Tummy Tuck — Sean Arredondo, MD

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Overview

More than loose skin — a repair of the abdominal wall itself

A tummy tuck — formally called abdominoplasty — addresses two distinct problems at once: loose, stretched skin across the lower abdomen, and the underlying separation of the abdominal muscles known as diastasis recti — the split between the two halves of the rectus abdominis that often develops during pregnancy or significant weight change. Together, these changes create the soft, protruding lower belly that many patients describe as persistent no matter how much they train or diet.

Liposuction alone cannot correct either of these. Fat removal doesn’t tighten skin that has lost its elasticity, and it doesn’t bring separated muscle back together. A tummy tuck is a structural procedure — removing the excess, repairing the wall beneath it, and redraping what remains into a flatter, firmer contour.

An abdominoplasty removes more than skin — it tightens muscle, restores contour, and gives back confidence.

Candidacy

Who This Procedure Is For

Women post-pregnancy with persistent lower abdominal looseness and diastasis recti — the muscle separation that rarely resolves fully even with dedicated core work.
Patients after massive weight loss — whether through diet, exercise, or bariatric surgery — left with excess skin that won’t retract on its own.
Patients at or near their stable long-term weight who’ve reached the limit of what diet and exercise can achieve on their own.
Not appropriate for patients still actively trying to lose significant weight, or for those planning future pregnancy — pregnancy after a tummy tuck will stretch and undo the muscle repair.
Patients in good general health, and non-smokers — nicotine use significantly increases the risk of wound-healing problems, skin loss, and other complications, and must be stopped well before surgery.

The Procedure

How It’s Performed

Technique variations

Not every abdominoplasty is the same procedure. A full (standard) tummy tuck addresses skin and muscle from the pubic area up to the ribcage — the right choice for most post-pregnancy patients. A mini tummy tuck is limited to the area below the belly button and is appropriate only for patients with isolated lower-abdominal laxity and no diastasis above the navel — a small group, in practice. An extended or fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty adds a vertical incision to remove horizontal excess, and is reserved for patients after massive weight loss who have significant skin laxity in both directions. Dr. Arredondo selects the technique based on where your skin is loose, how far the muscle separation extends, and what scar pattern will give the best trade-off for your anatomy.

Muscle repair

Diastasis recti repair is the structural core of a tummy tuck — and the part that liposuction cannot do. Permanent sutures are used to plicate (bring together) the separated halves of the rectus abdominis along the midline, restoring the inner corset of the abdominal wall. The effect is both aesthetic and functional: a flatter, firmer contour, and a stronger core. For patients who’ve lived with a lower belly that protrudes no matter how fit they get, this repair is often what makes the visible difference.

Drain-free closure & advanced pain control

Most of Dr. Arredondo’s tummy tuck patients go home without drains. Rather than relying on drains to manage the space beneath the repair, he uses progressive tension sutures — a closure technique that secures the deep tissue layers together throughout the abdomen, eliminating the dead space where fluid would otherwise collect. Drains are reserved for the small number of cases where there’s a compelling reason to use them.

Pain control is equally thoughtful. Every patient receives an Exparel TAP block — a long-acting local anesthetic injected into the abdominal wall at the time of surgery that numbs the tissue for two to three days. The impact on recovery is substantial: many patients describe minimal or no pain in the first days after surgery, and most can stand fully upright the day of or the day after the procedure — something that was historically rare after a tummy tuck.

Incision placement

The main incision is a low horizontal line placed so it can be concealed by underwear and most swimwear — typically extending hip to hip, though length depends on how much skin must be removed. Because the skin above the belly button is pulled down during a full tummy tuck, the navel is repositioned to its natural location through a small, separate incision so it stays where it belongs on the final contour. Dr. Arredondo plans incision placement in advance with you, marking where waistbands and swim lines will fall.

Anesthesia & duration

A tummy tuck is performed under general anesthesia in an accredited surgical facility and typically takes two to four hours, depending on technique and whether it’s combined with liposuction of the flanks and upper abdomen — a common pairing that refines the final contour by addressing the surrounding areas at the same time. Most patients are discharged the same day in a compression garment, without drains, and with an Exparel TAP block already working on their pain control.

Watch

Dr. Arredondo Explains

Understanding Body Contouring

A Modern Approach to Anesthesia

Recovery

What to Expect After Surgery

First 48 hours

Standing upright, minimal pain, no drains

With progressive tension sutures and an Exparel TAP block, most patients stand fully upright the day of or the day after surgery. Many report minimal or no pain during this window. Short, frequent walks are encouraged. Plan to have help at home for the basics.

Week 1

Light activity, compression garment continues

Most patients move comfortably around the house, walking progressively further each day. No lifting. The compression garment stays on continuously. With no drains to manage and pain well controlled, this week is easier than most patients expect.

Weeks 1–2

Fully upright posture, back to desk work

Every patient should be standing fully straight by one to two weeks. Most return to light desk work in this window. Still no lifting, no core engagement, and the compression garment continues throughout the day.

6 weeks

Cleared for most activity

Once Dr. Arredondo confirms proper healing, most patients are cleared for full activity. Gentle core strengthening starts here — rebuilt gradually, not rushed.

3–6 months

Final contour emerges

Most swelling resolves, the waistline settles into its long-term shape, and scar maturation continues over the following year. What you see at six months is close to what you’ll live with.

Honest Conversation

Things to Consider

A tummy tuck leaves a scar. The low horizontal line across the lower abdomen is permanent — a real trade for the contour improvement. Placement is strategic to keep it hidden by underwear and swimwear, and the scar fades significantly over 12 to 18 months, but it doesn’t disappear.
Numbness in the lower abdominal skin is expected. Sensation typically returns gradually over 6 to 12 months, but a small area of permanent numbness is possible. Most patients stop noticing it.
Smokers and nicotine users face significantly higher risk of wound healing problems, infection, and skin loss. Nicotine must be completely stopped weeks before surgery — this is non-negotiable for safety.
Future pregnancy is medically safe after a tummy tuck, but it will stretch and largely undo the muscle repair. If you’re planning more children, waiting is almost always the better decision.
Drain-free recovery for most patients. Progressive tension sutures eliminate the need for drains in the majority of cases — they’re reserved for the few situations where there’s a compelling reason to use them. A compression garment is still part of the recovery, worn continuously for several weeks.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked

Will a tummy tuck help me lose weight? +

No — and that’s important to set straight early. A tummy tuck removes excess skin and tightens separated muscle. The tissue removed weighs only a few pounds. Weight loss has to happen before surgery, not from it. Patients who arrive at or near their long-term stable weight get the best — and most durable — results.

How bad is the scar? +

It’s a long, low horizontal line across the lower abdomen — real, permanent, and the main trade-off of the procedure. Placement is planned in advance to hide it under underwear and swimwear, and the scar fades substantially over 12 to 18 months with proper care. Most patients consider it a fair exchange for the contour change. Scar care protocols — taping, silicone, and sun protection — all help.

Can I combine it with liposuction? +

Yes, and it’s commonly done. Liposculpting of the flanks and upper abdomen enhances the final contour by addressing the areas a tummy tuck alone can’t reach — the waistline and the tissue above the navel. For most patients, the combination produces a more complete and balanced result than either procedure on its own.

When can I lift my kids? +

Not until six weeks at the earliest, and only after Dr. Arredondo confirms proper healing. Anything over 10 pounds is off-limits during the first month — this is about protecting the muscle repair, which needs time to heal under sutures. This is often the hardest part of recovery for parents of young children, and it’s worth planning help in advance.

How do I know if I need a full vs mini tummy tuck? +

It depends on where your skin laxity is and whether there’s diastasis above the belly button. A mini tummy tuck only addresses the area below the navel — no belly button repositioning, no upper-abdominal muscle repair. In practice, mini is rarely the right answer for post-pregnancy patients, because muscle separation almost always extends above the belly button. Dr. Arredondo will examine the entire abdominal wall and be honest about which procedure actually fits your anatomy.

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