Tummy Tuck Before and After Pictures

Hi there-
With regard to evaluating photos, it really doesn't need to be complicated...
You should be able to look at the photos and see an attractive abdomen with which you would be happy. That's it.
You should know, however, that there are going to be a GREAT many other things that you should take into consideration when selecting a surgeon and experience for yourself-
For a healthy understanding of how to choose a surgeon AND how to evaluate photos, please read this:

There is a wide range in results, partly because of the wide range at the starting point. If a patient is within 25 pounds of ideal body weight, and the skin excess is not too great, then an excellent result can usually be obtained. Focus on the quality of the scars and the appearance of the umbilicus (belly button). Liposuction is very commonly done as part of an abdominoplasty, particularly to improve the appearance of the waist line and hips, so often surgeons will not include that part of the procedure in labeling the postoperative pictures.

Thank you for your question.  An expertly done tummy tuck should produce a flat abdomen, narrow hourglass waistline, small, natural-looking belly button, and lower abdominal scar that is gently curved and sits very low, so that it is able to be easily covered by any bikini bottom or most underwear.  Liposuction is often used as and adjunct to tummy tuck, in order to sculpt the flanks (sides) or produce a subtly athletic contour to the front of the abdomen.

It’s important to review pre and post-operative pictures
when selecting a plastic surgeon.These
pictures can illustrate the quality of the surgeons work and the surgeon’s
sense of aesthetics.Harmony,
balance and proportion are aesthetic goals of every plastic surgeon.In addition symmetry, shape and contour are
important considerations as well.When
looking at pre and post-operative pictures, it’s important to look at all of
these issues, to determine the quality of the surgeon’s work.It’s
important to remember that the surgeon doesn’t control all the variables when
abdominoplasty is performed.When
evaluating surgical results with pre and post-operative pictures, be aware that
a large number of decisions that affect the final result are made by the
patient. Pre and
post-operative pictures are helpful tools in the selection of a plastic
surgeon.It’s also important that your
surgeon be board certified and has experience performing abdominoplasty
surgery.

What would you like to achieve with a tummy tuck? What is your current body contour? What kind of scarring appears in the after photo? These questions can help you determine what you should look for in tummy tuck photos. Try to find photos that have a body contour that is similar to yours in the before photo. Then look at the after photo and see if you like the results. You should also consider the surgeon as well. If you like the work of one surgeon but they don't have photos of patients that look like you, you should still consider seeing them. During your consultation with them they may have photos to show you that aren't on their website for public viewing.

Photos can be deceiving for many reasons such as lightong or positioning, or severity of condition, or adjunctive surgical procedures or simultaneous weight loss or exercise regimens etc. It can be quite difficult for you or even us as experienced surgeons to evaluate the quality of the surgical results based on the photos alone. I would look for patients who most closely resemble your body type and condition.

Your question relates not just to tummy tucks but the whole issue of what you can realistically learn from online before & after pictures. Like many other procedures, tummy tucks are individualized depending upon the patient's needs, so there isn't just a "cookie cutter" approach that works for everyone. Some have liposuction, some more tightening of the muscles because they were more widely separated (so more improvement in the waist), and so forth. The appearance of the scar depends a lot on how long after surgery the photos were taken. It's even mopre difficult with breast augmentation, so the bottom line is you can't rely on the picture sets to predict you own result.
What you can get a feeling for is the surgeon's sense of aesthetics. If the results don't look good, then why did the doctor think they were good enought to post? Ethically, we are supposed to show typical results, not just the very best, but typical results should be good.

Thank you for your question.  As others have pointed out, you should look for patients with a similar body type, height, and weight to yours.  Some patients have better results than others and this can be due to factors outside of the surgeons control; things such as skin elasticity, skin color, and time since surgery can all affect how a scar heals.  Many surgeons will combine some element of liposuction with their tummy tuck procedure to help improve the lateral and posterior contour.  

In general, look for photos that show a flatter abdomen and narrower waist.  Remember that it takes up to a year or longer for scars to fade.  Most physicians will tend to put their best photographs on their website but may have other photographs available of patients who have had "average" results.  I think it would be dishonest to "photoshop" one's postoperative photographs, but that does not mean it cannot happen.  Do your research and seek out several board certified plastic surgeons for your consultation.  Good luck!

It can be difficult to evaluate before and after photos. With tummy tuck photos, you are looking for the following1) A beutiful, natural looking belly button with no scar2) a narrow waist3) a flat abdomen4) scars that are low on the abdomen (not all scars can be low, but many can. - you should see examples of scars that re easily hidden in a bikini)4) no fulness in upper abdomenYou should be abale to see images from a front, side and oblique view, and you should be able to get a close look at scars and belly buttons.Photos should not be the only criteria you use when selecting a surgeon. But, photos can demonstrate the ability of a plastic surgeon to perform the procedure of interest to you with the results you would like. 

There are many online photo gallery sites with before and after photos of tummy tucks.  It can be very overwhelming to start looking though so many of these photos. Oftentimes, it can be helpful to try and find before photos of woman with a similar body to yours, and then to find the after photos that have results you are pleased with. This is often a good way to help guide you to choose a surgeon in your area. Additionally, you can research if those women that you identified with had liposuction with their tummy tuck. In almost all of tummy tucks that I perform, I add aggressive liposuction of the flanks and abdomen to create a more ideal contour. I call this a lipo-abdominoplasty. Many other surgeons, however, include a small amount of liposuction with the abdominoplasty procedure, and still call it an abdominoplasty.