Your trusted providers for Boston Tummy Tuck Surgery: Dr. Fouad Samaha & Dr. Alannah Phelan

Abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck surgery in Boston is one of the most popular procedures we perform at Boston Plastic Surgery and one that our experienced surgeons feel especially passionate about.

If you’re finding that diet and exercise just won’t give you the flat, toned abdomen you’ve been striving for, a tummy tuck may be exactly what you are looking for to get rid of bulging abdominal skin caused by the weight fluctuations of pregnancy, aging, and other life experiences.

By removing excess fat and skin from the abdominal wall and tightening the underlying muscles, a tummy tuck can provide you with the shapely waist you’ve been striving for.

Boston Tummy Tuck: Everything You Need to Know

What is a tummy tuck and who is it best for?

After pregnancy or significant weight loss, the skin and tissue of the abdomen can stretch out and a person can be left with an undesirable bulge around his or her midsection. Abdominal muscles can also weaken or separate, making the situation worse.

A tummy tuck can give you a flatter, firmer stomach and help to improve the way clothing fits and flatters your body.

If you exhibit the following conditions and criteria, you may be a good candidate for a tummy tuck in Boston.

  • A stable body weight, but protruding midsection
  • Excess abdominal fat under the skin, as opposed to internal fat
  • An inability to reduce the size of the tummy through diet or exercise
  • Loose or sagging skin on the tummy from significant weight loss or past pregnancy
  • Overall good health with no underlying conditions that will impact recovery
  • Non-smoker or willing to quit at least a month before surgery

Our board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Fouad Samaha and Boston female plastic surgeon Dr. Alannah Phelan are highly-skilled in abdominoplasty and can help determine if this procedure is right for you. We are committed to helping you achieve your aesthetic goals safely and positively.

What should I expect from my tummy tuck surgery?

Because it involves muscular reshaping, abdominoplasty is one of the more involved cosmetic surgery procedures. During your personal surgical consultation, we will review and address the tummy tuck procedure, tummy tuck surgical techniques, risks, results, costs, questions, and concerns.

We tailor our surgical techniques to each individual’s unique goals and anatomy. This can involve a combination of removing excess fat and skin and tightening the underlying abdominal muscles.

Tummy tuck surgeries are usually performed under general anesthesia.

How much does a tummy tuck cost?

Here at Boston Plastic Surgery, our surgical fee for tummy tucks is $8,600. The anesthesia and facility fee is $3750. Therefore, the total average cost for a Boston tummy tuck is around $12,350.

Financing your plastic surgery procedure

The financial investment of a tummy tuck is a big factor for many patients. At Boston Plastic Surgery, we understand the complexity of choosing between your pocketbook and bettering yourself. As such, we offer financing options to ease our patients’ monetary worries.

During your consultation you will be provided with a detailed fee quote for your tummy tuck procedure. Please call us at 617.786.7600 if you would like an estimate of cost prior to your consult.

Where will my tummy tuck scars be?

Whether you receive a full tummy tuck, or a modified one, our surgeons will hide the incision precisely below the bikini or bathing suit line. While the scar is relatively inconspicuous, it often extends to both sides of the hips, in order to adequately remove excess skin. The scar will be most prominent immediately after surgery but should fade and flatten out over time and become less apparent. A mini or ‘modified’ tummy tuck procedure may be performed for those with less tissue to remove, resulting in a shorter incision, and therefore, a less prominent scar.

What does the tummy tuck recovery process look like?

Full recovery for abdominoplasty varies based on circumstances, and may take up to several weeks, depending on the individual and the extent of the surgery. Patients with stronger abdominal muscles often experience a relatively shorter recovery, as their body more easily adapts. At Boston Plastic Surgery, we have developed techniques and pain management protocols that have greatly enhanced the recovery process for our patients.

It is advisable for patients to initiate a regular exercise regimen to get the best post-tummy tuck outcomes and results. Read more about our abdominoplasty post-operative instructions.

Our experienced plastic surgeons are proficient in advanced abdominoplasty techniques, including modifications that have allowed us to avoid the use of cumbersome ‘drains’ post-surgery by nearly eliminating the incidence of fluid accumulation after surgery. During your consultation, we can explain the pros and cons of a “no-drain” abdominoplasty and our extensive experience with this procedure.

What are some examples of typical tummy tuck results?

We love supporting our patients in meeting their aesthetic goals. Check out our Before & After page to see results from Dr. Samaha and Dr. Phelan’s many happy tummy tuck patients!

Remember, it’s important to have reasonable expectations about your tummy tuck surgery. To learn more about the abdominoplasty procedure and tummy tuck recovery, check out Dr. Samaha’s educational plastic surgery blog. And of course, if you have more questions about tummy tuck, Boston Plastic Surgery’s expert medical aesthetics team is happy to assist.

Before & After »

Frequently asked questions about tummy tuck surgery

Will pregnancy affect my tummy tuck?

Getting pregnant after a tummy tuck is not ideal, as pregnancy will stretch your skin and muscles again, likely reversing the skin-tightening results of the procedure. But this issue is only cosmetic, and if you should become pregnant again after surgery, it is safe for you and your child. Your abdominal wall is designed to stretch during pregnancy, and will do so even after a tummy tuck. However, your tummy tuck results will likely be affected.

What happens to a belly button during a tummy tuck?

During a full tummy tuck, a first incision is made across the lower part of the abdomen, just above the pubic area. A second incision is then made around the belly button to free it from the abdominal tissue. The muscles underneath are then pulled together and stitched into their new position, creating a firmer abdominal wall and thinner waistline. The flap of skin is stretched down over the muscles, and excess skin and fat are removed. The skin is then reattached and a new opening is cut for the belly button. During this final step, a qualified plastic surgeon will take extra care to sculpt a natural-looking belly button.

Does a tummy tuck include liposuction?

Yes, in some cases, liposuction (lipoabdominoplasty) can be used alongside a tummy tuck to remove stubborn fat and shape a smooth, natural silhouette throughout the torso. This provides a more complete transformation for your entire mid-section. It is common to perform liposuction of the “flanks” (“muffin tops”) at the time of abdominoplasty. Liposuction of the abdomen itself needs to be done carefully and conservatively to avoid interference with good healing.

What other procedures combine well with a tummy tuck?

A tummy tuck can be combined with other surgical procedures, which is commonly done in a mommy makeover.  Mommy makeovers typically include a tummy tuck and some sort of breast surgery, such as breast augmentation or breast lift, and body contouring with liposuction.

Tummy tuck results can also be enhanced by non-surgical procedures, such as CoolSculpting, Botox, fillers, RF microneedling, or laser skin treatments. When you come to our Boston Plastic Surgery center for your consultation, we will happily answer any questions you have about non-surgical treatments at our Skin Wellness Center that can help you reveal a youthful, rejuvenated face to match your new hourglass physique!

Schedule your tummy tuck consultation with Dr. Samaha or Dr. Phelan

Ready to wear what you want and feel more confident and beautiful than ever before? To fall in love with your body, tummy tuck surgery is the go-to procedure. Contact us to learn more about the benefits of tummy tucks at Boston Plastic Surgery and to schedule your personal consultation with us today!

Boston plastic surgeons Dr. Alannah Phelan and Dr. Fouad Samaha, along with their experienced staff of licensed Aesthetic Nurse Specialists look forward to partnering with you to understand your larger cosmetic goals and to help you find and achieve them with safe and proven treatments and surgical procedures. From breast augmentation to facelift, mommy makeover, and beyond– we can’t wait to restore beauty, youth, and vitality to your appearance.

References »

Shermak MA. Abdominoplasty with Combined Surgery. Clinics in Plastic Surgery. 2020 Jul;47(3):365-377. doi: 10.1016/j.cps.2020.02.001.

Pollock TA, Pollock H. Progressive tension sutures in abdominoplasty: a review of 597 consecutive cases. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2012 Aug;32(6):729-42. doi: 10.1177/1090820X12452294. 

Luis H. Macias, Edwin Kwon, Daniel J. Gould, Michelle A. Spring, W. Grant Stevens, Decrease in Seroma Rate After Adopting Progressive Tension Sutures Without Drains: A Single Surgery Center Experience of 451 Abdominoplasties Over 7 Years, Aesthetic Surgery Journal, Volume 36, Issue 9, October 2016, Pages 1029–1035, https://doi.org/10.1093/asj/sjw040

Regan JP, Casaubon JT. Abdominoplasty. [Updated 2023 Jul 24]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK431058/

American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Tummy Tuck: Abdominoplasty (https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/tummy-tuck). Last reviewed 2022. Accessed 4/11/2024.

The Aesthetic Society. Tummy Tuck (https://www.theaestheticsociety.org/procedures/body/tummy-tuck). Last reviewed 4/28/2020. Accessed 4/11/2024.

Klinger M, Klinger F, Giannasi S, Bandi V, Vinci V, Catania B, Lisa A, Veronesi A, Battistini A, Giaccone M, Caviggioli F, Maione L. Aesthetic and Functional Abdominoplasty: Anatomical and Clinical Classification based on a 12-year Retrospective Study. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2021 Dec 20;9(12):e3936. doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000003936. PMID: 34938642; PMCID: PMC8687729.

Janes LE, Fracol ME, Dumanian GA. Appreciation of Postpartum Changes of the Rectus Muscles in Primary and Repeated Abdominoplasty. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2019 Aug;144(2):197e-204e. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000005862. PMID: 31348338.

Regan JP, Casaubon JT. Abdominoplasty. [Updated 2023 Jul 24]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK431058/

Swanson E. Prospective clinical study of 551 cases of liposuction and abdominoplasty performed individually and in combination. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2013 Sep 10;1(5):e32. doi: 10.1097/GOX.0b013e3182a333d7.

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