How long does a extended tummy tuck surgery take?

This answer varies, depending on how much tissue there is to remove, and what this involves. Average time is around 3 hours, with a variance of 30-45 minutes if additional minor things are combined.  Most tummy tucks include removal of excess skin from above and below belly button, as well as tightening of the abdominal muscles.Length of time does not indicate quality of work, nor experience of surgeon so please seek a board certified plastic surgeon when searching for a doctor!

Typically, together with liposuction of the flank area, the extended tummy tuck takes me, on average, about 4 hours.  This includes TAP block, rectus plication, subcuticular closure of the incision, and careful umbilical insetting. Please take a look at our website and review some of the pre and post-op photos of our extended abdominoplasty results.

Timing of surgery will vary among surgeons according to their experience, efficiency, and supporting team.   For example, we work in a team and would take around 2 hours for an extended abdominnoplasty.   This allows us to get better results with less surgical time and less trauma. Our patients are typically wlking the same day and tapering off of pain medications by 4-5 days. Patients progress to unrestricted activities by 2 months, just as the final results are settling in.

Combination procedures can give powerful results but SAFETY is KEY. You definitely have to choose your surgeon correctly and make sure that he/she has the training and experience to meet your goals with absolute safety. Don’t settle for less than a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with specialized expertise in this procedure.