Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

Westlake Dermatology's West University Houston plastic surgeons perform full and mini abdominoplasty to remove excess abdominal skin, address stretch marks below the navel, and tighten separated rectus muscles (diastasis recti) that do not respond to diet or exercise. Full abdominoplasty involves a low hip-to-hip incision, elevation of the skin and fat from the abdominal wall, muscle repair through rectus plication, excision of redundant skin, and repositioning of the umbilicus. Frequently combined with flanks liposuction for a 360-degree contouring result. Mini abdominoplasty addresses lower abdominal laxity with a shorter incision and no umbilical repositioning. All procedures performed at an accredited surgical facility.

Abdominoplasty at Westlake Dermatology West University Houston is one of the most transformative body contouring procedures offered by the clinic's plastic surgery team, addressing the complex of changes — skin laxity, stretch marks, fat deposits, and rectus diastasis — that frequently persist in the abdominal region after pregnancy, significant weight loss, or natural ageing, and that cannot be addressed by exercise or non-surgical modalities alone. Full abdominoplasty begins with a carefully planned low horizontal incision extending from hip to hip, placed within the natural lower abdominal contour so that the scar is concealed by underwear or swimwear. The skin and subcutaneous fat are elevated off the anterior rectus fascia and external oblique aponeurosis from the incision line up to the level of the costal margins, exposing the full extent of the abdominal wall. Where diastasis recti is present — the midline separation of the paired rectus abdominis muscles along the linea alba that commonly follows pregnancy and results in the characteristic abdominal bulge, lower back strain, and core weakness — the surgeon performs plication of the anterior rectus sheath using a series of permanent sutures to draw the fascial edges together, narrowing the abdominal wall and restoring structural integrity and muscular tone. This muscle repair is the most mechanically significant element of the procedure and cannot be replicated by any non-surgical technology. The excess skin and subcutaneous fat in the lower abdomen — below the level of the umbilicus — is then excised, and the remaining upper flap of skin is stretched inferiorly under careful tension calibration and closed at the original incision line. The umbilicus is repositioned through a new opening created in the stretched skin at an anatomically appropriate location and sutured in a fashion designed to produce a natural-appearing navel without a visible external scar. Mini abdominoplasty is a less extensive variant appropriate for patients with laxity and modest skin excess confined to the lower abdomen below the navel, with an adequate skin tone above, who do not require rectus plication above the umbilicus or umbilical repositioning. The procedure uses a shorter incision and more limited skin undermining than a full abdominoplasty, with correspondingly faster recovery and less total scarring. Westlake Dermatology's surgeons frequently combine abdominoplasty with concurrent liposuction of the lateral flanks, posterior waist, and hips — a combination that addresses the 360-degree circumference of the torso and achieves more comprehensive body contouring results than abdominoplasty alone. As part of a mommy makeover, tummy tuck is commonly combined with breast surgery in a single anaesthetic session. Post-operative care includes wearing a compression garment for six weeks, activity restrictions for the same period, and serial follow-up appointments during the healing process.