Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
Removes loose lower abdominal skin and fat and repairs the abdominal muscles when they have separated. It is a contouring operation, not a weight-loss operation.
Who is a good candidate for a tummy tuck?
Loose skin after pregnancy or significant weight loss; separation of the abdominal muscles (diastasis) that exercise will not close; a lower abdomen that will not flatten regardless of training.
What happens during a tummy tuck?
A horizontal incision low across the abdomen, usually hidden by underwear, and repositioning of the belly button. Muscle repair is done when the muscles have separated. Often combined with liposuction of the flanks for a smoother result. Drains are used for this procedure — they are placed during surgery and removed at a follow-up visit. Best done once you are at a stable weight and finished having children.
How long is recovery after a tummy tuck?
Two to three weeks off work for most patients. You will stand bent forward for the first several days. Compression garment for six weeks, no core or upper-body training for six to eight weeks. Swelling and numbness above the incision resolve over several months.
The scar is permanent and runs hip to hip — and depending on your anatomy, it may extend further. Dr. Vande Ven will show you where it will sit before you decide.
What a tummy tuck quote includes
- The surgeon's fee — the operation itself
- The facility fee — the operating room and the staff who run it on the day
- Anesthesia — administered and monitored by the anesthesia provider
- Surgical supplies — the sterile instruments, dressings and materials used on the day
- Routine post-operative visits — your follow-up appointments after surgery are included
You'll receive an individualized, itemized quote at your consultation. If a quote elsewhere is much lower, ask which of these five parts it leaves out.
Consultations are unhurried, with time for questions. Surgery, consultations, sizing and follow-up all happen at our
Rancho Bernardo office, which has an operating room on site.
Surgery can also be performed at the
Carlsbad Surgery Center, where Dr. Vande Ven holds
operating privileges.
Frequently asked questions
Will I lose weight from a tummy tuck?+
Very little — and that isn't its job. A tummy tuck removes loose skin and repairs separated muscle; it's a contouring operation, not weight loss. It works best when your weight has been stable, and the result holds best when it stays that way.
What happens if I get pregnant after a tummy tuck?+
The pregnancy itself is safe — but it can stretch the skin and re-separate the repaired muscle, undoing much of what the surgery achieved. If you're planning more children, the honest advice is to wait.
What happens to my belly button during a tummy tuck?+
It stays attached where it is — the skin moves around it, and a new opening is made for it in the repositioned skin. A natural-looking navel afterwards is one of the marks of the operation done well.
When will I see the final result?+
Later than you'd like. Swelling takes months to fully settle — liposuction shows its final contour at three to six months, and a tummy tuck can take six months or more. What you see in the first weeks is not your outcome.
What is a mini tummy tuck?+
A mini tummy tuck treats loose skin and fat below the belly button only, through a shorter incision than a full tummy tuck. The belly button usually stays where it is, and recovery is usually shorter. It suits patients whose concern is confined to that lower area. Dr. Vande Ven will tell you at your consultation whether a mini or a full tummy tuck fits your anatomy.
Is a tummy tuck covered by insurance?+
Some procedures can be covered by insurance when certain requirements are met. Dr. Vande Ven does not take insurance cases, so procedures at this practice are self-pay.
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