A bulging or hanging abdomen is an aesthetic concern shared by many men and women, particularly individuals who are approaching middle age. Genetics, pregnancy, weight fluctuations, and the natural aging process can all cause the belly to protrude (often hanging over a patient’s waistline) despite even the most rigorous exercise regimens. This “bulging” look is usually caused by the gradual separation of abdominal muscles combined with an accumulation of loose, excess skin. Since loose skin and muscles cannot be repaired with dieting or exercise, natural solutions often fail to make a noticeable difference.
A tummy tuck is a powerful treatment option designed to restore the integrity of the abdominal muscles and remove excess skin, allowing patients to enjoy a slimmer waistline and sleeker body contours. Dr. Ira Savetsky is a New York City aesthetic plastic surgeon with unrivaled experience performing tummy tuck surgery according to a patient’s unique goals, needs, and hopes for the outcome. He also offers mini abdominoplasty, a less extensive version of the procedure that can be ideal for patients with mild or less severe abdominal bulging.
- Tummy Tuck Benefits
- Tummy Tuck Candidates
- Tummy Tuck Procedure
- Tummy Tuck Recovery
- Tummy Tuck Results
- Tummy Tuck Scars
- Tummy Tuck Cost
- Tummy Tuck Alternatives
What Can a Tummy Tuck Improve?
After major weight loss, having children, or the inevitable effects of aging, patients often struggle with multiple concerns when it comes to improving their waistline. While every individual is different, the most common goals include smoother contours, a reduction in fat and stretch marks, tightened muscles, and more balanced proportions overall. These anatomical changes are typically too extensive to be corrected with dieting, exercise, and healthy living alone. Abdominoplasty can be a highly effective and long-lasting solution to firm, smooth, and tighten the abdomen to achieve a flatter tummy and a slimmer waistline. If you’re a good candidate for the procedure, a tummy tuck can:
- Remove loose, hanging skin
- Repair stretched out or separated abdominal musculature
- Reverse the aesthetic changes caused by pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Smooth bulges such as “love handles”
- Regain sleeker mid-body contours
- Slim a hanging or bulging belly
The benefits possible with a tummy tuck vary from patient to patient depending on their goals, but adding abdominoplasty to a more comprehensive Mommy Makeover plan can help achieve even greater enhancement.
Is a Tummy Tuck Right for Me?
Tummy tuck surgery can address the abdominal skin, fat, and muscles to circumferentially sculpt the abdomen. Dr. Savetsky focuses on ensuring the results appear proportionately with your body frame, allowing him to obtain a natural-looking contour. The procedure is usually most successful for patients who are:
- Healthy and a non-smoker, with no uncontrolled medical conditions that may interfere with the healing process
- Wanting to improve a bulging or hanging abdomen
- Affected by chafing, rashes, or irritation caused by excess skin
- Realistic about their expectations for the final results
Pregnancy and weight gain also tend to stretch out the abdomen, causing the internal musculature to separate. For this reason, women who have had children and those who have lost weight often benefit greatly from abdominoplasty. Dr. Savetsky will review your medical history and listen to your concerns to help you make an informed decision about whether a tummy tuck can achieve your goals.
How is the Tummy Tuck Procedure Performed?
The procedure is typically performed using an incision placed on the lower pelvis, through which Dr. Savetsky can repair separated musculature in the upper and lower abdomen and eliminate hanging skin. Isolated fat may also be removed with liposuction to further smooth and slim the midsection. Abdominoplasty typically takes two to three hours to perform and utilizes general anesthesia.
Full Tummy Tuck
A full abdominoplasty treats excess skin, fat, and separated musculature. This procedure requires an incision from hip to hip, as well as around the navel. Through this incision, abdominal skin and fat are lifted to allow Dr. Saversky access to the internal muscles. These muscles often separate or stretch after pregnancy or significant weight gain, causing the belly to hang or bulge outward. After Dr. Savetsky brings the muscles back together and repairs the abdominal wall, the incision is closed. The belly button is also repositioned, if necessary. The incision site is easily concealed below underwear or a swimsuit bottom.
Mini Tummy Tuck
Mini tummy tuck surgery is a shortened version of abdominoplasty, often ideal for individuals who have mild to moderate skin laxity (sagging skin) in the abdomen or who want to get rid of a belly “pooch.” An important distinction between a mini tummy tuck and full abdominoplasty is that this procedure typically does not repair stretched musculature. During a mini abdominoplasty, a shorter incision is made just above the pubic area. Excess skin and fat is removed to reshape the belly, and the incision is closed. A mini tummy tuck can be particularly beneficial for men and women who exhibit excess skin below the belly button.
Tummy Tuck and Liposuction
Combining tummy tuck with selective fat removal can be a successful pathway to regaining a slimmer and leaner abdomen. Liposuction and tummy tuck surgery are commonly performed together for those who want to address the abdominal changes caused by pregnancy. Together, these procedures can achieve a smoother look in the abdomen by removing excess skin and fat.
What Can I Expect From the Tummy Tuck Recovery Period?
After a recovery period of approximately one to two weeks, the outcome of surgery can be very transformative and vastly improve the abdominal profile. A tummy tuck corrects abdominal laxity and can potentially reduce chafing and irritation caused by excess skin. Most patients take 7 to 10 days of downtime before they feel well enough to return to their normal routines. Swelling, bruising, loss of sensation, and a general feeling of weakness are to be expected during the healing process. Dr. Savetsky will monitor your recovery through periodic follow-up appointments. He will also give you detailed information about activity restrictions, incision care, and an approximate recovery timeline. Keep in mind that each person has a unique rate of healing and it’s important to give your body adequate time to properly recover.
How Long Will Tummy Tuck Results Last?
A tummy tuck surgically repairs internal musculature and removes excess skin for good, so results from the procedure can be very long-lasting as long as patients maintain a stable weight after surgery. Pregnancy, major weight loss, and bariatric surgery are all factors that can affect the outcome of surgery and potentially recreate the same concerns you wanted to improve in the first place, so Dr. Savetsky highly advises you to postpone a tummy tuck until you’re near your ideal weight and have no future plans to have children.
With an active lifestyle and a stable weight, tummy tuck results can last for decades. While nothing can stop the effects of the natural aging process, those who opt to undergo a tummy tuck often experience an improvement in their body contours for a lifetime. Please don’t hesitate to schedule a consultation with Dr. Savetsky if you have any other questions about what you can expect from the results of a tummy tuck.
Will I Have Noticeable Tummy Tuck Scars?
Yes, scarring is inevitable after a tummy tuck and will resemble the shape and size of the incisions used to perform your abdominoplasty. The length of your incision is generally determined by which tummy tuck procedure is most ideal to achieve your goals, and those who receive a mini tummy tuck usually have less scarring than patients who undergo a full abdominoplasty. In any case, scars from a tummy tuck are typically easily concealed underneath a swimsuit or underwear. This allows patients to achieve inconspicuous yet noticeable results.
Over time, scars from a tummy tuck can often lighten and become less visible. This is more likely if patients take good care of their incisions during recovery, allowing the best possible healing. After the procedure, you will receive extensive post-operative instructions regarding how to keep your incisions hydrated and facilitate the healing process. Scar lightening creams and other high-quality skincare products can also help encourage the fading of tummy tuck scars.
How Much Does a Tummy Tuck Cost?
Abdominoplasty costs vary from person to person, as different techniques are utilized according to each patient’s surgical plan. While your geographic location and the experience of your plastic surgeon will influence the cost of a tummy tuck, the procedure typically falls between $10,000 and $30,000 for patients in New York City. Please rest assured that our office team will provide you with a cost estimate once Dr. Savetsky assesses your needs in a consultation. Factors that affect your personalized quote include:
- Standard surgical expenses, such as the costs of anesthesia, surgical facility fees, etc.
- The technique(s) used to perform your tummy tuck
- Whether liposuction was performed
- The complexity of the procedure
Plastic surgery financing is an option for qualified patients who prefer to pay for their procedure in smaller, low- to no-interest installments. We accept financing through CareCredit®, which allows individuals to choose the best payment plan according to their unique budget. If you have any other questions about the cost of body contouring, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team.
Are There Alternatives to a Tummy Tuck?
Depending on your hopes for the outcome of surgery, a tummy tuck may not be the best body contouring procedure to achieve the results you desire. Dr. Savetsky can speak with you personally about your treatment options, but alternatives to abdominoplasty usually include:
- Liposuction: A tummy tuck is generally performed when excess skin interrupts a smooth abdominal contour. If your main concern is excess fat, liposuction can be a highly effective technique to suction out fat cells and smooth bulges in the hips, waist, and belly.
- Mommy Makeover: A Mommy Makeover may be a more ideal treatment option for patients who want to enhance more than one area — especially for women who want to restore their pre-baby body. This involves a personalized treatment plan curated specifically to address your unique needs and concerns.
- Body Tite®: Body Tite® is a cutting-edge non-surgical skin tightening treatment that can provide sleeker, more defined contours in the area(s) of treatment. Using FDA-approved radiofrequency-assisted lipolysis (RFAL™) technology, Body Tite® can help liquefy and remove excess fat while enhancing skin tone, resulting in a slimmer and smoother look. When performed on the abdomen, Body Tite® can be an excellent minimally invasive technology to tighten the belly and midsection.
If you’re bothered by a hanging abdomen, Dr. Ira Savetsky can personalize a tummy tuck to give you the firm, smooth, and taut abdominal contour you desire. Contact our New York City office today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Savetsky, or to speak with a friendly member of our team about your aesthetic goals.