Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty)
A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen and corrects the muscle wall when it has weakened or separated, common after pregnancy or major weight loss. The aim is a flatter, firmer abdomen. It is not a weight loss method.
This page also covers lipoabdominoplasty, which combines liposuction and a tummy tuck in a single surgery, and abdominal lipectomy, another name for this procedure.
What it involves
Through a horizontal incision low on the abdomen, above the pubic area, the skin is lifted, the weakened or separated muscles are repaired with sutures, and the excess skin and fat are removed. A full tummy tuck also involves an incision around the navel, which stays in place and is secured in a new opening in the skin.
Lipoabdominoplasty combines 360 liposuction and a tummy tuck to remove localized fat and excess skin in the same surgery; the aim is a flatter, firmer abdomen and a more defined waist. When the laxity is limited to the area below the navel, a shorter incision may be enough.
The technique and the extent are defined at your evaluation, based on the amount of excess skin, the condition of your muscles, and your health.
Who it is for
It is usually suited to people with excess or loose abdominal skin and weakened or separated muscles, often after pregnancy or major weight loss, who are at a stable weight and in good health. It does not replace diet or exercise. Your evaluation confirms whether you are a candidate.
- Excess or loose skin and a weakened abdominal wall after pregnancy or major weight changes.
- Stable weight and good general health, with no uncontrolled medical conditions.
- People who do not smoke or who can stop nicotine before and after surgery.
- It is best postponed if you are planning a pregnancy or still expect to lose a significant amount of weight.
- It is not a treatment for obesity and does not remove stretch marks outside the skin that is taken away.
What to know beforehand
Length of surgery
It usually takes 2 to 6 hours, depending on each case. The time depends on the extent of the surgery and on whether it is combined with liposuction or other procedures, as in a lipoabdominoplasty. Your evaluation gives an estimate for your surgery.
Type of anesthesia
General anesthesia is the usual choice. In less extensive surgeries, the surgeon may suggest another option. The choice is made for each case at the evaluation, according to your health and the extent of the surgery.
Hospital stay and recovery
Depending on the extent of the surgery, it can be outpatient or require a hospital stay, generally 1 to 3 days, depending on each case. Drains may be left in place for a few days or up to two weeks, and during the first days you will walk slightly bent over; an upright posture returns gradually over one to two weeks.
Light activities at home are usually resumed in the first or second week and desk work at 2 to 4 weeks, depending on the type of work. Heavy lifting and strenuous exercise are avoided for 4 to 8 weeks, depending on each case.
Aftercare
Your medical team gives you the exact instructions for your case. These are the usual ones:
- Wear the abdominal binder for as long as your surgeon indicates; it is usually worn for several weeks.
- Take short walks from the first day, without forcing your posture, to lower the risk of blood clots.
- Rest with your legs and hips bent so you do not put tension on your abdomen.
- If you have drains, empty them and record the amount as you are shown, until they are removed.
- Do not lift heavy objects or strain your abdomen until your surgeon clears you.
- Do not smoke: tobacco slows healing and raises the risk of complications.
- Protect the scar from the sun and seek care right away for fever, bleeding, increasing pain, or trouble breathing.
Expected results
The abdomen looks flatter from the start, but swelling masks the result. Most of the swelling settles during the first weeks and it can take several months to resolve completely; the result is assessed at around 6 months.
The scar is permanent: it sits low on the abdomen, from hip to hip, where underwear usually covers it, and there may be another around the navel. At first it is red and thick, and it takes about a year, sometimes longer, to flatten and fade. A later pregnancy or major weight changes can alter the result.
Frequently asked questions
What are the risks of a tummy tuck?
It is major surgery and it carries risks. Possible complications include fluid or blood collecting under the skin, infection, slow or unfavorable scarring, loss of sensation in the lower abdomen, and asymmetry. Less often there can be skin loss, deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, and reactions to anesthesia. Smoking raises the risk of poor wound healing. At your evaluation they are reviewed in light of your health.
What is the difference between a tummy tuck and a lipoabdominoplasty?
A tummy tuck removes excess skin and repairs the muscle wall. A lipoabdominoplasty adds liposuction in the same surgery to also treat localized fat in the abdomen and waist, areas where a tummy tuck alone has less effect. It means one operation and one recovery. Which option suits you depends on how much skin and how much fat there is, and it is defined at your evaluation.
Can I have surgery if I want more children?
The recommendation is to postpone surgery until you are no longer planning pregnancies. A later pregnancy stretches the skin and muscles of the abdomen again and can undo part of the result. The same applies to major weight changes, which is why it is best to reach surgery at a stable weight.
Does a tummy tuck remove stretch marks?
Only the ones on the skin that is removed, which is usually the skin between the navel and the pubic area. Stretch marks outside that area remain, although they may shift position as the skin is tightened. The surgery is not designed to treat stretch marks.
Is a tummy tuck a way to lose weight?
No. It is a contouring surgery, not an alternative to weight loss or a treatment for obesity. It works better in people at a stable weight. If you plan to lose weight, the advice is to do it first: losing weight after surgery can leave you with loose skin again.
This information is general and does not replace a medical assessment. The timing, technique and recovery for your case are defined in consultation with the surgeon.
Let us talk about your case
Every body needs a personal assessment. Tell us what you are considering and we will review the options that suit you best.