What Is A Tummy Tuck? 7 Things You Should Know
Key takeaways:
A tummy tuck is a surgery that can remove stretch marks, get rid of excess skin, and tighten belly muscles. It can make your stomach look flatter and firmer.
The tummy tuck procedure is a major surgery. Most people can go back to their daily activities in 2 weeks, but full recovery can take several weeks.
The results are long-lasting if you maintain a stable weight. Gaining or losing more than 15 lbs can affect your results.
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Aging, pregnancy, and weight loss make your abdominal muscles less elastic. Even with exercise, it may be impossible to get rid of sagging, loose skin or a protruding belly. An abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) is a surgery that reshapes your belly. It helps to remove excess skin and fat and repairs weak muscles.
What is a tummy tuck?
A tummy tuck is a common cosmetic surgery for both men and women. About 100,000 tummy tucks are performed each year.
There are different types of tummy tucks, based on how much extra skin is removed and where it’s located:
Full tummy tuck: Improves the look of both your upper and lower abdomen
Mini-tummy tuck: Focuses only on the area below your belly button
Reverse tummy tuck: Targets the area above your belly button
Extended tummy tuck: This is the most involved type as it reshapes your upper and lower abdomen and flanks (sides)
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During your tummy tuck consultation, the surgeon will look at the condition of your skin, muscles, and tissue. This helps them choose the best option for your body.
If you’re considering having the procedure, here are seven things you should know.
1. A tummy tuck is a major surgery
A tummy tuck may sound simple, but it’s a major surgical procedure with dramatic results. It’s usually done under general anesthesia. This means you’ll be asleep and need a breathing tube during the surgery.
A tummy tuck corrects many issues, including excess skin, fat, and weak belly muscles. Because of this, the surgery itself involves several steps.
How is a tummy tuck performed?
A tummy tuck usually includes these steps:
Bikini cut: A horizontal incision is made below your belly button in what’s known as the “bikini line.” This means the scar will be low enough for a bikini bottom or underwear to cover it.
Diastasis recti repair: If you have diastasis recti, your belly muscles are weak and have formed a gap. A tummy tuck pulls the muscles back together and tightens the tissues between the muscles.
Excess skin removal: The skin is then pulled down tight like a window shade, and the extra skin is removed. Your surgeon will bring your belly button up to the right position through a small cut.
Liposuction: If necessary, liposuction is then used to remove small pockets of fat.
Skin closure: Your surgeon closes the incisions with sutures or surgical glue and covers them with bandages.
How much does a tummy tuck cost? The cost of a tummy tuck can vary depending on the type of surgery and where you live.
Will insurance cover weight-loss surgery? Learn more about who is eligible for bariatric surgery and whether insurance can help pay for it.
What is it like to recover from liposuction? Learn what recovery from liposuction recovery feels like — as told by someone who has been through it.
Immediately after surgery, you’ll likely be fatigued, swollen, and sore. These symptoms will get better over the next several weeks, but recovery takes time and patience.
2. You might be able to have a mini tummy tuck, instead of the full surgery
About 10% of tummy tucks are mini tummy tucks. This type only needs a small incision, usually 4 to 8 inches long. The belly button doesn’t get moved, and there’s no excess skin removed from your upper abdomen.
A mini tummy tuck is best for people who are already close to their ideal shape and have only a small amount of extra skin and lower belly fat. A mini tummy tuck usually means a smaller scar and quicker recovery compared to a full tummy tuck.
3. A tummy tuck involves some risk
If you have a tummy tuck, there’s a 4% risk of a major complication. These complications may include:
Hematoma (a buildup of blood outside of the blood vessels)
Infection
Blood clots (like a pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis)
You may also have an unexpected outcome after tummy tuck surgery. These risks include:
Numbness or changes in sensation along the scar
A scar that becomes raised or doesn’t fade as expected
An uneven appearance or persistent lumps under your skin
Dissatisfaction with the results
4. Complete recovery from a tummy tuck can be up to 8 weeks
Depending on how physically demanding your daily routine is, you may be ready to return to your regular activities in 2 weeks. But a full recovery can take several more weeks for the pain, swelling, and redness to resolve.
Your surgeon may make several recommendations to help minimize side effects and speed up healing. These can include:
Compression: Along with the bandages placed on your sutures, you’ll wear an elastic bandage or compression wrap. You’ll likely need to wear a compression bandage for several weeks. This helps keep the swelling down.
Drains: A small tube (called a drain) may be placed under your skin during the surgery and left in temporarily. This will drain any excess fluid that could accumulate. You may have a few drains after surgery. These are important for healing and to lower your risk of infection.
Light activity: You can start light activity, like walking, right away. But you’ll have to avoid strenuous activity for a little while. Lifting heavy objects, running, and doing abdominal exercises will likely be off-limits for at least 6 weeks. This includes lifting small children.
5. A tummy tuck isn’t for everybody
Although you may be unhappy with your current body shape, a tummy tuck might not be the right choice for you. Some people have health conditions that make having the procedure too risky. And a tummy tuck isn’t useful for weight loss, so it’s not a good option if you’re just beginning a weight-loss journey.
You might be a good candidate for a tummy tuck if:
You have loose skin, excess fat, or stretched belly muscles that don’t respond to diet or exercise.
You’re in good health.
You don’t smoke.
You’re close to your goal weight.
You don’t plan on any major weight changes in the future, including from a pregnancy or with excessive weight loss.
You have realistic expectations about what the surgery can and can’t do.
6. While effective, a tummy tuck may not be a permanent fix
If you’re a good candidate, a tummy tuck can be a very effective way to make your abdomen look flatter and firmer. The results are immediate — you’ll wake up with tighter skin and a flat contour. The result will improve over the next few weeks as the swelling decreases and the scar fades.
The improvement is permanent as long as you don’t lose or gain more than 10 lbs to 15 lbs after the procedure. Big changes in weight could cause excess skin to return and you might need another procedure to fix it.
7. A tummy tuck is not weight-loss surgery
While a tummy tuck gives you a slimmer appearance, it isn’t a weight-loss surgery. It doesn’t affect your appetite, digestion, or metabolism. Weight-loss surgery, on the other hand, does change how your digestive system works so you take in fewer calories. But it doesn’t remove excess skin or tighten your belly like a tummy tuck.
There are several types of weight-loss surgery. The three common ones are:
Gastric sleeve: This procedure permanently removes 75% of your stomach.
Gastric bypass: In this procedure, a surgeon makes your stomach smaller by turning it into a small pouch and attaching it to a lower part of your small intestine. This allows food to bypass the remainder of your stomach and the first part of your small intestine. This cuts down on the calories and fat you can absorb from food.
Adjustable gastric band: This involves a surgeon placing a ring with an inflatable, adjustable band around the top of your stomach to create a small pouch. It can make you feel full with a smaller amount of food, is less invasive, and is easily reversible.
What are the best alternatives to a tummy tuck?
Once you’ve reached your goal weight, there are some nonsurgical alternatives to a tummy tuck. These in-office procedures use thermal energy, radio frequency, or a cooling process to help tighten your skin and reduce fat deposits. They work best if you’re looking for small improvements, or if you don’t have a lot of extra skin or muscle weakness.
How much does a tummy tuck typically cost?
The cost depends on the type of procedure and healthcare costs in your area. In 2020, the average physician cost (the amount of money charged by your surgeon) for a tummy tuck was about $6,000. But that doesn’t include other costs — like anesthesia care and facility charges. With these charges included, the full cost of a tummy tuck can get up to $20,000.
Frequently asked questions
Excess skin and fat are permanently removed during a tummy tuck, which means the results are permanent as long as your weight is stable. If you gain or lose more than 10 lbs to 15 lbs, the skin and fat distribution on your abdomen can change. This can change the appearance of your abdomen. Some people may need another tummy tuck if they have additional weight changes.
In most cases, tummy tucks aren’t covered by insurance. But insurance may cover a panniculectomy, which is a procedure that removes excess skin from the abdomen. People who’ve undergone weight-loss surgery may qualify for this procedure if the excess skin is causing infections or pain.
Most tummy tucks are performed on people between 30 and 54 years old. But people outside of this age range may still be candidates for surgery, depending on their overall health.
The bottom line
Tummy tucks are one of the top five most popular cosmetic surgeries performed each year. They’re a great way to create a firm belly profile when things like diet and exercise aren’t enough. But they aren’t right for everyone. Tummy tucks are best for people who are close to their ideal body weight.
If you’re interested in a more contoured belly and think you might be a good candidate for a tummy tuck, talk with a plastic surgeon. They can help determine if the procedure is a good option for you.
Why trust our experts?
References
American Board of Cosmetic Surgery. (n.d.). Tummy tuck | Abdominoplasty.
American Society of Plastic Surgeons. (n.d.). Liposuction.
American Society of Plastic Surgeons. (2015). ’Tummy tuck’ complications—study looks at rates and risk factors.
American Society of Plastic Surgeons. (2020). Plastic surgery statistics report.
Matarasso, A., et al. (2006). Abdominoplasty and abdominal contour surgery: A national plastic surgery survey. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (2020). Types of weight-loss surgery.
Vitenas, P. (2018). Five things to consider before getting a tummy tuck. American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
