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A tummy tuck removes loose, stretched skin from the abdomen and tightens the muscles underneath. It is most often chosen after pregnancy or significant weight loss, when diet and exercise can no longer change the shape of the stomach.
Pregnancy and weight change stretch the skin of the abdomen and can pull the two vertical abdominal muscles apart, a condition called diastasis recti. Once that happens, the skin rarely tightens again on its own and the stomach keeps a rounded shape however much you exercise.
During a tummy tuck, an incision is made low across the abdomen. The separated muscles are stitched back together to restore a firm wall, excess skin and fat are removed, and the remaining skin is redraped smoothly. In a full tummy tuck the belly button is repositioned so it sits naturally on the new contour.
Dr. Sood plans the incision so the scar sits low enough to be covered by most underwear and swimwear. Liposuction of the flanks is often added to refine the waist, and a hernia can be repaired in the same operation.
A tummy tuck suits adults whose abdominal shape has changed in ways exercise cannot correct. At consultation Dr. Sood examines your skin and muscle and tells you whether a full or mini tummy tuck fits your goals.
If your question is not here, bring it to consultation. Nothing is too small to ask.
Ask Dr. SoodA cosmetic tummy tuck is not covered. A hernia repair performed at the same time may be, and our team will help you understand your options.
Pregnancy can stretch the skin and separate the muscles again. Most patients wait until they have finished having children.
Yes. Liposuction of the flanks, hernia repair and a breast procedure are often done in the same operation. Dr. Sood will tell you which combinations are safe for you.
Surgery is outpatient, and you go home the same day. You will walk slightly bent for the first several days, wear a compression garment, and have drains in most cases. Desk work usually resumes at two to three weeks, and full exercise around six weeks.
The incision runs low across the abdomen, usually hidden by underwear or a bikini bottom, with a small scar around the belly button in a full tummy tuck. Scars fade over twelve to eighteen months, and scar care begins at your first post-operative visit.
A full tummy tuck treats the whole abdomen, removing skin above and below the belly button and tightening the muscles from ribs to pelvis. A mini tummy tuck treats only the area below the belly button through a shorter incision. Your anatomy decides which one gives the result you want.
Board-certified plastic & reconstructive surgeon
Dr. Aditya Sood is an American Board of Plastic Surgery-certified plastic surgeon with over 12 years of experience specializing in a variety of plastic, reconstructive, and aesthetic procedures. His focus lies in advanced aesthetic surgery of the face, breast and body.
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