After pregnancy, weight loss or normal aging, many people develop excess skin and fat around their abdomen, and decreased strength and tone of the underlying muscles. Abdominoplasty or “tummy tuck” addresses these problems for both women and men. An abdominoplasty can significantly enhance your appearance and self-confidence.  During the surgery an incision is made within the “bikini” or “belt” line beneath the abdomen; this helps to hide the scar under clothes following the procedure. Excess skin and fat are removed, the muscle beneath is tightened, the skin is then tightened and re-draped to provide a pleasing body shape, and a restored waistline. The result is an improved body contour and a smoother shape to the abdomen.  In some select cases, a “mini abdominoplasty” can be performed, which affords many of the same results with shorter scars. Again, it is important that the appropriate procedure be selected and performed on each individual patient in order to achieve the most optimal result.