Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

Westlake Plastic Surgery performs full, mini, and 360-degree belt lipectomy tummy tucks in Austin, Texas. Performed under general anaesthesia in the clinic's accredited in-office surgical suite, the procedure removes excess abdominal skin, tightens the underlying muscle wall, and repositions the navel for a flatter, firmer contour. Most procedures take under 90 minutes and patients are discharged the same day.

Abdominoplasty at Westlake Plastic Surgery addresses the abdominal laxity that commonly follows pregnancy, significant weight loss, or ageing — conditions that diet and exercise alone cannot fully correct. Dr. Robert Caridi, board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, offers several abdominoplasty variants to match each patient's anatomy and goals at his Austin, Texas practice. A full tummy tuck is the most comprehensive option, addressing excess skin and muscle separation (diastasis recti) across the entire abdomen. The procedure involves a low horizontal incision placed to remain concealed by swimwear, followed by muscle plication (tightening of the rectus abdominis muscles at the midline), removal of redundant lower abdominal skin, and umbilicoplasty to reposition the navel in a natural location. For patients with concerns limited to the lower abdomen below the navel, a mini tummy tuck uses a shorter incision and avoids navel relocation, with faster recovery. Dr. Caridi also performs the umbilical float technique — an intermediate approach that avoids a periumbilical scar while addressing moderate skin laxity — and a full 360-degree belt lipectomy (circumferential tummy tuck) for patients who need comprehensive skin removal following massive weight loss. An inverted-T pattern is available for cases with significant vertical skin excess alongside horizontal laxity. Most tummy tuck surgeries at Westlake take under 90 minutes and are completed as same-day outpatient procedures. Patients typically return to desk work within four to seven days and resume exercise after three to four weeks. Swelling resolves progressively over six to eight weeks. Follow-up appointments are scheduled at two weeks, eight weeks, and one year post-surgery. The national average reference cost for abdominoplasty is approximately $8,425. A $1,500 scheduling deposit is required, applied to the total cost. Financing is available through Cherry, CareCredit, and PatientFi.