A flat stomach can stay out of reach even when you do everything right. You have dieted and exercised, but loose skin or a stomach that stays soft in the middle will not budge, because no workout tightens stretched skin or pulls separated abdominal muscles back together. A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, removes that excess skin and fat and repairs the muscle wall underneath, flattening and firming the midsection in a way exercise cannot. At Palm Beach Cosmetic Surgery, Dr. Michael Sistare will tell you whether a tummy tuck, a smaller procedure, or a combination is the right fit for your body and your goals.
A tummy tuck removes loose skin and stubborn fat from the abdomen and, importantly, repairs the abdominal muscles when they have separated (diastasis recti), which is common after pregnancy or major weight change. It is an outpatient procedure done under general anesthesia and usually takes about two to three hours, and most patients go home the same day. Dr. Sistare matches the technique to how much correction you need, from a mini tuck for the lower belly to a full or fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty for more extensive skin. Most patients return to work in about two weeks and to full exercise around six weeks.
A tummy tuck is not a weight-loss procedure. It works best when you are already at or near a stable target weight, and most patients drop one to three pant sizes from the removal and tightening rather than from losing fat.
A tummy tuck is one of the bigger commitments in body contouring, both in the surgery itself and in the recovery that follows. It pays to know going in whether it's the right procedure for your concern and whether your weight, family plans, and schedule line up with it.
What you are actually trying to change. Loose skin, a soft lower belly, and separated muscles are all things a tummy tuck fixes that exercise cannot. If your only issue is a pocket of fat under tight skin, liposuction alone may be enough. Naming your real concern points to the right procedure.
Where your weight is. A tummy tuck is not weight-loss procedure. The best results come when you are within about 10 to 15 pounds of a stable target weight, so being close to goal before surgery matters more here than almost anywhere else.
Whether you are done having children. Pregnancy after a tummy tuck can stretch the repaired muscles and skin again. Dr. Sistare generally recommends finishing your family first so your result lasts.
It is a real recovery. This is bigger surgery than a lift or lipo. You will move carefully and take short walks early to protect against blood clots, wear a compression garment, and give yourself a couple of weeks before returning to work. Planning for that time is part of a good result.
These are the questions Dr. Sistare will ask during your consultation. Having early answers makes the visit more productive and the result more aligned with what you actually want.
A tummy tuck is an outpatient surgery performed under general anesthesia, and it usually takes about two to three hours. Dr. Sistare makes a low, horizontal incision from hip to hip, shorter for a mini tuck, placed so it hides under underwear or swimwear. Through that incision, he tightens and repairs the abdominal muscles, removes excess skin and fat, and in a full abdominoplasty repositions the navel for a natural look. Liposuction is sometimes added to refine the contour.
The muscle repair is the part that sets a tummy tuck apart. When the abdominal muscles separate down the middle, no amount of core work pulls them back together. Stitching that muscle wall back into place is what flattens a stomach that stays round despite exercise, and it is why a tummy tuck does more than remove skin.
A tummy tuck really comes down to a few decisions made together: how much skin and muscle correction you need, whether to add liposuction, and whether to combine it with other procedures. The right plan depends on your body and your goals, not on any standard default.
The amount of loose skin and muscle laxity sets the technique, which also sets the incision. The three techniques Dr. Sistare offers:
| TECHNIQUE | BEST FOR | WHAT IT INVOLVES |
|---|---|---|
| Mini tummy tuck | Minor looseness below the belly button | A shorter incision, lower abdomen only, usually no navel repositioning |
| Full abdominoplasty | Loose skin and muscle laxity across the whole abdomen | A hip-to-hip incision, full muscle repair, and repositioning of the navel |
| Fleur-de-lis | Extensive loose skin, often after major weight loss | Adds a vertical incision to also remove skin from side to side |
No technique is universally better; each removes exactly as much as your abdomen needs. Dr. Sistare matches the approach to your skin, your muscle wall, and your goals.
If your stomach stays round or pooches out even when you are slim, separated abdominal muscles are often the reason, and liposuction cannot fix that. A tummy tuck stitches the muscle wall back together, which is what gives a genuinely flatter, firmer core. This is the real line between a tummy tuck and lipo: lipo removes fat; a tummy tuck also tightens skin and rebuilds the muscle.
Liposuction is often added to a tummy tuck to refine the waistline and flanks. A tummy tuck is also a common centerpiece of a mommy makeover, paired with breast enhancement and liposuction, or combined with a body lift after major weight loss. Dr. Sistare will help you decide what to do in one stage and what is better staged for safety.
"A tummy tuck is not weight loss. It is what finishes the job when diet and exercise have taken you as far as they can, but loose skin and separated muscle remain."
— DR. MICHAEL SISTARE
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A tummy tuck works best when expectations match what it can do. It removes loose skin and fat and repairs separated muscles for a flatter, firmer midsection. It is not a weight-loss procedure, and timing and weight matter more here than with most surgeries.
You are likely a good candidate if:
It may not be the right time if:
During your consultation, Dr. Sistare will assess your skin, your muscle wall, and your goals and tell you whether a tummy tuck, a smaller procedure such as liposuction, a body lift, or a combination would serve you best. The goal is the right plan for the result you actually want.
A tummy tuck asks for a real recovery, more than a lift or lipo, but the timeline is predictable, and most patients handle it well. Recovery depends on your technique and whether procedures were combined, but the timeline below is what most patients can expect.
A tummy tuck is a safe, well-established surgery when performed by a qualified surgeon. It is also a bigger operation than a lift or lipo, and it carries real risks you deserve to understand.
The two most important things within your control are choosing an experienced surgeon and following your aftercare exactly, including early walking, your compression garment, and not smoking. Dr. Sistare will review every risk with you before your procedure.
Cost depends on the technique, whether liposuction or other procedures are added, and how much correction your abdomen needs. Because the right plan varies so much from one person to the next, the most accurate number comes from a consultation rather than a generic figure.
Palm Beach Cosmetic Surgery currently offers a tummy tuck starting from $11,399, or about $308 per month with financing. A tummy tuck is an elective cosmetic procedure and is not typically covered by insurance. Financing is available through CareCredit, and your consultation will include a clear breakdown based on your specific plan, along with any current specials, with no obligation to proceed.
Board certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery and a Fellow of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, Dr. Michael Sistare brings advanced cosmetic surgery training and a precise, artistic eye to every procedure. He learned the art of cosmetic surgery as a surgical fellow under Dr. Erik Nuveen before returning home to South Florida to practice. Dr. Sistare and his team take the time to assess your body, explain your options in detail, and let you arrive at the right decision yourself, without pressure.
Dr. Sistare is focused on helping you get the results you want at a price you can afford. What patients mention most often in their reviews is the experience itself: a surgeon and team who listen, explain thoroughly, and are genuinely available.
