Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) performed by Dr. Parit A. Patel, MD, MBA, FACS at the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago to address excess abdominal skin, lax rectus abdominis muscles (diastasis recti), and lower-abdominal contour changes following pregnancy or significant weight loss. Mini and full abdominoplasty options are available, frequently combined with flank liposuction for a comprehensive waistline result. All surgical procedures are performed at accredited Chicago-area facilities.

Tummy tuck surgery at the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago addresses the combination of abdominal skin excess, weakened or separated rectus abdominis muscles, and persistent lower-abdominal contour changes that cannot be corrected by diet and exercise because they represent structural changes to the musculofascial layer and skin elasticity rather than fat volume alone. The full abdominoplasty procedure begins with a low horizontal incision placed within the bikini line, extending from hip to hip; Dr. Patel elevates the abdominal skin flap upward toward the costal margin, exposing the rectus abdominis fascia. Where diastasis recti — the separation of the two rectus muscles along the midline that commonly occurs during pregnancy — is present, it is repaired by plication of the anterior rectus fascia with permanent or long-lasting absorbable sutures. This muscle tightening restores the structural integrity of the abdominal wall and produces a flatter, firmer anterior abdominal contour. Excess skin is trimmed, the remaining flap is redraped, and the umbilicus is repositioned through a new opening at the natural anatomic level. The mini abdominoplasty is a more limited procedure for patients whose laxity is confined to the area below the umbilicus; it uses a shorter incision and does not require umbilical repositioning, making it appropriate for patients with early lower abdominal skin excess who do not have significant diastasis. A very common addition to abdominoplasty at this practice is liposuction of the flanks, hips, and waistline, which refines the lateral contour simultaneously and produces a more complete body contouring result. Dr. Patel's procedural menu also includes the Brazilian butt lift — a procedure that combines liposuction of the abdomen and flanks with fat transfer to the buttocks — offering a complementary body contouring option. Recovery from abdominoplasty involves wearing an abdominal compression binder for four to six weeks, activity restrictions for six weeks, and gradual flattening as residual swelling resolves over three to six months.