What Is a Tummy Tuck?
Cost for Procedures
Mini Tummy Tuck
$5,135*
Full Tummy Tuck
$8,990*
A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is a cosmetic surgical procedure that will tighten the muscles of your abdominal wall and remove excess fat and skin from your middle and lower abdomen. This will give your tummy a flatter, firmer appearance.
Our plastic surgeons will give you quality results and care throughout your procedure and tummy tuck recovery. Our surgeons are all board-certified by the with a high level of training and clinical expertise. We even have top-of-the-line anesthesiologists, facilities, and equipment.
Tummy Tuck Cost
What Our Tummy Tuck Cost Covers
- Pre-op and follow-up visits for 90 days post-surgery
- Hospital or surgical facility fee
- Surgeon/provider fee
- Anesthesia
- Surgical supplies and post-surgical garment
Is Tummy Tuck Surgery Covered by Insurance?
Most health insurance plans do not cover tummy tuck surgery or its complications. However, a tummy tuck surgery may sometimes be combined with a medically necessary surgery that is covered by insurance to reduce some of your costs. We are happy to contact your insurance company to determine your coverage and eligibility.
To help make surgery affordable for you, we also offer many payment and financing options.
Best Candidates for a Tummy Tuck
You may be a good candidate for a tummy tuck if:
- You are physically healthy and fully recovered from childbirth, if you had a baby.
- You are at your goal weight and plan to maintain it.
- You have realistic expectations about your surgical results.
- You have the proper support for your recovery period.
- Your abdominal appearance bothers you due to the following:
- your abdominal muscles are stretched or separated (diastasis recti);
- it still sticks out and lacks tone or strength despite diet and exercise;
- your lower abdomen is not in proportion with the rest of your body; or
- your skin has stretch marks, is loose, or is sagging after pregnancy, bariatric surgery, or other weight loss.
When a Tummy Tuck May Not Be Best
We may not recommend tummy tuck if you:
- have recently been pregnant or are considering pregnancy in the near future,
- are well above your ideal body weight or plan to lose a significant amount of weight,
- have significant scar tissue or large hernia from a previous abdominal surgery,
- smoke,
- have a severe chronic condition like heart disease or diabetes, or
- have difficultly healing.
Mini Tummy Tuck vs. Full Tummy Tuck
Mini tummy tucks and full tummy tucks both remove excess skin and fat while also tightening your abdominal muscles to give you a smoother, flatter look. The main differences between them are the:
- areas of your abdomen that we improve,
- size of your incision/scar, and
- the extent of your tummy tuck recovery.
Mini Tummy Tuck
We will make a shorter horizontal incision just above your pubic mound (skin area over your pubic bone) and tighten the skin below your belly button (or navel). The procedure for a mini tummy tuck is usually less extensive and has a quicker recovery.
Full Tummy Tuck
The procedure for a full tummy tuck is more extensive and takes longer to recover from. We will improve the full length of your abdominal wall — above and below your belly button. We use a longer horizontal or U-shaped incision above your pubic mound. The incision may stretch from hip bone to hip bone, depending on the amount of excess skin you have. We will also make an incision around your belly button and fit your belly button into a new opening in your skin.
Other Procedures
We can perform tummy tuck surgery alone or along with other procedures. Depending on your goals, we may suggest liposuction in other areas to further improve your body contours. Some women choose to have cosmetic surgery on their breasts at the same time. When we perform these procedures together, it’s common for it to be called a mommy makeover.
Tummy Tuck or Liposuction: Which Body Contouring Procedure is Right for You?
Liposuction and abdominoplasty are two common surgical options to remove stubborn fat from the stomach. While both cosmetic procedures aim to make your midsection look flatter or tighter, the procedures are very different. Hear cosmetic surgeon Courtney Crombie, MD, explain the differences between the procedures and which one would be best for you.
Find a Plastic Surgeon
What to Expect at Your Consultation
If you do not plan on going through your insurance to pay for this procedure, you will receive a free consultation with us. However, if you do plan on going through insurance, you will be subject to your insurance provider's deductible or co-pay.
An appointment typically lasts from 30 minutes to an hour. During this time, we will fully assess you and your needs and answer questions that you have.
At your first appointment, your plastic surgeon will likely:
- examine and measure your abdominal area,
- take photographs, and
- weigh you.
We will also talk with you about:
- your medical history,
- your surgical goals and options,
- likely outcomes and potential complications,
- the extent of recovery and how well you are prepared for it,
- a cost estimate, and
- how to prepare for tummy tuck surgery.
How to Prepare for a Tummy Tuck
When we meet with you, we will give you specific instructions to prepare for surgery. They may include:
- Reach your goal weight before scheduling your surgery.
- Stop smoking, if you smoke, for at least four weeks before surgery.
- Optimize your mental health and ensure you have a support system in place.
- Avoid aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, certain supplements, and recreational drugs for a period of time before surgery.
- Do not eat or drink anything after midnight prior to your surgery.
- Arrange for someone to drive you home from surgery and help you at home during your tummy tuck recovery.
Tummy Tuck Surgery
Before Surgery Begins
As we prepare you for surgery, we will:
- draw incision guidelines on your skin for the surgical techniques we plan to use.
- insert an IV that can deliver fluids, general anesthesia, a sedative, and pain medication to your body.
- place noninvasive monitors for your heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation.
Tummy Tuck Procedure
We typically perform a tummy tuck as an outpatient procedure, which means you can go home the same day. A full tummy tuck takes 2.5 to three hours, and a mini tummy tuck takes 1.5 to two hours.
To perform your tummy tuck, your surgeon will:
- Make an incision on your abdomen. We may use one or more, depending on the type of tummy tuck you have.
- Separate and lift up your skin and fat. We will use an instrument like a cautery device to lift your skin and fat from your abdominal wall to reveal the stomach muscles beneath.
- Tighten your abdominal muscles. We will use stitches to bring your muscles closer together to create a flatter, firmer abdominal wall.
- Remove excess skin and fatty tissue. After we reposition your skin over your tightened muscles, we will trim the excess that hangs past your original incision. If you’re having a full tummy tuck, we may also make a new opening for your belly button.
- Insert drainage tubes. We will insert them through small holes near your incision line and leave them in place for part of your recovery to drain any fluids.
- Close your incisions. We do this with dissolvable internal stitches (sutures), and surgical tape. There will be no stitches to remove.
After Surgery
You will rest in a recovery room for around two hours after your procedure until you’re ready to go home. You will need someone to drive you. We will show you how to care for your drains and fit you with a light bandage and compression garment. We will give you prescriptions to help manage your pain and other symptoms, if you didn’t already receive them.
What Does a Tummy Tuck Look Like?
Mini Tummy Tuck
Full Tummy Tuck
Tummy Tuck Risks
Most patients won’t have complications from tummy tuck surgery. However, it is possible for some to occur, as with any surgery. These risks include but may not be limited to:
- bleeding,
- infection,
- fluid build-up (seroma),
- poor wound healing,
- keloid of thick scarring
- numbness or other changes in skin sensation,
- loss of fatty tissue or skin due to the death of cells (necrosis),
- skin becoming loose again, and
- additional surgery to address an issue.
Can You Have a Baby After a Tummy Tuck?
Yes. However, significant weight gain will greatly diminish the results of your tummy tuck. That’s why we recommend that you wait to have a tummy tuck when you are no longer considering future pregnancies.
How Soon Can You Have a Tummy Tuck After Pregnancy?
Once you achieve your goal weight and maintain it steadily, you can consider getting a tummy tuck after giving birth.
Tummy Tuck After C-Section
If you previously had a cesarean section (C-section), we may be able to:
- remove your C-section scar so you just have a tummy tuck scar or
- revise and improve your C-section scar.
Make an Appointment with Our Plastic Surgeons
Call our office at 801-581-7719 if you would like to learn more about your options for a tummy tuck. We will be happy to schedule a consultation for you with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons who specialize in tummy tuck surgery.
