Body / Explore your options
A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) removes excess skin and fat and can tighten the tissue supporting your abdominal muscles. It may suit people with loose skin after pregnancy or weight loss. If you’re considering a plus-size tummy tuck, our surgeons at Big G will discuss the changes you’d like to make and assess your overall health and individual risks before recommending a surgical plan.
Add to my plan↗ Explore the details ↓About the procedure
A tummy tuck, medically known as abdominoplasty, is a cosmetic surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen. When needed, it also tightens the connective tissue supporting the abdominal muscles to address muscle separation. It may be considered for loose or sagging abdominal skin following pregnancy, significant weight loss, or age-related changes. Stretch marks within the skin removed during surgery are also removed, but those elsewhere remain.
When planning a plus-size tummy tuck, your surgeon looks at where you have loose skin and excess fat and whether your abdominal muscles have separated. Together with your body shape and the changes you’d like to make, these factors help determine which surgical approach may suit you.
A tummy tuck is not considered a weight loss procedure. If you plan to lose a substantial amount of weight, it may be better to wait until your weight has stabilized before surgery.
Liposuction removes localized fat, while a tummy tuck removes excess skin as well as fat. A tummy tuck can also tighten the connective tissue supporting your abdominal muscles if they have separated, which liposuction does not correct.
Your skin’s elasticity helps determine which procedure may suit you. Firm, elastic skin can contract after liposuction, but skin that has lost elasticity after weight loss or with age may remain loose even after fat is removed. When this happens, a tummy tuck may be recommended to remove the excess skin. Your surgeon may also recommend lipoabdominoplasty, which combines a tummy tuck with liposuction to remove excess skin and reduce localized fat.
Techniques
A tummy tuck can be performed using different techniques depending on the amount of excess skin and fat, where the loose skin is located, and the condition of the abdominal muscles. Common options include a full tummy tuck, mini tummy tuck, and extended tummy tuck. For more extensive skin laxity, techniques such as the Fleur-de-Lis or circumferential tummy tuck may be considered. Your surgeon will recommend a technique based on the amount and location of excess skin, your natural curve, and the results you hope to achieve.
Full tummy tuck is one of the most common abdominoplasty procedures. It removes excess skin and fat from the upper and lower abdomen, with a horizontal incision across the lower abdomen and another around the belly button. Separated abdominal muscles can be repaired before the remaining skin is pulled down and tightened. The belly button is then brought through a new opening in the skin.
A mini tummy tuck removes excess skin and fat from just below the belly button, typically through a shorter horizontal incision than a full tummy tuck. The surgeon then tightens the remaining skin, usually without needing to reposition the belly button. If the lower abdominal muscles have separated, they may also be repaired during surgery.
An extended tummy tuck removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen and along the sides of the waist. The procedure is similar to a full tummy tuck, but the horizontal incision extends farther toward the hips to address loose skin along the flanks. Separated abdominal muscles can also be repaired when needed.
A Fleur-de-Lis tummy tuck removes excess skin and fat through a horizontal incision across the lower abdomen and a vertical incision down the center. Using both incisions, the surgeon can remove skin that is loose from side to side as well as from top to bottom.
A circumferential tummy tuck addresses excess skin and fat around the abdomen, waist, and lower back. The incision extends around the entire lower torso, allowing the surgeon to remove loose skin from both the front and back. Depending on the extent of surgery, the procedure may also lift the tissues around the buttocks and outer thighs.
| Tummy Tuck Type | What Does Surgery Involve? | When Might It Be Recommended? |
|---|---|---|
| Full Tummy Tuck | Removes excess skin and fat from the upper and lower abdomen. Separated abdominal muscles can also be repaired, and the belly button is usually repositioned. | When loose skin affects both the upper and lower abdomen. |
| Mini Tummy Tuck | Focuses on the area below the belly button, typically using a shorter incision without moving the belly button. | When skin laxity is mainly limited to the lower abdomen. |
| Extended Tummy Tuck | Extends the incision toward the hips to address the abdomen and sides of the waist. | When loose skin reaches beyond the front of the abdomen. |
| Fleur-de-Lis Tummy Tuck | Combines horizontal and vertical incisions to tighten abdominal skin in both directions. | When significant skin laxity affects the abdomen both horizontally and vertically. |
| Circumferential Tummy Tuck | Uses an incision around the lower torso to address the abdomen, waist, and lower back. | When loose skin extends around the lower torso, particularly after substantial weight loss. |
Who is it for?
Pregnancy, weight changes, and aging can leave you with loose abdominal skin, stubborn fat, or separated abdominal muscles. If these changes bother you, a tummy tuck may be worth considering. Your surgeon examines your abdomen and explains which changes are possible with surgery.
BMI alone doesn’t decide whether surgery is right for you, but a higher BMI can increase the risk of certain complications, such as wound-healing problems or fluid buildup. At Big G, our surgeons consider your BMI alongside your medical history, overall health, and the extent of the planned surgery when assessing whether the procedure is appropriate for you.
Having a stable weight before surgery is important because significant weight changes afterward can affect your results. If you’re planning to lose more weight or become pregnant, it may be better to wait before having a tummy tuck. It’s also important to understand what the procedure can realistically achieve and what to expect during recovery.
How it works
During a tummy tuck, your surgeon removes excess skin and fat and repositions the remaining skin over the abdomen. The operation usually takes place under general anesthesia. If the abdominal muscles have separated, the surgeon can also tighten the connective tissue supporting them.
At your consultation, you can explain what you would like to change about your abdomen. Your surgeon examines the area and reviews your medical history before talking through the surgical options. You can ask where the scars would sit, how recovery might affect your daily routine, and what changes you can realistically expect.
Before surgery, your team explains which checks you need, such as blood tests and an anesthesia assessment. Your surgical team will also review the medications and supplements you take. These include blood thinners, aspirin, anti-inflammatory pain relievers, hormone-containing medications such as birth control or hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and supplements such as fish oil, vitamin E, or ginkgo.
If you take GLP-1 medications such as semaglutide or tirzepatide for weight loss or diabetes, your anesthesia team will assess whether any changes are needed before surgery. Your medical team will explain any adjustments to your medications or supplements.
Nicotine in any form, including cigarettes, vapes, patches, and gum, can reduce blood flow to the skin and slow healing. Your surgeon will ask you to stop using nicotine products for several weeks before and after surgery and tell you how long you need to avoid them.
Tummy tuck surgery is usually performed under general anesthesia. Your surgeon follows the planned incision pattern, with the length and position of the incisions determined by how much loose skin needs to be removed and where it lies. If your abdominal muscles have separated, the connective tissue supporting them can be tightened with stitches.
After removing excess skin and fat, your surgeon repositions the remaining skin. In a full tummy tuck, the belly button usually stays attached to its underlying stalk and is brought through a new opening in the skin. If liposuction is part of your surgical plan, it can be performed at the same time to reduce localized fat around the abdomen and waist.
After surgery, you are taken to a recovery area. Our medical team monitors your condition as the anesthesia wears off and provides pain medication when needed. Once you are stable, you are transferred to your hospital room.
Small drainage tubes may be placed under the skin to remove excess fluid and are usually removed within a few days to two weeks, depending on how much fluid is draining.
You stay in the hospital for at least one night, although a longer stay may be needed depending on your recovery. Before discharge, our medical team explains how to care for your incisions and any drains, take prescribed medications, and what precautions to follow at home.
Recovery & follow-up
The first few days after a tummy tuck can be uncomfortable, particularly if your abdominal muscles have been repaired. Swelling, bruising, and a feeling of tightness around your abdomen are common, and daily movements such as getting out of bed or standing upright may be difficult at first. Your surgeon can prescribe medication to help manage pain and may recommend a compression garment to support your abdomen as it heals.
As the initial discomfort begins to ease, you can gradually become more active. Short walks are encouraged early in recovery to improve circulation and reduce the risk of blood clots. However, lifting heavy objects, strenuous exercise, and movements that strain your abdominal muscles remain restricted until your surgeon confirms that you can safely resume them.
Although many people return to light daily activities within a few weeks, complete recovery takes longer. Your recovery time depends on the extent of surgery and how your body responds to the procedure. Swelling continues to decrease over the following months, and the final tummy tuck result becomes clearer as the tissues heal. Before & after tummy tuck photos can help you understand the changes surgery may achieve, though individual results vary.
Swelling, bruising, and abdominal tightness are usually most noticeable during the first few days. Standing fully upright may be uncomfortable, and you may need help with daily tasks.
Discomfort gradually improves, and everyday movements become easier. You may be able to return to desk-based work during this period, depending on your recovery.
Daily activities gradually become easier, although heavy lifting and strenuous exercise may still be restricted. Your surgeon assesses your healing before recommending an increase in physical activity.
You may be able to resume more demanding activities with your surgeon’s approval, although some exercises and sports may require a longer break.
Your surgeon provides instructions on caring for yourself after a tummy tuck. These may vary depending on the procedure and how your recovery progresses, but the following recommendations are generally important:
Keep the surgical area clean and dry, and change your dressings as instructed.
A compression garment helps support your abdomen and manage swelling during recovery. Your surgeon advises how long you need to wear it.
Start with short walks and gradually increase your activity as you recover. Avoid heavy lifting and movements that strain your abdomen until your surgeon says it’s safe.
Follow the recommended doses for pain medication and any other prescribed treatments. Check with your surgeon before taking additional medications or supplements.
If you develop a fever, worsening pain, spreading redness, or unusual drainage from your incisions, you should contact your surgeon.
Sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, or significant pain and swelling in one leg require immediate medical attention.
Tummy Tuck results
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View results↗Safety
A tummy tuck may involve certain surgical risks, even when the procedure is carefully planned. Swelling, bruising, and temporary numbness are common during recovery. Possible complications include infection, bleeding, a collection of blood under the skin called a hematoma, and fluid buildup known as a seroma. The incision may heal slowly or partially reopen. Reduced blood supply can also cause areas of skin or fat tissue to die, known as skin or fat necrosis.
Blood clots, including clots that travel to the lungs, and complications related to anesthesia are less common but potentially serious. Changes in skin sensation may last longer than expected. Surgery also leaves permanent scars, which usually fade but may remain raised or noticeable. Uneven contours, asymmetry, or small folds of excess skin at the ends of the incision, often called “dog ears,” can occur. Some complications or concerns about the result may require revision surgery.
Smoking, diabetes, and a higher BMI can increase the risk of complications, particularly problems with wound healing. Combining a tummy tuck with other procedures can also increase surgical risk. If you’re considering a plus-size tummy tuck, your consultation at Big G includes a discussion of these risks and the precautions recommended before and after surgery.
Combining procedures
If excess skin around your abdomen is accompanied by localized fat deposits around your waist or stomach, your surgeon may consider combining a tummy tuck with liposuction. This allows both concerns to be addressed as part of the same surgical plan. You may also be interested in combining your tummy tuck with breast augmentation or a breast lift. When planning the procedures, your surgeon considers the areas you want to change, your body proportions, and how the results will complement your natural curves.
Combining surgeries can increase operating time and complication risk. In a 2015 study by Winocour and colleagues, major complications occurred in about 3% of people who had a tummy tuck alone, compared with about 10% of those who had a tummy tuck with both liposuction and additional body-contouring procedures. Your surgeon will assess your overall health and the extent of the planned procedures to determine whether they can be performed together or would be better scheduled separately.
If you’re planning to lose weight, the timing of your surgery can also be considered alongside your longer-term goals. Significant weight changes may affect the amount of loose skin around your abdomen and the results of your tummy tuck. At Big G, our surgeons discuss these factors with you and consider whether a combined or staged approach is more appropriate for your needs.
Whether you’re considering a tummy tuck on its own or alongside other procedures, our surgeons can help you explore your options and understand what may be suitable for your body.
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BMI is one part of the assessment for a tummy tuck. A higher BMI can increase surgical risks, so your surgeon considers it together with your overall health when deciding whether to recommend the procedure.
You may be able to return to desk-based work within two to four weeks, depending on your recovery. Physically demanding jobs may require more time off. Heavy lifting and strenuous exercise usually need to be avoided for at least four to six weeks, sometimes longer. Swelling can take several months to fully settle.
Whether you should lose weight before a tummy tuck depends on your health and goals. If you’re planning significant weight loss, your surgeon may suggest waiting until your weight has stabilized, as further changes can affect your results.
You can experience some pain, soreness, and tightness around your abdomen after a tummy tuck, particularly during the first few days. Your surgeon will provide a pain management plan to help you stay comfortable during recovery.
A tummy tuck can leave a permanent scar, usually along the lower abdomen. The length and position of the incision depend on the type of tummy tuck and how much excess skin needs to be removed. Scars typically fade and become less noticeable over time, but they generally won’t disappear completely.
A tummy tuck can create a flatter abdominal contour, but a completely flat stomach is not guaranteed. Visceral fat, which lies behind the abdominal muscles and surrounds the internal organs, cannot be removed through a tummy tuck or liposuction. Thus the abdomen may not become completely flat.
Tummy tuck results can last for many years, particularly if your weight remains relatively stable. Significant weight changes, pregnancy, and natural aging can affect the appearance of your abdomen over time. While the skin removed during surgery doesn’t return, the remaining skin can stretch as your body changes.
Your surgeon will advise when you can fly home based on your recovery and flight duration. Long flights can increase the already elevated blood clot risk after surgery. Once cleared to fly, walking regularly and moving your ankles while seated can help maintain circulation. Your team will also advise on hydration and whether you need compression stockings.
General information only. Final clinic content requires medical review.
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