Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

Full and mini abdominoplasty to remove excess abdominal skin and fat, tighten the rectus abdominis muscles if separated (diastasis recti), and create a firmer abdominal contour. Performed by Northwestern University board-certified plastic surgeons at Streeterville. The procedure is frequently combined with liposuction of the flanks and can be incorporated into a mommy makeover alongside breast surgery in a single operative session.

Tummy tuck surgery at Northwestern Plastic Surgery addresses the abdominal changes that commonly follow pregnancy, significant weight loss, or the natural effects of ageing — specifically the combination of excess skin, subcutaneous fat, and muscular laxity that cannot be resolved through diet and exercise alone. A full abdominoplasty begins with a low horizontal incision placed across the lower abdomen, positioned to fall within the natural bikini line or waistband. The abdominal skin and subcutaneous tissue are elevated from the pubis to the lower costal margin, allowing access to the entire anterior abdominal wall. When diastasis recti is present — the midline separation of the paired rectus abdominis muscles along the linea alba that commonly accompanies pregnancy and manifests as abdominal protrusion and core weakness — the muscles are reapproximated in the midline with permanent sutures, restoring the flat, firm abdominal wall contour. The elevated skin flap is then re-draped inferiorly under appropriate tension, excess skin and fat are excised, and the incision is closed with the scar positioned within the bikini line. Umbilicoplasty (repositioning of the navel through the lowered skin flap) is performed as part of the procedure to preserve a natural-appearing umbilicus in its correct anatomical position. Mini-abdominoplasty, which limits dissection to the infra-umbilical zone and does not require umbilical transposition, is offered for patients with limited lower abdominal excess and good upper abdominal skin tone, resulting in a shorter scar and faster recovery. Liposuction of the flanks and lateral abdomen is frequently incorporated at the same time to achieve circumferential contour improvement. The mommy makeover — combining abdominoplasty with breast lift, breast augmentation, or both — is available as a single surgical session to address the full spectrum of post-pregnancy body changes.