Patients often ask, “Am I a candidate for a tummy tuck?” There are several abdominal contouring surgical procedures. Figuring out which one suits you best depends on your body, expectations and recovery time.

Liposuction – Patients are ideal abdominal liposuction candidates if they are young with excess abdominal fat. Patients with excess lower abdominal skin are not likely to be liposuction candidates. There are very small incisions to heal and the recovery time is minimal compared to the other procedures. A compression garment is to be worn for 6 weeks following the procedure. I use a power assisted liposuction (PAL) machine to perform the procedure which creates a smooth and even contour.

Mini Abdominoplasty – A mini abdominoplasty is an ideal procedure for a patient who has a slight amount of excess lower abdominal skin and wants to address the separation of the abdominal muscles (most commonly caused by pregnancy). The resulting abdominal scar is short. There is no scar around the belly button. Full recovery from the procedure takes several weeks.

Full Abdominoplasty – A full abdominoplasty is performed if a patient has moderate to severe excess lower abdominal skin. An internal corset is created. This allows the separated abdominal muscles to return to the center of the abdomen. The abdominal scar is low but extends from hip to hip. There is also a minimal scar around the belly button. No heavy lifting or vigorous exercise is to be performed for 6 weeks after the procedure.