As you likely know, tummy tuck surgery (abdominoplasty) is a cosmetic surgery procedure that involves the removal of the excess fat and tissue on the abdomen. Year after year, it consistently ranks among the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures in the U.S. - in fact, the most recently available statistics reveal that tummy tuck surgery is in the top five cosmetic procedures among women and men alike (source: American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 2008).

It hardly matters what region their location is: Plastic surgeons nationwide echo this sentiment. At his office in Riverside, tummy tuck and cosmetic surgery practitioner Ben Childers, MD, FACS confirms that the procedure is indeed among his top patient requests. "It can help enhance one's confidence and appearance," he says. "It’s ideal for women who just gave birth, individuals who just had a major weight loss and want to remove excess, hanging skin, and of course, those who have fatty tissues that just won’t go away."

Of course, most prospective patients have a number of questions regarding the procedure. To assist those seeking more details about a tummy tuck, Riverside’s Dr. Childers offers answers to the following common questions:

How long does tummy tuck surgery take? The duration of tummy tuck surgery is typically 1-5 hours, depending on the scope and extent of the procedure. For my Riverside tummy tuck patients, a "complete" or "full tummy tuck" usually lasts no more than five hours, while a partial procedure (also known as "mini tuck" or "mini tummy tuck") is on the lower end of the time frame.

How does tummy tuck surgery work? It starts with the administration of general anesthesia or intravenous sedation. Once the effect of the anesthesia kicks in, the surgeon will perform a long incision on the abdomen, forming a "smile like" incision over the hipbone from left to right; center of the incision is just above the pubic area. A second incision is made around the navel, in order to free the navel from the surrounding abdominal tissue or skin. Then, the skin is detached from the abdominal wall to reveal stretched-out abdominal muscles for tightening. After repairing the muscles and stitching them together, the excess fat and tissues are removed. The removal of fat usually involves liposuction. The remaining abdominal skin is then re-draped and stitched with sutures, and the navel is re-attached. Finally, dressings and bandages are applied.

How long does it take to recover from a tummy tuck? I tell my Riverside tummy tuck patients that the initial recovery period is typically up to one month; however, a full recovery, which is the time it takes to heal completely and reveal your new, attractive results, is usually attained after three to six months. For those who need to know how much time to take off work, plan for up to one month. Strenuous activities of any kind must be avoided during this time. Of course, there are aids given to help ease bruising and swelling, including compression garments, fluid draining tubes, and pain medications. Follow up visits should be scheduled with tummy tuck patients. This should be the practice of any reputable cosmetic surgeon.