Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)

Abdominoplasty, more commonly known as a "tummy tuck," is a surgical procedure to remove excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen and to tighten the muscles of the abdominal wall. The procedure can dramatically reduce the appearance of a protruding abdomen and may involve the repair of a bulge or protuberance in the lower abdomen that comes from weakened stomach muscles. Good surgical candidates generally are patients who have an abundant amount of lower abdomen skin and/or fat, such as women who developed loose skin and stretch marks from pregnancy or large weight loss. This procedure does produce a permanent scar, which, depending on the extent of the original problem and the surgery required to correct it, can extend from hip to hip. However, most patients readily accept a surgical scar for a flat, smooth, well-contoured abdomen.