Quick answer: A tummy tuck, also called abdominoplasty or abdominal wall surgery, removes loose skin and fatty tissue from the abdomen and may tighten the abdominal muscles. MedlinePlus calls it a major surgery and says it isn’t an alternative to weight loss. Recovery depends on the extent of your surgery, so ask your surgeon for your own plan.
Tummy tucks often come up alongside other procedures, as part of a mommy makeover or in place of liposuction. Here’s what the National Library of Medicine’s MedlinePlus says about it, and what to ask before you decide.
What is a tummy tuck?
MedlinePlus describes abdominal wall surgery as a procedure that improves the appearance of flabby, stretched-out abdominal muscles and skin. It can range from a simple mini-tummy tuck to more extensive surgery.
Most of the time, it’s elective. MedlinePlus says it’s an operation you choose to have, not usually one you need for health reasons, though it may also help relieve skin rashes or infections that develop under large flaps of skin.
How is it different from liposuction?
MedlinePlus says abdominal wall surgery isn’t the same as liposuction, but the two are sometimes combined.
| Tummy tuck | Liposuction | |
|---|---|---|
| What’s removed | Fatty tissue and loose skin | Excess fat, by suction |
| Muscles | May be tightened | MedlinePlus describes fat removal only |
| Excess skin | Loose skin is removed | MedlinePlus says it isn’t a treatment for excess skin |
| Substitute for weight loss? | No | No |
You can read the other half of that comparison in liposuction: what it does and what it doesn’t.
What happens during the surgery?
MedlinePlus describes the general steps. Your own surgery may differ, so ask how yours would go.
- You receive general anesthesia, which keeps you asleep.
- The surgeon makes an incision across the abdomen, just above the pubic area.
- Fatty tissue and loose skin are removed from the middle and lower abdomen. Extended surgeries also remove fat and skin from the sides. The abdominal muscles may be tightened.
- The incision is closed with stitches. Small tubes called drains may be inserted, to be removed later.
- A firm elastic dressing goes over your abdomen.
MedlinePlus says a mini abdominoplasty can be done with much smaller cuts, and that less complicated surgery may use an endoscope, a small camera inserted through very small cuts. Dr. Soltero discusses abdominoplasty and the mini tummy tuck at consultation.
MedlinePlus describes the surgery taking place in a hospital operating room with a hospital stay afterward. Ask where your surgery would take place and whether you’d stay overnight, since this can vary.
Who is it for?
MedlinePlus says abdominoplasty can be helpful when:
- Diet and exercise haven’t improved muscle tone, such as in women who have had more than one pregnancy.
- Skin and muscle can’t regain normal tone, which can be a problem for very overweight people who lost a lot of weight.
It’s also worth telling your surgeon if you are or could be pregnant.
What are the risks?
MedlinePlus lists general risks of anesthesia and surgery, including reactions to medicines, breathing problems, bleeding, blood clots and infection. Risks specific to this surgery include:
- Excessive scarring
- Loss of skin
- Nerve damage that can cause pain or numbness in part of your belly
- Poor healing
- A fluid collection called a seroma, which may need to be drained
If you smoke, MedlinePlus says it’s important to cut back or quit, because smoking can slow healing and increase the risk of blood clots. If you have diabetes, heart disease or other medical conditions, your surgeon may ask you to see the provider who treats you for them.
What happens in the week before?
MedlinePlus says you may be asked to temporarily stop medicines that keep your blood from clotting. Let your surgeon know about any illness before your surgery, including a cold, flu, fever or COVID-19, because your surgery may need to be postponed. On the day itself, follow the instructions about when to stop eating and drinking, and take only the medicines your surgeon told you to take.
What should you know about recovery?
MedlinePlus says you’ll have some pain and discomfort for several days after surgery and that your surgeon will prescribe medicine to help manage it. It describes wearing an elastic support for extra support while you heal, avoiding strenuous activity for a period of weeks, and keeping scars out of the sun, because sun can worsen the scar and darken its color.
Those are general notes from MedlinePlus, not a schedule. Your own timeline depends on your surgery and your healing, so ask your surgeon rather than counting on a number you read online.
What should you ask about recovery?
- How long should I plan to be off work, given the job I do?
- Will I have drains, and who takes them out?
- How long do I wear a support garment?
- When can I lift my kids, drive or exercise?
- Who should be at home with me, and for how long?
- Which medicines and supplements should I stop before surgery? MedlinePlus says you may be asked to temporarily stop blood thinners, including aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen and vitamin E.
- Who do I call after hours if something seems wrong?
What’s the next step?
If you’re also thinking about your breasts or other areas, read about the mommy makeover combination. For the procedure itself, see tummy tuck in San Diego. Before choosing any surgeon, it’s worth checking their California license. To talk it through with Dr. Soltero in English or Spanish, book a consultation.
