Tummy Tuck (Removal of Excess Abdominal Skin and Fat)
When your lower belly looks flatter and firmer, you may find it easier to wear the clothes you love and to stand tall with more comfort.
Is this right for you?
This surgery may suit you when you have loose skin and stubborn fat on your abdomen that exercise and diet have not improved, often the slack skin left behind after pregnancy or after a large change in weight. Your surgeon will examine you and assess the condition of your skin, how much excess fat there is, your muscle tone (the firmness of your abdominal wall), and any older damage before you decide together.
This may be a good fit if
- You have excess skin and fat on your abdomen, or a slack abdominal wall after pregnancy.
- The connective layer of your abdominal wall (the tissue that wraps the muscles) has stretched and needs to be stitched back together.
- Your overall health is stable and you are well enough for general anesthesia.
- You understand that the incision will leave a scar, and you accept that.
- You want a clear change while keeping realistic expectations about the result.
This may not be right if
- You cannot stop medicines such as aspirin or blood thinners for 10 days before surgery for health reasons.
- You have an underlying condition that makes general anesthesia or a longer operation unsafe.
- You are still planning to have children, since a later pregnancy can stretch the abdominal wall again.
- You are not yet ready to set aside time to rest and to limit activity while you heal.
How it works
Everything begins with an examination and a consultation with a plastic and aesthetic surgeon. Your surgeon assesses your general health, the condition of your skin, how much excess skin and fat there is, the firmness of your abdominal muscles, and any existing damage such as old surgical scars, a hernia, or a stretched abdominal wall. You will have some routine tests, and the anesthesiologist will examine you to prepare for the operation.
You will need to stop eating and drinking for at least 6 hours before surgery. If you take aspirin, blood thinners, or similar medicines, your surgeon will guide you to stop them about 10 days before surgery. The operation is done under general anesthesia, which means you are asleep and feel nothing throughout.
Depending on how each surgeon prefers to work, your surgeon may use liposuction on the abdomen first and then remove the excess skin and fat, or not. The incision sits along the lower belly crease, a spot that is easy to keep hidden under your clothing. Whether the incision is long or short, and whether the navel needs to be repositioned, depends on how much excess skin and fat you have.
Your surgeon lifts and removes the layer of skin and excess fat from the abdominal wall. If the connective layer has stretched, your surgeon stitches it back together. A closed drain is then placed so fluid can flow out, the incision is closed, and the navel is set back in place if it was moved.
Realistic expectations
This surgery aims for a flatter, firmer abdomen by removing the excess skin and fat while repairing the connective layer that has loosened. The cosmetic result becomes clear after about 3 to 6 months, as the scar fades and the shape of your abdomen settles into a slimmer line. This is an operation, not a way to lose weight.
What this will not do
- It does not replace weight loss; the surgery treats excess skin and fat in one area and will not make you lose weight all over.
- It does not erase all scarring; the incision along the lower belly crease will leave a scar, even as it fades over time.
- It cannot stop the abdominal wall from stretching again if you become pregnant or gain a lot of weight later.
- It does not show a result right away; your abdomen needs a few months to settle and take shape.
Recovery
You usually stay in the hospital for about 2 to 3 days. Your surgeon gives you antibiotics and pain medicine to keep you more comfortable in the first days. Healing happens gradually, and everyone moves at their own pace.
- First few hours to the next day
- You can move gently about 4 to 5 hours after surgery, then sit up and walk the following day.
- 24 to 48 hours
- The drains are removed during this window.
- 5 to 10 days
- You take antibiotics and pain medicine for about 5 to 7 days, and your stitches come out after about 7 to 10 days.
- 7 to 14 days
- You may return to work, depending on the nature of your job and how much physical effort it asks of you.
- 2 weeks to 6 weeks
- You should wear an abdominal binder for about 2 to 4 weeks, and you can return to sports after about 6 weeks.
Risks & safety
Every surgery carries risks, and you deserve to understand them clearly before you decide. Your surgeon will talk through these openly with you, along with the ways to reduce them.
- Infection of the incision.
- Bleeding.
- A collection of fluid under the surgical area.
- Skin flap necrosis, meaning part of the skin loses its blood supply and is damaged.
- Complications related to anesthesia.
- A scar along the lower belly crease, which may not fade as much as you hope.
How we do it
At The Gioi Dep, this surgery is performed by a plastic and aesthetic surgeon and carried out in a hospital licensed for surgery, two conditions that matter for keeping you safe. Before the operation, your general health is checked, you have routine tests, and the anesthesiologist assesses you separately.
Your surgeon takes the time to assess the condition of your skin, how much excess skin and fat there is, the firmness of your abdominal muscles, and any older damage such as surgical scars, a hernia, or a stretched connective layer, so the approach can be matched to your body. Placing a closed drain, using antibiotics and pain medicine, and guiding you to wear an abdominal binder are all meant to help you heal more smoothly.
Frequently asked questions
Will the surgery hurt?
You are asleep under general anesthesia, so you feel nothing during the operation. Afterward, your surgeon gives you pain medicine for about 5 to 7 days to keep you more comfortable.
Will the incision leave a scar?
Yes. The incision sits along the lower belly crease, a spot that is easy to keep hidden under your clothing. The scar fades over time, usually becoming clearer after about 3 to 6 months, but it will not disappear completely.
How long will I need off work?
Most patients return to work after about 7 to 14 days, depending on the nature of the job and how much physical effort it asks of them. Heavier work calls for a longer rest.
How many days will I be in the hospital?
Usually about 2 to 3 days. You can move gently after a few hours, then sit up and walk the following day.
When will I see the result?
The cosmetic result becomes clear after about 3 to 6 months, as the scar fades and your abdomen takes on a slimmer shape. Your abdomen needs time to settle.
When can I return to sports?
You can return to sports after about 6 weeks. Before then, you should walk gently and avoid straining yourself.
Will I need to wear an abdominal binder?
Yes. You should wear an abdominal binder for about 2 to 4 weeks after surgery, following your surgeon's guidance.
Will this surgery help me lose weight?
No. This is surgery that treats excess skin and fat on the abdomen; it is not a way to lose weight. It removes the slack skin and repairs the loosened connective layer, but it will not make you lose weight all over.
What do I need to prepare before surgery?
You need to stop eating and drinking for at least 6 hours before surgery. If you take aspirin or blood thinners, your surgeon will guide you to stop them about 10 days beforehand. You will also have tests and be examined by the anesthesiologist.
What if I have more children later?
Pregnancy can stretch the abdominal wall again. If you are still planning to have children, talk it through with your surgeon, since the timing of the surgery is worth weighing carefully.
The next step
Every plan begins with a private consultation. Book a consultation to find out if this is right for you.
The content on this page is for reference only and does not replace a direct examination and consultation with a specialist physician. Surgical outcomes vary from person to person.