Tummy Tuck - Bellevue Medical Center

A person may elect to have abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, if he or she has any of the following:

-excess fatty tissue in the abdomen that does not respond well to exercise,

-loose or sagging abdominal skin, or

-abdominal muscles that have been weakened by pregnancy.

During abdominoplasty, a long horizontal incision is made from hip to hip just above the pubic area, and for complete abdominoplasty another incision is made around the navel to free it from the surrounding skin.

The skin of the abdomen is lifted from the abdominal wall, either up to the navel or all the way up to the ribs, and excess fat is removed.

Stretched or weakened abdominal muscles are tightened and secured with sutures. Excess skin is then removed.

Finally, the remaining abdominal skin is stretched back down over the abdomen and the incision is stitched closed. In the case of complete abdominoplasty, a new opening is created for the navel.

There are several potential complications associated with this procedure that should be discussed with a doctor prior to surgery.