stretch marks, although these may be removed
or somewhat improved if they are located on the areas of excess skin that will be
excised, generally those treated areas below the belly button.
Is it right for me?
Tummy tuck surgery is a highly individualized procedure and you should do it for
yourself, not to fulfill someone else’s desires or to try to fit any sort of ideal image.

Abdominoplasty is a good option for you if:
You are physically healthy and at a stable weight
You have realistic expectations
You are a non-smoker
You are bothered by the feeling that your tummy is too large
What to expect during your consultation
The success and safety of your tummy tuck procedure depends very much on your
complete candidness during your consultation. You’ll be asked a number of
questions about your health, desires and lifestyle.
Be prepared to discuss:
Why you want the surgery, your expectations and desired outcome
Medical conditions, drug allergies and medical treatments
Use of current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco
and drugs
Previous surgeries
Your surgeon may also:
Evaluate your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions
or risk factors
Take photographs for your medical record
Discuss your options and recommend a course of treatment
Discuss likely outcomes of the tummy tuck and any risks or potential complications
Preparing for surgery
Prior to surgery, you may be asked to:
Get lab testing or a medical evaluation
Take certain medications or adjust your current medications
Stop smoking well in advance of surgery
Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements as
they can increase bleeding
Special instructions you receive will cover:
What to do on the day of surgery
The use of anesthesia during your tummy tuck
Post-operative care and follow-up
Important facts about the safety and risks of abdominoplasty
The decision to have tummy tuck surgery is extremely personal and you’ll have to
decide if the benefits will achieve your goals and if the risks and potential complications
are acceptable.
Your plastic surgeon and/or staff will explain in detail the risks associated with surgery.
You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the
procedure you will undergo and any risks or potential complications.
Possible risks of abdominoplasty include:
Unfavorable scarring
Bleeding (hematoma)
Infection
Fluid accumulation
Poor wound healing
Skin loss
Blood clots
Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
Anesthesia risks
Skin discoloration and/or prolonged swelling
Fatty tissue found deep in the skin might die (fat necrosis)
Major wound separation
Asymmetry
Recurrent looseness of skin
Pain, which may persist
Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
Persistent swelling in the legs
Nerve damage
Possibility of revisional surgery
Suboptimal aesthetic result
You’ll need help
If your abdominoplasty is performed on an outpatient basis, be sure to arrange for
someone to drive you to and from surgery and to stay with you for at least the first
night following surgery.
Procedural Steps:
What happens during tummy tuck surgery?
Step 1 – Anesthesia
Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedures. The
choices include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. Your doctor will
recommend the best choice for you.
Step 2 – The incision
A full tummy tuck requires a horizontally-oriented incision in the area between the
pubic hairline and navel. The shape and length of the incision will be determined
by the degree of correction necessary.
Through this incision, weakened abdominal muscles are repaired and sutured
and excess fat, tissue and skin is removed.
A second incision around the navel may be necessary to remove excess skin in
the upper abdomen.

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Step 3 – Closing the incisions
Sutures, skin adhesives, tapes or clips close the skin incisions.
Step 4 – See the results
Your tummy tuck will result in a flatter, firmer abdominal contour that is more
proportionate with your body type and weight.
The final results may be initially obscured by swelling and your inability to stand
fully upright until internal healing is complete.
Within a week or two, you should be standing tall and confident about your new
slimmer profile.
My recovery
Following your surgery, dressings or bandages may be applied to your incisions,
and you may be wrapped in an elastic bandage or a compression garment to
minimize swelling and to support your abdomen as it heals.
A small, thin tube may be temporarily placed under the skin to drain any excess
blood or fluid that may collect.
You will be given specific instructions that may include: How to care for the surgical
site and drains, medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the
potential for infection, specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your
general health, and when to follow-up with your plastic surgeon.
Be sure to ask your plastic surgeon specific questions about what you can expect
during your individual recovery period.
Where will I be taken after my surgery is complete?
What medication will I be given or prescribed after surgery?
Will I have dressings/bandages after surgery?
When will they be removed?
Are stitches removed? When?
When can I resume normal activity and exercise?
When do I return for follow-up care?
Previous abdominal surgery may limit the potential results of a tummy tuck. In women
who have undergone cesarean section, the existing scars may often be incorporated
into the new scar.
How much will tummy tuck surgery cost?
Cost is always a consideration in elective surgery. Prices for tummy tucks can vary
widely. A surgeon’s cost for a tummy tuck may vary based on his or her experience,
the type of procedure used, as well as geographic office location.
Many plastic surgeons offer patient financing plans, so be sure to ask.
Cost may include:
Surgeon’s fee
Hospital or surgical facility costs
Anesthesia fees
Prescriptions for medication
Post-surgery garments, and
Medical tests
Your satisfaction involves more than a fee
When choosing a plastic surgeon for a tummy tuck, remember that the surgeon’s
experience and your comfort with him or her are just as important as the final cost
of the surgery.
Words to know
Abdominoplasty: A surgical procedure to correct the apron of excess skin
hanging over your abdomen.
Diastasis: Condition in which abdominal muscles have separated.
General anesthesia: Drugs and/or gases used during an operation to relieve
pain and alter consciousness.
Hematoma: Blood pooling beneath the skin.
Intravenous sedation: Sedatives administered by injection into a vein to
help you relax.
Liposuction: Also called lipoplasty or suction lipectomy, this procedure
vacuums out fat from beneath the skin’s surface to reduce fullness.
Local anesthesia: A drug is injected directly to the site of an incision during
an operation to relieve pain.
Sutures: Stitches used by surgeons to hold skin and tissue together.
Tummy tuck: A surgical procedure to correct the apron of excess skin hanging
over your abdomen.
Questions to ask my plastic surgeon
Use this checklist as a guide during your consultation
Are you certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?
Are you a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons?
Were you specifically trained in the field of plastic surgery?
How many years of plastic surgery training have you had?
Do you have hospital privileges to perform this procedure?
If so, at which hospitals?
Is the office-based surgical facility accredited by a nationally- or state-recognized
accrediting agency, or is it state-licensed or Medicare-certified?
Am I a good candidate for this procedure?
What will be expected of me to get the best results?
Where and how will you perform my procedure?
What surgical technique is recommended for me?
How long of a recovery period can I expect, and what kind of help will I need
during my recovery?
What are the risks and complications associated with my procedure?
How are complications handled?
How can I expect my stomach to look over time?
After pregnancy?
What are my options if I am dissatisfied with the cosmetic outcome of my
tummy tuck?
Do you have before-and-after photos I can look at for this procedure and what
results are reasonable for me?

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