Will a Tummy Tuck Reveal Six Pack Abs?

Thank you for your question regarding whether a tummy tuck will reveal your six-pack abs. A tummy tuck is designed to remove excess skin and fat from the abdominal area, while also tightening the underlying muscles. This tightening, known as muscle plication, is often performed if you have rectus diastasis (separation of the abdominal muscles). Muscle plication brings the rectus abdominis muscles back together and can create a tighter and flatter abdominal profile.

While this can give you a more toned appearance, muscle plication may make it harder for a fully visible six-pack to show, as the abdominal muscles will be pulled together in a flat, smooth way. However, the linea alba, or the central line running down the middle of your abs, may become more pronounced after surgery, which can create a more defined, contoured look.

If you already have well-developed abdominal muscles, and the issue is mostly excess skin and fat preventing them from showing, a tummy tuck can help reveal your abs. However, maintaining low body fat through continued exercise and a healthy diet will be key to achieving a visible six-pack after surgery.

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

A tummy tuck may not be able to reveal your six pack abs, but it will give you far better tone and contour. Liposuction may help accentuate your muscular definition, however it normally only works for individuals with a very low body fat percentage. 

Hi,

  It is rare that a tummy tuck will reveal extensive musclulature unless there is a thin "redrape" tissue.  In this case there might be some 6 pack definition but this is a rare case.

  Consider this scenerio.  Have the tummy tuck and get to the weight you want.  then do liposuction to remove the fat under the skin over the muscles and see what you see.  You cannot do the tummy tuck and agressive liposuction at the same time because you need to preserve the vascular supply to the redraped tissue.

 However, over 6 months or so, you get new vessels that form and it becomes much safer to consider this sequence.

  Bottom general line, you can do the tummy tuck and bring those muscular abdomen muscles back to the midline and this certainly will be healthy and attractive but do not think that you are going to have the abdomen of a body builder from a tummy tuck procedure.   It just will not happen.

                 Steven M. Lynch, M.D.