How Much Flatter Can the Stomach Get With a Tummy Tuck?

Tummy tuck surgery (aka an abdominoplasty) is an excellent way to tighten skin on the abdomen and reshape the stomach area. At Urbaniak Plastic Surgery in Largo, FL, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Roderick M. Urbaniak specializes in performing procedures for the breast, body, and face, including tummy tucks.

Keep reading to find out how a tummy tuck can help you achieve a flatter stomach.

How does a tummy tuck work?

A tummy tuck is not a weight loss surgery. It's typically used to treat sagging or loose skin after pregnancy, significant weight loss, or aging. It's hard to shape your stomach if you suffer from skin laxity in this area. A tummy tuck helps tighten it up.

Dr. Urbaniak performs four types of tummy tucks:

Endoscopic tummy tuck

This procedure tightens muscles and does not involve skin removal. It requires only a tiny incision inside the belly button and on the pubic region to achieve a flatter stomach and improve your profile.

Mini tummy tuck

This procedure is used for patients with minimal excess abdominal skin and involves a small incision.

Full tummy tuck

This is the most common type of tummy tuck and removes excess skin and soft tissue while also tightening the abdominal muscles. It can enhance the contour and profile of the abdomen.

Reverse tummy tuck

This procedure is designed to remove abdominal skin located above the belly button. The incision is made near the breast fold.

Can a tummy tuck help flatten my stomach?

A tummy tuck will help flatten a stomach. However, if your stomach has excess fat that prevents you from achieving the look you want, you will likely need to have liposuction during your tummy tuck procedure. A tummy tuck deals with skin and soft tissue, while liposuction can remove up to a few pounds of "flabby" subcutaneous fat.

While liposuction is also not a surgery designed for weight loss, the sculpting that results from a dual tummy tuck-liposuction procedure can result in a loss of 2 – 4 pants sizes.

Some surgery results are visible once the swelling subsides in 3 – 4 weeks. After that, your body needs time to readjust to the new placement of skin and tissue. And if you've had liposuction, it will need to recover from that as well. A flatter profile should be visible 4 – 6 weeks after the procedure(s).

Contour your stomach with a tummy tuck

If you eat well and exercise but are frustrated by the shape of your abdomen, this could be due to skin laxity. A tummy tuck can remove any excess skin and tighten abdominal muscles to reshape the area and help you regain your confidence.

If you're looking to reshape your abdomen, a tummy tuck may be right for you. You can also ask Dr. Urbaniak if liposuction would be an appropriate add-on.

Patients typically need to be at a stable weight and near their goal weight in order to be considered good candidates for a tummy tuck.

Get a tummy tuck in Largo, FL

Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Roderick M. Urbaniak specializes in performing procedures for the breast, body, and face. He's skilled at performing tummy tucks for patients in the Largo, FL area.

Contact Urbaniak Plastic Surgery today to find out how you can benefit from this procedure.