Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

Dr Chad Robbins performs full abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and mini tummy tuck to address excess lower abdominal skin, subcutaneous fat, and diastasis recti — the separation of the paired rectus abdominis muscles that commonly follows pregnancy or significant weight change. Surgery removes redundant skin and fat below the navel, repairs the abdominal wall musculature, and repositions the navel to a natural anatomical position. Liposuction of the flanks is frequently combined. The procedure is a common component of Mommy Makeover packages alongside breast surgery.

Tummy tuck surgery (abdominoplasty) at Robbins Plastic Surgery in Nashville targets the constellation of changes to the abdominal wall that resist correction through diet and exercise alone — particularly excess lower abdominal skin laxity, persistent subcutaneous fat deposits, and diastasis recti. Diastasis recti — the separation of the paired rectus abdominis muscles at the linea alba — occurs in the majority of pregnancies and with significant weight fluctuation, resulting in a rounded lower abdominal contour and reduced core structural integrity that no amount of targeted exercise can fully correct, because the muscles themselves have lost midline approximation. Repair of this diastasis is a core component of Dr Robbins' abdominoplasty technique: the rectus muscles are re-approximated at the midline with permanent suture, restoring abdominal wall function alongside the aesthetic improvement. The skin excision component addresses the excess skin that accumulates in the lower abdomen, removing the panniculovaginal area and associated stretch marks below the planned horizontal incision placed low enough to sit within the bikini line. The navel is repositioned through a new opening in the resected skin at an anatomically appropriate level, a step that differentiates full abdominoplasty from the mini tummy tuck, which uses a shorter incision and is suited to patients with more limited lower abdominal skin excess without significant muscle laxity. Liposuction of the flanks, hips, and lateral abdominal wall is frequently incorporated simultaneously, refining the overall waistline contour. As a core component of Mommy Makeover procedures — which address post-pregnancy changes across the breast and abdomen in a single anaesthetic event — abdominoplasty at this Nashville practice is combined with breast augmentation, breast lift, or breast reduction based on the individual patient's anatomy and goals. Dr Robbins has hospital privileges at Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital and Centennial Medical Center, providing accredited surgical facility access. Nashville patients undergoing tummy tuck surgery are advised to plan for approximately two to four weeks before returning to desk work and six weeks before resuming strenuous activity.