Many people notice stubborn fat, loose skin, or “pouching” of the abdomen after life events such as pregnancy or weight loss. In addition to loose skin or stubborn fat in the abdomen, the rectus abdominis (“six-pack”) muscles may also need to be tightened if they have become separated (rectus diastasis) over time. Unfortunately, if you have loose skin or significant separation of your rectus abdominis muscles, no amount of diet and exercise can get you a fully toned tummy. An abdominoplasty or tummy tuck is a surgical procedure that can address these concerns by removing excess abdominal skin and fatty tissue and repairing separated abdominal muscles. Some people also have hernias in the abdominal wall that may be repaired during a tummy tuck. This combination of treatments can help you achieve a firmer, flatter midsection.

You may find that you are uncomfortable in specific clothing or a swimsuit because of the appearance of your abdomen. You may feel frustrated by the limitations of your current diet and exercise program. The benefits of an abdominoplasty are unique to each individual. An abdominoplasty can:

• Remove loose skin from the abdomen
• Remove extra fat from the abdomen, hips, and waist
• Tighten loose rectus abdominis muscles
• Boost your self-esteem
• Improve your self-confidence in and out of clothing
• Add balance to your figure

If you are interested in body contouring but have loose skin or extra fat around your waist and abdomen, an abdominoplasty might be right for you.

In addition to deciding whether an abdominoplasty can meet your personal goals, several factors must be considered in determining whether you are a good candidate for this procedure. Good candidates for an abdominoplasty include those who:

• Want to improve their midsection shape
• Want to improve loose skin of the abdomen
• Want to improve the contour of their abdomen, hips, and waist
• Want to achieve optimal proportions for their figure
• Have generally good physical and mental health
• Are nonsmokers, or are willing to stop smoking before surgery
• Have realistic expectations from abdominoplasty surgery

While an abdominoplasty can address various concerns, it has limitations. Knowing these limitations and understanding when you may be a candidate for a different type of surgery is essential. An abdominoplasty cannot:

• Address intraabdominal fat (fat on the inside of your abdomen near your internal organs)
• Be used as a weight loss treatment
• Prevent accumulation of fat or loose skin with future pregnancy or weight gain

Managing pain effectively is a large focus of our recovery plan. In addition to a multi-modal pain medication regimen, our plastic surgeons use a pain pump to deliver numbing medicine for postoperative pain relief. The medicine is delivered automatically—you don’t need to do anything. We have found that our patients using the pain pump need fewer narcotics and have a generally quicker recovery than those who don’t.

Generally, an abdominoplasty is performed as an outpatient procedure, meaning you can go home shortly after the surgery is complete. In some cases, though, particularly if you have other procedures done at the same time, you may need to stay overnight and go home the next day. After your surgery, you will be placed in dressings and a supportive compression garment. You will spend a short time in the recovery room before a friend or family member takes you home, where you should plan to rest for the remainder of the day. Be sure to arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery and to stay with you at least the first night. We will advise you on pain medication to ease any discomfort, give you detailed post-operative instructions, and schedule a follow-up appointment to check your progress.

It would help if you planned to take it easy following your surgery. It would help if you were up and walking the day following surgery, although you will be sore for several days. You should be able to resume your normal daily activities within one to two weeks following surgery. No strenuous activities, heavy lifting (over 20 pounds), aerobic exercises, swimming, contact sports, tennis, or golf should be planned for the first three weeks. As we monitor your recovery, we will advise you when it is safe to resume specific activities. You should be able to resume all of your physical activities within six to eight weeks of surgery, depending on the particular needs of your procedure. It would help if you planned to wear the abdominal compression garment for about six weeks following surgery.

You may notice that you feel less sensation in the abdominal area. This is usually temporary. It may, however, take weeks, months, or even more than a year before the sensation returns to normal. Incisions will initially be red or pink. They should fade and soften over time (up to 18 months after surgery). You will notice an improvement in your abdomen contour immediately. However, your shape will continue to improve in the following weeks as the swelling subsides. Final results are usually seen at six months to a year after surgery.

Every patient’s recovery is different. Your recovery may be quicker or take more time than average.

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