Abdominoplasty/Tummy Tuck

Abdominoplasty, or a tummy tuck, is a procedure that can reduce a protruding abdomen for a slimmer, trimmer appearance. Although a tummy tuck results in a more healthy appearance, keep in mind that another result is a permanent scar that, in some cases, can extend from hip to hip.

This procedure flattens the abdomen by removing excess fat and skin and tightens the muscles of the abdominal wall. An incision is made right above the pubic area from hipbone to hipbone. The navel is separated from surrounding tissue by a second incision. The surgeon then stitches the muscles underneath into a new, tighter position. Finally, the skin flap is stretched down, stiched into place and excess skin is trimmed away.

A mini-tummy tuck takes a smaller incision and does not require your navel to be moved.

A partial tummy tuck involves separating the skin between the incision and the navel, stretching the skin down, trimming away the excess and stitching it back into place.

The typical tummy tuck takes from two to five hours. A mini-tummy tuck takes only one or two.