Will a Tummy Tuck Reveal Six Pack Abs?

Question

I've been told that I have great abdominal muscles under the flab. Is it possible that if there's a 6 pack under there? I plan on having a tt. I exercise alot. I can feel the tightness in my abs but can't see it due to stretch marks and loose skin. After the tt will I see any definition in my abs if I have some?

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

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

Jerome Edelstein, MD · Answer

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.

Steven M. Lynch, MD · Answer

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.

David A. Dreyfuss, MD · Answer

People who have a obvious 6 pack have well developed muscles combined with tight skin and low body fat. After a Tummy tuck, your skin may be tight, but still has fat under the skin and minimal adhesions to the muscle. Initially your skin will just look smooth after surgery. However, we have seen some of our patients develop some definition after exercise. We allow our patients to return to the gym about 3-4 weeks after surgery. With normal healing and reduction in total body fat, you may ultimately notice some definition to the muscles.

	Good Luck!

Elan B. Singer, MD · Answer

First of all you shouldn't be "Scared2death". In a healthy patient, tummy tuck surgery is very safe with a low complication rate. My abdominoplasty patients are amongst my happiest cosmetic surgery patients because the results are so dramatic. Having said that, tummy tuck surgery is not magic. It does bring the abdominal muscles back in the midline, but does not add definition or bulk to them. By pulling the abdominal skin tight, you MAY decrease the amount of fatty tissue that is over your muscles thus showing them off a bit more, but this is very slight effect. Either way, a few sit ups a day and a little weight loss goes a long way, especially after tummy tuck. Good luck!

	Dr. Singer

John P. Stratis, MD · Answer

You can answer your own question by taking a good look at people who have 6 pack abs. They have tight skin, developed muscles and no fat. Unfortunately a tummy tuck will not do all that. If you have some of that already the tummy tuck can help reveal it but if you do not have any of these you will not have a 6 pack after a tummy tuck.
Nowadays there are some tricks using lipo suctioning that can sculpt the fat in the belly to give the appearance of a 6 pack.

William B. Rosenblatt, MD · Answer

Usually it does not show a six pack because you have too much fat under your skin. If you really lost a lot of weight and have thin flaps, then perhaps there will be some muscle definition seen. Talk to the plastic surgeon.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

The tummy tuck per se will not reveal your 6 pack abs.  The only way to do that would be to get down to an exceptionally low body fat after surgery and exercise them like crazy.

Will a Tummy Tuck Reveal Six Pack Abs?

Answers (8)