Are you feeling as if you have a little too much around the middle? An abdominoplasty or “tummy tuck” procedure may be the right choice for you. An abdominoplasty removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen while tightening the abdominal musculature. While liposuction can remove excess fat in some patients, a tummy tuck works better in patients who are older or in whom pregnancy has stretched the abdominal skin and muscles. 

                                                                                                                                                 There are two types of abdominoplasty: a mini-abdominoplasty and a full abdominoplasty. The amount of excess skin and fat present determines which procedure is selected. Patients with only minimal excess confined to the lower abdomen with only lower abdominal bulging are good candidates for the mini-abdominoplasty procedure.

                                                                   Patients with more fullness in the upper abdomen and a large amount of excess skin require full abdominoplasty. Both procedures can be performed in men or women. A mini-abdominoplasty typically costs a little less. Recovery time is usually 2 weeks for the mini-abdominoplasty and three weeks for the full abdominoplasty.       

                                                                   

Tummy tucks can often be combined with breast lift and implant procedures to create a “Mommy Makeover” effect. These procedures address not only the abdominal bulging which can follow  pregnancies, but also the sagging or ptosis of breasts which can occurr with pregnancy and breast feeding.