TUMMY TUCK REVISION

Pros

• A tummy tuck revision procedure may provide all the benefits you were expecting with your previous tummy tuck, including a trimmer waistline, smoother abdominal contour, and a less noticeable scar.
• Whatever you didn’t love about your primary tummy tuck result can be resolved during a revision. This may also be an opportunity to tack on ancillary procedures, like liposuction, which can further enhance your outcome.
• Secondary abdominoplasty has a high success rate and patient satisfaction: 94% of patients who reviewed their procedure and results on RealSelf say it was “Worth It.”

Cons

• A complex revision tummy tuck is a major surgery, with a typical recovery period of at least two to four weeks, depending on the extent of the procedure.
• Even a successful revision will still leave a permanent (though well-hidden) scar across the lower abdomen. 
• Tummy tuck surgery has one of the highest complication rates of all cosmetic surgery procedures, and a full-fledged revision comes with similar risks.
• Revision tummy tuck outcomes can be better, but never perfect. As with any revision procedure, surgeons are operating on previously altered (and, thus, scarred) tissues, which are less amenable and predictable than virgin tissues. Keep your expectations in check.

• Average Cost:
• $11,484

• Range:
• $4,500 - $25,000

The price you pay will depend on who performs your procedure, where they perform it, the extent of your surgical procedure, and whether you have local or general anesthesia.

If you return to your original surgeon for a revision, they may waive their fee, though you’d still need to cover the cost of the surgical facility, anesthesia, and supplies. If you choose to go to a different surgeon, you can expect to pay the surgeon’s fee as well.

Most surgeons offer payment plans or accept third-party financing options, such as CareCredit.

The tummy tuck revision photos in our gallery have been shared by the provider who performed the procedure, with the patient's consent.

Doctors on RealSelf recommend waiting at least one year for your results (and scars) to mature and stabilize before making any final judgments about your initial tummy tuck results and seeking a revision procedure. 

In many cases, what seems like a negative or insufficient result may simply be the body going through its natural healing process. “Generally, it takes many months for swelling to resolve after tummy tuck surgery—and it may take up to a year [or longer] for complete skin redraping to occur,” says Dr. Tom Pousti, a plastic surgeon in La Mesa, California.

Even if your results don’t fully align with your expectations, they may be a significant improvement. “When evaluating the results, it is critical to consider your starting point,” says Dr. Burns. “The optimal way to evaluate your results is by comparing your before and after photos taken at least 6 months after your procedure.” 

You’ll also want to make sure you’re able to maintain a stable weight, particularly if weight fluctuations are driving your desire for revision surgery.

If you’re considering a scar revision, keep in mind that it can take up to two years after your original procedure for the skin to stretch enough that a second surgery can be done without tension on the incision, so that you’ll heal with a fine line. 

Your first step should be to contact your original plastic surgeon about your concerns, say doctors on RealSelf.

“However, don’t feel like you need to stick with them for your revision, especially if you’re not confident that your surgeon will be able to deliver positive results the second time around either,” says Denver plastic surgeon Dr. Ryan Campanile. “Instead, take the time to find a board-certified plastic surgeon with plenty of experience in tummy tuck revisions. The second surgery is often more technically challenging than the first.” 

Related: Jessica Simpson Opens Up About the Scary Complication She Had After Getting 2 Tummy Tucks

Related: Jessica Simpson Opens Up About the Scary Complication She Had After Getting 2 Tummy Tucks

A revision tummy tuck is typically an outpatient procedure, most often performed under general anesthesia—especially if your procedure involves muscle repair. 

The extent of your tummy tuck revision surgery will depend on your concerns and goals. It’s important to work together with your plastic surgeon to determine the right treatment plan for the results you want. 

For example:

• Excess fat deposits can often be removed via liposuction, which is sometimes combined with a body-contouring procedure like BodyTite, to shrink excess skin. 
• If the belly button has healed in an unnatural-looking way (sometimes it becomes very small or elongated, resembling a slot), your surgeon may reshape it with an umbilicoplasty, a relatively straightforward procedure with a short recovery time. 
• For patients with muscle and/or skin laxity, a full-fledged secondary tummy tuck may be needed to flatten the abdomen, enhance curves, and smooth the skin.

RealSelf Tip: A bulging stomach may be caused by intra-abdominal fat (visceral fat), the kind that surrounds your organs and that can’t be removed via liposuction or a tummy tuck. If that’s the case, lifestyle and dietary changes, possibly combined with Ozempic or another semaglutide medication for weight loss, may be the best solution. 

Expect to need about two weeks off from work to rest and heal—possibly four weeks or more, if your procedure is extensive or your job involves physical activity. It takes about six to twelve weeks for the abdominal muscles to heal following surgery, according to Dr. Burns.

Abdominoplasty revision can be a major surgical procedure, similar to your original tummy tuck. Unless your treatment plan involves a very minor repair, recovery can involve significant bruising, swelling, and tightness. 

Some surgeons use pain pumps or long-acting Exparel (injected into the abdominal wall during surgery), to reduce post-op pain. Prescription pain medication can help make you more comfortable during the first few days of healing; after that, your surgeon may recommend over-the-counter options, like Tylenol. 

You’ll walk bent over for the first couple of weeks after your tummy tuck and will have to wear an abdominal binder during the first week post-surgery, followed by a compression garment for up to two months, to support your tissues and reduce swelling. You may have drains in place (to prevent fluid build-up) for the initial two weeks of recovery.

Your surgeon will likely ask you to abstain from strenuous activities for six to twelve weeks, depending on how much was done

You’ll get an idea of the outcome after a few weeks, but it can take up to a year for all the swelling to resolve and scars to mature so you can see your final results.