Tummy Tuck procedure - What happens during a Tummy Tuck?

During a tummy tuck, the skin between the belly button and pubic hairline is excised, the skin above the belly button is freed from the abdominal wall so it can be pulled down over the abdomen to make a nice tight smooth contour, the muscles are reconstructed, and the belly button is revised.

During a full tummy tuck, the skin and fatty tissue is
lifted off of the abdominal wall and the rectus muscles are tightened with
suture. The excess skin is removed. The belly button (umbilicus) is in the same position
but is now surround by new skin. Tightening
of the muscle is what fattens the abdomen.
The loose skin is removed which often eliminates many of the stretch marks
if present on abdominal skin.  After being evaluated by your plastic surgeon, you will be
told whether a full or mini tummy tuck will give you the look that you desire. 

Thank you for your question.  A tummy tuck addresses the excess skin on the abdominal wall, the excess fatty tissue and the repair of the muscle wall.Pregnancy, weight gain/loss and aging can result in excess skin, fat and diastasis recti which is separation of the abdominal muscle wall.A tummy tuck procedure can greatly improve the appearance of the abdomen.  The most common type of tummy tuck involves an incision from hip to hip and a circular incision around the umbilicus.  The excess skin is removed surgically and fat is liposuctioned or removed surgically.  The abdominal wall muscle is repaired or stitched together.Hope this information is helpful to you,

    This may vary based upon your anatomy and individual goals as well as your surgeon.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA

A full abdominoplasty addresses the three aesthetic issues after pregnancy. Laxity the abdominal wall is corrected. Excess skin and fat is removed resulting in an incision across the lower abdomen.

The Formal Tummy Tuck address each of the layers of the belly wall and its structures.1) Skin: excessive skin is removed and tightened2) Fat: excessive fat is either surgically removed or liposuctioned.3) Muscles: central rectus muscle weakness is repaired / tightened, oblique muscle can be tightened4) Hernias: belly button or other belly wall hernia repaired.5) Belly button: re-shaped and youthified6) Pubis: can be reshaped, tightened and or liposuctionedThis is not a complete list but an attempt to simplify the list to help you understand the process.Good LuckStephen M. Davis, MD, FACSGreen Hills Plastic Surgery