Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)

A tummy tuck addresses the combination of excess skin and a weakened abdominal wall that often follows pregnancy or significant weight loss — problems that diet and exercise cannot fix because stretched skin and separated muscle do not contract back on their own. The procedure restores a flat, taut abdomen by removing the surplus skin and, crucially, repairing the underlying muscle.

Through a horizontal incision placed low on the abdomen where it can be hidden by underwear, the surgeon lifts the skin, repairs diastasis recti — the separation of the vertical abdominal muscles that commonly persists after pregnancy — and addresses any hernia present, then redrapes the skin downward, removes the excess, and repositions the navel. Where extra contour is needed, flank liposuction is combined in the same session to smooth the transition at…

Recovery is more involved than for less extensive body procedures. Patients rest at home for about two weeks and avoid office work for a similar period, reintroduce light activity at around three weeks, and reach full activity by about four weeks. A compression garment is worn for four to eight weeks to support the abdominal wall, control swelling and help the skin adhere to the new contour. The scar is long but low and fades substantially over the first…