Excessive weight gain and loss, hormonal changes, and pregnancies can lead to fat accumulation, skin sagging, stretch marks, and weakened abdominal muscles. In such cases, a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is performed.

Individuals with sagging abdominal skin and weakened abdominal muscles that do not improve with proper diet and exercise are ideal candidates for a tummy tuck. Abdominoplasty should be viewed more as a body-contouring surgery than a weight-loss procedure.

Before deciding on the surgery, if the patient is overweight, it is recommended to reach an ideal weight. Overweight patients have thicker abdominal skin, so achieving results as good as those of normal-weight patients is more difficult. Therefore, diet and exercise are recommended first. Patients who lose weight through diet and exercise and come for sagging correction are among the most suitable candidates.

**How is the surgery performed?**

When the connective tissues between the abdominal muscles weaken or tear, the muscles separate, causing the abdomen to bulge outward. During abdominoplasty, the abdominal muscles are tightened, the abdominal wall is narrowed, and excess fat and skin are removed. The belly button position can also be adjusted. While abdominal stretch marks may not be completely removed, most of them are improved.

Depending on the deformity, the surgery can be performed as a full or mini tummy tuck. A full abdominoplasty is considered when sagging and fat accumulation are significant and abdominal muscles are severely separated. If the sagging and fat accumulation are limited to the lower abdomen, a mini abdominoplasty may be performed. Incisions are placed around the belly button and along the underwear line.

Liposuction is often combined with abdominoplasty to achieve a better contour.

**Surgery duration:**

Tummy tuck surgeries usually take 2–4 hours. Patients are typically hospitalized for 1–2 days and then discharged.

**Postoperative complications:**

Complications may occur, especially in smokers, diabetic patients, those with systemic diseases, or individuals with healing problems, affecting the incision healing.

**Postoperative care:**

Drains are placed for 1–4 days to prevent blood or seroma accumulation. Pain is managed with medication and decreases over time. Patients are advised to walk slightly bent forward initially and use a pillow behind their back while sleeping to avoid tension on the incision line.

If the patient does not do heavy work, they can return to work in 1–2 weeks. A compression garment is recommended for 1–1.5 months, and heavy exercise should be avoided for 2–3 months. Swelling usually resolves, and the desired abdominal shape is achieved in 6–12 months.

Patients should maintain their weight and avoid excessive weight gain after surgery. Those planning future pregnancies should postpone the surgery until after childbirth.