How Much Skin Can be Removed with a Tummy Tuck?

One of the most in-demand cosmetic surgeries available today is the tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, and one of the most common questions about tummy tuck surgery is just how much skin can be removed during the procedure. As Houston, TX board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Rolando Morales explains it, the answer will be different for everyone and depends heavily on how much excess skin that particular patient has to work with. In this blog from Morales Plastic Surgery, you’ll find more details about what results may be possible with tummy tuck surgery, including which kind of tummy tuck may be useful based on the amount of skin you’re hoping to have removed.

How does a tummy tuck slim your waistline?

Tummy tuck surgery is designed to create a smoother, slimmer physique by addressing loose, excess skin on the mid-to-lower abdomen. A tummy tuck can also be used to correct diastasis recti (separated abdominal muscles) and to remove stubborn pockets of fatty tissue for an even more pleasing new shape.

How much skin does a tummy tuck take off?

During tummy tuck surgery, Dr. Morales creates an incision on the lower abdomen and trims away loose, excess skin. The skin remaining below the incision is then pulled taut, and the incision is stitched closed. There is no set amount of skin that can be removed with a tummy tuck, as each patient’s body, skin laxity, and other characteristics are unique. During your tummy tuck consultation, Dr. Morales will carefully assess how much extra skin you have and will discuss your available options, which may include:

• Mini tummy tuck
• Full tummy tuck
• Extended tummy tuck
• Body lift

Do I need a full tummy tuck?

One of Dr. Morales’ primary goals with tummy tuck surgery is to minimize visible scarring, meaning the tummy tuck long incision, as it’s known, should be kept as low as possible. In patients who do not have a great deal of loose skin, attempting a full tummy tuck may result in a fairly high, visible incision. Instead, Dr. Morales may recommend another type of tummy tuck, like a mini tummy tuck or vertical incision tummy tuck, to address skin laxity with less visible scarring. Generally speaking, patients with an abundance of excess abdominal skin are considered good candidates for a full tummy tuck or extended tummy tuck, while patients with minor concerns may be better suited to a mini tummy tuck, all of which will be further customized to help meet each patient’s individual anatomy and goals.

Can a high tummy tuck scar be fixed?

For patients who have undergone a previous tummy tuck that resulted in a high, visible scar, it is not possible to reposition the scar. To avoid this situation, it is critical that patients consult with one, two, or even three plastic surgeons prior to scheduling their procedure and ask detailed questions about what type of tummy tuck they need and where their scar will be located. To help get a better idea of what results may be possible for you with a tummy tuck at Morales Plastic Surgery, browse our tummy tuck before-and-after photos here.

Know your options for tummy tuck surgery in Houston, TX

When it comes to something as personal and intimate as enhancing your body with cosmetic surgery, you deserve an experience as unique as you are. To learn more about your options for a customized tummy tuck, call Morales Plastic Surgery to schedule your one-on-one consultation with Houston’s premier cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Rolando Morales, today.