Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

Elite Plastic Surgery Miami performs abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) to address excess abdominal skin and laxity of the abdominal wall musculature following pregnancy, significant weight loss, or age-related changes. The procedure tightens the rectus abdominis muscles in patients with diastasis recti, removes a panel of redundant lower abdominal skin and tissue, and re-drapes the remaining skin for a flatter, firmer abdominal profile. Liposuction of the flanks and waist is routinely combined to complete the contour. All procedures are performed by Dr. Moises Salama in the clinic's state-certified surgical suites.

Abdominoplasty at Elite Plastic Surgery Miami is performed by Dr. Moises Salama to address the combination of anatomical changes that frequently accompany pregnancy, major weight fluctuation, or the gradual effects of aging on the abdominal region. A standard abdominoplasty involves three interrelated surgical steps: rectus abdominis muscle plication to address diastasis recti, resection of excess infraumbilical skin and soft tissue, and repositioning of the umbilicus to a natural, anatomically appropriate location on the newly tightened abdominal wall. Diastasis recti — the medial separation of the paired rectus abdominis muscles along the linea alba — is a consistent finding in post-partum patients and in those who have experienced large fluctuations in abdominal volume. The separation reduces the tension the abdominal musculature can generate against gravity and intra-abdominal pressure, contributing to a characteristic lower abdominal bulge that no amount of core exercise can correct because the structural integrity of the muscle wall has been compromised. Muscle plication restores this integrity by bringing the medial edges of the rectus sheaths back to the midline with a series of permanent sutures, effectively recreating a functional, taut abdominal wall. Skin resection then removes the redundant panel of lower abdominal tissue that was stretched beyond its elastic recovery capacity — the area most likely to have persistent stretch marks and thin, lax skin. The extent of the resection is determined by the amount of excess tissue present, which in turn dictates whether a standard, extended, or belt-lipectomy approach is most appropriate. At Elite Plastic Surgery Miami, liposuction of the flanks, lateral abdomen, and waist is routinely performed in combination with abdominoplasty, as these zones lie outside the direct tissue excision area but are critical to overall waist contour harmony. The combined procedure allows the surgeon to address both the central abdominal skin and muscle issues and the lateral fat deposits in a single anaesthetic episode. Recovery from tummy tuck typically involves four to six weeks of restricted physical activity, with compression garment use and drain management in the initial post-operative phase.