Arguably one of the most transformative types of plastic surgery, tummy tuck surgery boasts an impressive 95% Worth It Rating on RealSelf. During a tummy tuck (aka abdominoplasty), excess skin and fat are removed and the underlying muscles are tightened. The result? A dramatic and instantaneous improvement in the abdominal contour, hence its popularity and high satisfaction profile—particularly among patients who have undergone significant weight loss and want to remove loose skin. Tummy tucks are also a key component of mommy makeovers, for their ability to effectively repair diastasis recti in women who have had children.
To this point, tummy tuck before and after pictures can be incredibly impressive, even at just a quick glance. But there are few telltale signs of an especially good result—namely, an inconspicuous tummy tuck scar, a natural-looking belly button, and a nicely contoured abdomen. To illustrate, we’ve compiled the 10 most-viewed tummy tuck photos on RealSelf.
The most popular tummy tuck before and after photos
1.
The doctor: Dr. Rady Rahban, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, California
2.
The doctor: Dr. Ricardo Rodriguez, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Lutherville, Maryland
What he says: “There are three principal things that make this result stand out. The first is liposuction of the flanks. By liposuctioning this area, the waist is reduced and the waist-to-hip ratio is enhanced. Second, the belly button is done with an inverted-U incision above and an inverted-V inset below. The distal part of the belly button does not appear to have a scar, and there is a smooth transition from belly button to lower abdominal skin. Circular scars make the belly button appear unnatural and like a doughnut. Finally, tension on the skin can cause thick or wide scars. The Lockwood Tummy Tuck technique I use closes the deep fascia layer, to eliminate tension on the skin. This results in a very thin scar and one that stays under the bikini line. The deep fascia closure prevents the scar from migrating upwards.”
3.
The doctor: Dr. Jose Perez-Gurri, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Miami
4.
The doctor: Dr. Nick Slenkovich, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Littleton, Colorado
Patient age: 35–44
Time post-op: one month
5.
The doctor: Dr. Mo Akhavani, a specialist registered plastic surgeon in London
Patient age: 35–44
Time post-op: six weeks
6.
The doctor: Dr. Joshua Cooper, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Seattle
Patient age: 55
What he says: “This patient’s tummy tuck ‘after’ photos demonstrate a beautiful and flat abdominal contour, a youthful and small belly button, and a low, symmetric abdominal scar. These three components are very important when evaluating tummy tuck before and after photos and results.”
7.
The doctor: Dr. Sanjay Sharma, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Austin, Texas
Patient age: 25–34
Time post-op: one year
What he says: “Ultimately, this result was a combination of liposuction, to contour the hips and waist, and a standard abdominoplasty with midline muscle plication. What also helps is that the patient maintains a healthy lifestyle and continues to manage weight and dietary expectations after the procedure. She was an active, athletic mother who had the right focus and outlook to maintain her results.”
8.
The doctor: Dr. Sharam Salemy, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Seattle
Time post-op: six weeks
What he says: “I think this patient has excellent anatomy for a tummy tuck—overall good skin quality, average muscle laxity, and a small amount of excess fat. She’s healthy and isn’t overweight. We tell our patients that the best predictor of their results is them. Healthy patients with reasonable anatomy and realistic expectations paired with an experienced surgeon tend to get great results!”
9.
The doctor: Dr. York Jay Yates, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Layton, Utah
Patient age: 35–44
Time post-op: six months
10.
The doctor: Dr. Peter Butler, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Pensacola, Florida
Patient age: 45–54
What he says: “Several factors come into play to yield a favorable tummy tuck result. In this case, the patient is very fit and is blessed with reasonably good skin elasticity. Surgical factors include proper management of subcutaneous fat, to ensure a smooth transition from abdomen to pubic mound, as well as management of the belly button. If the tummy and pubic mound have different thicknesses of fat, the patient will have a ‘speed bump.’ With regard to the belly button, both the shape of the incision and the underlying control sutures are important in maintaining the shape. A good-looking belly button is key to a good-looking tummy tuck.”
Browse more than 50,000 additional tummy tuck before and after pictures on RealSelf.
