Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) is a transformative procedure for patients dealing with excess abdominal skin, separated muscles, and stubborn fat after pregnancy, significant weight loss, or aging. This guide covers candidacy, surgical technique, and recovery in detail.
Who Is a Candidate?
Ideal candidates include those with post-pregnancy abdominal laxity and muscle separation, excess skin after significant weight loss, exercise-resistant abdominal bulging from diastasis recti, or combined skin excess and fat accumulation. Patients should be at a stable weight, in good general health, and ideally not planning future pregnancies.
The Surgical Procedure
Performed under general anesthesia, a bikini-line incision extends from hip to hip. Through this access, excess skin and subcutaneous fat between the navel and pubis are removed. If diastasis recti is present, the separated rectus muscles are repaired with internal sutures — this step is crucial for restoring core strength and a flat abdominal profile. The belly button is repositioned through a new opening. Surgery takes 2-4 hours.
Mini vs. Full Abdominoplasty
Mini abdominoplasty addresses limited sagging below the navel with a shorter incision and no navel repositioning. Full abdominoplasty is indicated when excess skin extends above the navel and comprehensive muscle repair is needed.
Recovery
Rest for the first 1-2 weeks with a slight forward lean when standing. A compression garment is worn for 6 weeks. Light activities resume at 2-3 weeks, exercise at 6-8 weeks. The scar fades progressively and sits within the bikini line. Final results are apparent once swelling fully resolves at 3-6 months.