A standard tummy tuck is the most common tummy tuck procedure. Here, the abdominal wall skin and muscles are all tightened. The results of this surgery can be very dramatic since most candidates who qualify for this surgery usually have more abdominal contour concerns that those who receive a simpler mini-tummy tuck or the modified tuck. The standard tuck targets all zones of the abdominal wall, resulting in a firmer abdominal contour. If you do go for this, your before-and-after pictures will be strikingly different.
In a standard tummy tuck, the incision will be longer, but still generally beneath the bikini line. This type of procedure usually takes about 3 to 5 hours to complete, depending on the extent of damage. A horizontal incision will be made just above the pubic area to expose the abdominal walls. Excess fat may be removed if you choose to have a little liposuction at the same time, and the separated abdominal muscles will be pulled together and sutured tightly. The skin will then be stretched down to the pubic area to further tighten the abdomen. Since the belly button will then be positioned towards the pubic area with the stretched skin, it will be extracted and repositioned in the skin where it should be. Sometimes, the surgeon may not be able to save the original belly button if it has been stretched too much, especially as a result of multiple pregnancies. The surgeon may decide to create another one at that time, if feasible, or reschedule you for an outpatient surgery where he can recreate another belly button in a short period of time.
