Dr. Jeffrey L. Rockmore

If you have a tummy bulge that won't budge, a tummy tuck may be your best option. While diet and exercise can help you lose weight, it cannot lift sagging skin or tighten stretched out abdominal muscles. Loose skin and weak abdominal muscles can cause your stomach to protrude.

The best candidates for abdominoplasty are those who are at a healthy, stable weight. Scars are a tradeoff for nearly all plastic surgery procedures. The size of your scar will depend on the extent of the procedure and the amount of excess skin present prior to surgery. Normally, abdominoplasty results in a horizontal scar across the lower abdomen which can be hidden below swimwear.

While tummy tuck surgery is excellent for tightening the skin and underlying muscles of the abdomen, it does not remove unwanted fat. This is best treated with liposuction, which is often combined with a tummy tuck for optimal results.