Patients who choose tummy tuck are seeking to reclaim a fit profile and taut abdomen, but they don’t want to achieve these benefits at the price of excessive scarring or an unnatural look. Below, experienced Miami plastic surgeon Dr. Christopher Craft explains what happens during tummy tuck, and how the procedure can dramatically improve the overall appearance of your abdomen.

Restoring Integrity

The main goal of tummy tuck is to improve the integrity and profile of the abdominal region. This is accomplished by removing excess skin and tightening the underlying muscles. Tummy tuck is the best choice for patients who have loss of skin elasticity with an overhanging skin fold, typically caused by pregnancy or substantial weight loss.

Minimizing Scarring

Tummy tuck requires a horizontal incision below the belly and an incision near the belly button. This results in a “U-shaped” or circular scar, depending on patient preference. Dr. Craft will follow your preferences for placement of the incision, and help you explore all of your options, which include placing the incision just below the bikini line.

If scarring is a major concern, options to consider include: liposuction, which uses small incisions, endoscopic abdominoplasty, which leaves a one- to two-inch scar, or a mini-abdominoplasty, which produces a scar about the same length as a C-section scar. Depending on your genetic predisposition, most scars will fade within six to 12 months, and can also be treated with lasers to improve their appearance.

Natural Belly Button

During tummy tuck, the belly button is separated from the surrounding skin through an incision within the inner border of the belly button, then sewn back after muscles and skin are tightened. Dr. Craft creates a new hole in the skin for the belly button, and the scar is hidden within the belly button itself. It’s still the same belly button, natural in appearance and position.

In addition to keeping your belly button, equally good news is that you may also improve stretch marks. If your stretch marks are located in the lower abdomen, tummy tuck will eliminate them when the skin is surgically removed. Stretch marks on the middle and upper abdomen may be improved but not eliminated, since this skin is pulled down and tightened during the procedure.

If you would like more information on tummy tuck, schedule a personal consultation with experienced Miami plastic surgeon Dr. Christopher Craft today.