Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

West Houston Plastic Surgery performs full, mini, and extended abdominoplasty to remove excess abdominal skin, tighten the underlying musculature, and sculpt a flatter, firmer abdominal contour. The full technique uses two incisions — hip-to-hip at the pubic hairline and around the navel — to address skin laxity both above and below the navel, with muscle plication to repair separated or weakened abdominal muscles. The mini technique requires a single lower incision and targets the zone below the navel. The extended variant includes the flanks and hip sides for patients with circumferential laxity. All procedures are performed in the on-site AAAASF-accredited surgical suite under IV sedation; Exparel is used for extended post-operative comfort.

Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) at West Houston Plastic Surgery is a body-contouring procedure designed to address the combination of excess skin, subcutaneous fat, and weakened or separated abdominal muscles that frequently persists despite diet and exercise — most commonly as a result of pregnancy, significant weight loss, or the natural effects of ageing on abdominal wall integrity. The practice offers three abdominoplasty variants — full, mini, and extended — allowing the surgical plan to be matched precisely to the patient's anatomical situation and aesthetic objectives. The full abdominoplasty is the most comprehensive option. A hip-to-hip incision is placed low in the pubic hairline to remain concealed beneath swimwear, and a second periumbilical incision releases the navel stalk. The skin and fat of the lower abdomen are elevated off the muscle fascia, the rectus abdominis muscles are plicated (tightened along the midline) to repair diastasis recti and narrow the waist, excess skin and fat are excised, and the abdominal flap is redraped and closed. The navel is repositioned through a new opening at the appropriate anatomical level. Full abdominoplasty simultaneously addresses laxity both above and below the navel, making it the preferred choice for patients with post-pregnancy or post-weight-loss changes across the entire abdominal surface. The mini abdominoplasty uses a single lower incision and is appropriate for patients whose concerns are limited to the lower abdomen — below the navel — with good skin tone and muscle integrity above. The procedure is shorter, has a more limited scar, and typically involves a faster recovery, though it cannot fully address the upper abdominal skin envelope. The extended abdominoplasty builds on the full technique by extending the incision laterally around the flanks to the lower back, allowing excess skin and fat on the hip and flank sides to be addressed simultaneously. This variant is suited to patients who have lost substantial weight or who carry significant lateral laxity. At West Houston Plastic Surgery, liposuction may be added to any abdominoplasty to refine the flanks, mons pubis, or adjacent zones. All procedures are performed in the clinic's AAAASF-accredited in-office surgical suite under IV sedation with local anaesthesia. Exparel (liposomal bupivacaine) is administered intraoperatively to provide sustained post-operative analgesia at the wound site, reducing immediate narcotic requirements. Houston patients considering abdominoplasty are advised to be at or near a stable goal weight before surgery to optimise outcomes and minimise revision risk.