A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is a surgery that makes your stomach look better by removing excess skin and fat and tightening the muscles underneath. At Beber Plastic Surgery we tell patients this is for problems that diet and exercise can’t fix, like loose skin and divided abdominal muscles that happen after pregnancy, losing a lot of weight or getting older.
Patients can make better decisions about whether a tummy tuck is for them if they know what it really means. The surgery focuses on three main areas that work together to make the abdomen flatter, firmer and more shaped. These areas are removing skin and fat, fixing muscles and using surgery to change the shape of your body in a way that looks natural and improves your proportions. Mommy Makeover combines personalized procedures to restore confidence and body shape after pregnancy.
One of the most annoying things for many people is the removal of excess skin. Your stomach skin may have stretched too far after pregnancy or big weight loss and can’t bounce back. This makes your skin saggy and droopy and may hang over your waistline or make folds and rolls that no amount of exercise will get rid of. We make a horizontal incision low on the abdomen during a tummy tuck to remove this excess skin. The incision is usually made where it can be hidden by underwear or swimsuit bottoms. The amount of skin removed varies a lot from patient to patient, some having several pounds of tissue removed. Many patients don’t know at first that they need abdominal muscle regeneration which is a big part of tummy tuck surgery. Diastasis recti is a condition that can happen during pregnancy.
It’s when the two parallel bands of abdominal muscles divide down the middle. This separation makes your stomach look bloated and makes your tummy stick out even after you lose weight and exercise. During surgery we sew these muscles back together in the middle making the abdominal wall tighter and flatter. This muscle regeneration not only makes you look better but also strengthens your core and may help with back problems caused by inadequate abdominal support.
Removing fat directly through excision or liposuction improves the shape that can be achieved by removing skin and tightening muscles. A tummy tuck isn’t really a weight loss surgery although it does get rid of extra skin and fat. We sometimes use liposuction to smooth out the contours and sculpt the body for people who have fat deposits in their flanks or waist. This all-encompassing method works on many layers of the abdominal wall to get the best results.
The surgery takes 2-4 hours depending on how much correction is needed. In Toronto we do tummy tucks in accredited surgical facilities while the patient is under general anesthesia. We start by cutting low on your belly and then separating the skin from the muscle layer underneath it moving up towards your ribcage. This allows us to get to the abdominal muscles to fix them and figure out how much skin to remove.
After we’ve tightened the muscles and removed the extra skin we pull the rest of the skin down and cut off the excess. Most of the time this means making a new hole for your belly button because the extra skin takes away the old one. We make a belly button that looks natural and is in the right place on the newly constricted abdomen. The last step is to close all the cuts with several layers of stitches to help the healing process and reduce scarring.
There are many types of tummy tucks that address different levels of concern. A full tummy tuck addresses the whole belly from pubic area to ribcage and includes muscle regeneration. A mini tummy tuck just works on the lower abdomen below the belly button. It’s a smaller incision and less change. Extended tummy tucks are great for people who have lost a lot of weight as they remove extra skin from the belly and along the sides or lower back.
You need to be patient and committed to recovering from tummy tuck surgery. The surgery is more involved than most people think and it takes a few weeks for the body to fully recover. Most people need to take 2-3 weeks off work but people who work with their hands may need more time to heal. You need to avoid heavy lifting and strenuous activity for about 6 weeks so that your muscles and cuts can heal properly. When you first start to recover you’ll walk with a slight bend in your back as standing up straight puts too much stress on your incisions.
Many people get tummy tucks with other surgeries to shape their body more completely. A tummy tuck and breast surgery are often part of a “Mommy Makeover” to fix many of the changes that happen during pregnancy in one operation. When you combine procedures you only need one anesthesia session and one recovery period. This often leads to better results overall than if you had the surgeries done individually.
People who are at or near their ideal weight and have specific concerns about loose skin on their stomach and divided muscles that won’t improve with diet and exercise are good candidates for tummy tuck surgery. You should be in good health overall, have realistic expectations about how the procedure will go and be willing to maintain your weight after the surgery. Pregnancy can affect the results of a tummy tuck so women who want to have more children should usually wait until after they have finished their family.
At Beber Plastic Surgery we have helped many Torontonians get the flat stomach they’ve always wanted. A tummy tuck is a big deal in terms of surgery, recovery and cost but for the right people it can make a big difference for a long time. The operation fixes some anatomical flaws that can’t be fixed by exercise or diet. It’s for those who have done everything they can to lose weight and be healthy but still have loose skin and weak muscles. Dr. Brett Beber, MD, FRCS, is a highly regarded plastic surgeon in Toronto known for his dedication to achieving natural, refined results through advanced surgical techniques and personalized patient care.
Disclaimer: The information provided by Beber Plastic Surgery is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice, diagnosis, or a guaranteed cost estimate. Surgical pricing and treatment outcomes vary for each individual based on anatomy, procedure complexity, surgeon expertise, and other medical or facility-related factors.
All prices and ranges mentioned are approximate estimates meant to help patients understand general cost expectations in Toronto. Final treatment plans, surgical recommendations, and exact fees can only be determined during a personal consultation after a thorough medical assessment.
Beber Plastic Surgery encourages all prospective patients to discuss their goals, medical history, and budget directly with a qualified surgeon. We are committed to transparency, patient safety, and delivering the highest standard of care—but no information on this page constitutes a binding quote or medical guarantee.
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