Best known as a “tummy tuck,” abdominoplasty is a type of body plastic surgery sought by both men and women to improve the appearance of their abdomens. Loose skin and fat in the abdominal area are very common and are difficult to change through diet and exercise for many people. In addition, losing weight can cause the skin in that area to become loose and unsightly, since skin can only recover to a certain extent after being stretched. Additionally, pregnancies can result in weakened abdominal muscles, which can cause the abdomen to protrude. Abdominoplasty can help improve all of those conditions, making it one of the most common plastic surgery procedures.
At McCue Plastic Surgery, Dr. Jonathan McCue takes a personalized approach to tummy tuck surgery, focusing on natural-looking results that complement each patient’s body and goals. As a board-certified plastic surgeon serving Minneapolis and St. Paul, Dr. McCue combines advanced surgical training with compassionate, patient-centered care to help patients feel more confident and comfortable in their appearance.
Candidates for a Tummy Tuck
If factors such as heredity, aging, weight loss, or a previous pregnancy have made your abdomen an issue, abdominoplasty may help you look and feel your best. A tummy tuck isn’t a substitute for exercise and a proper diet, of course, but is something to consider if you have one or more of the following problems:
-
Sagging or loose skin in your abdominal area.
-
A protruding abdomen that is out of proportion with the rest of your body.
-
Weakened muscles in the abdomen from pregnancy or other reasons.
-
Excessive fat in the abdominal, hip, and thigh areas.
If you are planning for future pregnancies or major weight loss, you may want to wait before having abdominoplasty. Dr. McCue can discuss these issues during your initial consultation.
What to Expect at an Abdominoplasty Consultation
When you meet with Dr. McCue for a consultation, he’ll ask you to describe your reasons for considering abdominoplasty and what results you’re hoping for. He’ll ask about your current health, medical history, medications, and habits. He’ll also ask if you’re planning a future pregnancy or weight loss regimen.
Dr. McCue will examine your abdomen, hips, and upper thighs and assess your skin type and other relevant factors. He’ll discuss various options and recommendations for your surgery, help you understand what results you can expect, and discuss any risks of the surgery. If you have any questions, he will be glad to answer them during the consultation. Dr. McCue’s goal is to give you all the information you need to make a decision that is right for you.
Types of Tummy Tucks
Tummy tucks are not all alike. The right approach depends on your anatomy, lifestyle, and goals. Dr. McCue carefully evaluates every patient during a personalized consultation and tailors the surgical plan to ensure the results appear natural and balanced. By offering multiple surgical options, he ensures that every patient can find the technique that best suits their needs.
Mini Tummy Tuck
A mini tummy tuck is typically for people with a small amount of excess skin or bulging that appears only below the belly button. The incision is shorter than with a full abdominoplasty, which may mean a quicker recovery. Because the improvement is focused on the lower abdomen, this option is ideal for those who are otherwise in good shape but want to smooth a small area of concern.
Full (Standard) Tummy Tuck
This is the most common approach to abdominoplasty. It addresses both the upper and lower belly, removes extra skin, and tightens weakened abdominal muscles. In some cases, Dr. McCue also reshapes and repositions the belly button. A full tummy tuck is often chosen by patients who have experienced weight fluctuations or pregnancy-related body changes.
Extended Tummy Tuck
For patients who have lost a significant amount of weight or have laxity extending beyond the stomach, an extended tummy tuck may be recommended. This option allows Dr. McCue not only to flatten the abdomen but also to smooth the flanks and, in some cases, the hips. The incision is longer, but the trade-off is a more complete transformation.
Fleur-de-lis Tummy Tuck
In cases of significant weight loss with excess skin both vertically and horizontally, the fleur-de-lis approach may be the best option. This technique employs a vertical incision in addition to the low horizontal incision, enabling more extensive skin removal and a dramatic reshaping of the abdomen.
Your Abdominoplasty Surgical Procedure
If you make the decision to have abdominoplasty, Dr. McCue will schedule the procedure, and you’ll both select the Twin Cities surgical facility for your surgery. You’ll be informed about all preparations you need to make, of course. Dr. McCue will recommend the type of anesthesia to be used for the surgery. Abdominoplasty usually involves a horizontal incision low on the abdomen, near the pubic area. The length and shape of the incision depend on the amount of change to be made.
In some cases, a second incision around the navel is required. Excess fat is removed, sometimes using liposuction, and weakened muscles are reinforced with sutures. Depending on your individual case, liposuction may also be used to remove excess fat from hips and thighs at the time of the surgery. Excess skin is removed and the incision is closed as the final step in the surgery, using a variety of techniques. Dr. McCue will describe the surgical plan for you in advance.
Recovering from Abdominoplasty
Following your surgery, dressings will be applied, and elastic bandages or other compression methods will help to control swelling and support your abdomen. A drainage tube may also be inserted to remove excess fluids. Before you return home, you’ll receive complete self-care instructions, along with prescriptions to help prevent infection and reduce any discomfort. Follow-up visits will be scheduled, and you’ll receive complete information on what to watch for and report.
Over time, discomfort and any swelling will subside, and your incision line will fade, though it will remain visible. Depending on your surgery, you should be able to return to work and resume activities in just a few weeks. Early in the recovery process, you’ll discover the improvements in your appearance and the fit of your clothing.
Why Choose McCue Plastic Surgery for a Tummy Tuck
At McCue Plastic Surgery, tummy tuck surgery is tailored to each patient’s unique anatomy, concerns, and aesthetic goals. Dr. Jonathan McCue is a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive training in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, enabling him to create personalized treatment plans to achieve smoother, more natural-looking abdominal contours.
Dr. McCue believes that informed patients make confident decisions, which is why he takes time to thoroughly explain the procedure, recovery process, and expected results during every consultation. Patients throughout Minneapolis and St. Paul choose McCue Plastic Surgery for compassionate care, honest communication, evidence-based treatment recommendations, and a commitment to helping patients feel more confident in their appearance.
Tummy Tuck FAQs
For many patients, the positive benefits of tummy tuck last a lifetime. The main way that skin stretches is through weight gain (or pregnancy), so keeping a steady weight is the trick to maintaining your results indefinitely. Some mild age-related skin laxity can be expected around your midsection due to a natural decline in collagen and elastin production, as these two proteins help keep your skin tight.
Yes, when Dr. McCue pulls your abdominal skin taut, this helps to eliminate any stretch marks that have appeared between your navel and bikini line. However, if you have stretch marks above your belly button, these will not be affected.
Diastasis recti occurs when the abdominal muscles separate to the left and right side. It is most likely to happen during pregnancy. Unfortunately, these abdominal muscles cannot reconnect on their own, which creates the appearance of a bulging stomach and an unfirm midsection. When Dr. McCue performs a tummy tuck, he can suture these abdominal muscles back together so that the midsection looks fit and firm.
A tummy tuck is not a weight loss surgery. Dr. McCue can remove a modest amount of fat and excess skin, but it should not significantly affect your weight. In fact, tummy tuck is best for patients who are close to their goal weight so that they can maintain the contours they have achieved with surgery for the long term. If you have some lingering pockets of fat that have not gone away with diet and exercise, you may ask Dr. McCue about combining tummy tuck with liposuction.
The price of a tummy tuck depends on the amount of skin to be removed and the specific techniques Dr. McCue uses to achieve the flatter stomach you have requested. All costs will be discussed upfront during a consultation so that you may make an informed decision about your care. Because a tummy tuck is an elective procedure, it is not generally covered by insurance, although financing options are available.
Unfortunately, skin that has stretched and is no longer elastic enough to retract to your current body contours cannot be improved by a healthy lifestyle. Although diet and exercise are great ways to burn surplus fat, they have no effect on your skin. Therefore, if you have loose skin, the most practical solution is to have abdominoplasty.
A tummy tuck requires a long, horizontal incision just above the bikini line to remove excess skin from the abdomen. While scarring will fade significantly over time, it will not disappear completely. However, because Dr. McCue carefully positions this incision so low, it can easily be covered by most types of underwear and swimsuits so that you can easily show off your new contours.
Most patients can resume light activity, such as gentle walking, within a few days. Many people return to desk work in about two weeks, but strenuous activity, exercise, and heavy lifting should generally wait for at least four to six weeks. Dr. McCue provides a personalized recovery plan to help you safely return to your daily routines.
Yes. Abdominoplasty is often performed alongside liposuction or breast surgery. Combining procedures can reduce overall recovery time and deliver more comprehensive results.
It’s generally best to wait until you are finished having children before scheduling a tummy tuck. Future pregnancies may stretch the skin and abdominal muscles again, potentially undoing your surgical results.
Yes. Many women notice an overhang or bulge above their C-section scar, sometimes referred to as a “C-section shelf.” Removing extra skin and repairing the underlying muscles can smooth and flatten this area.
Absolutely. While many tummy tuck patients are women, men who have lost a significant amount of weight or who deal with loose, sagging skin in the midsection also benefit from abdominoplasty.
A tummy tuck requires an incision just above the pubic area, which Dr. McCue places low enough to be hidden by most clothing and swimwear. Over time, the scar fades considerably, although it will never completely disappear.
The best way to know which technique is right for you is through a consultation. During your visit, Dr. McCue examines your skin, muscle tone, and overall goals to determine which type of tummy tuck is most suitable for you.
Get a Firm, Flat Midsection with a Tummy Tuck in Minneapolis, MN
If you’ve been considering abdominoplasty to improve the appearance and tone of your abdominal area, your decision will be simpler once you have all the facts. A consultation with Dr. McCue can give you all the facts you need to make an informed decision that is right for you. Contact his Minneapolis-St. Paul office at (952) 830-0089 to arrange for a personal consultation.
