The middle of winter might seem like an odd time to be thinking about the beach, bikinis and flat tummies, but the truth is that if you want to show off a toned, trim, sexy midsection this summer, now is the time to schedule a tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty. It’s a long-lasting, highly effective surgical procedure that can achieve the flatter, tighter, more toned midsection many patients are looking for.

In addition to tummy tucks, I also offer a wide range of other body sculpting procedures to help you achieve a more shapely body, which you can learn about here.

When diet and exercise don’t seem to be working

Many of my patients try really hard to work out, live a healthy lifestyle and eat sensibly but still find that they have stubborn areas of fat deposits and loose, flabby skin, particularly around their midsection. With summer arriving in a couple of months, they want to feel confident wearing bathing suits and midriff-baring tops, shorts and skirts, but they don’t know how to make this happen. For these patients, I often recommend a tummy tuck.

What happens during a tummy tuck?

For a lot of women, after pregnancy or extreme weight loss, their stomach muscles become soft, flabby and distended. During tummy tuck surgery, I remove a few pounds of this stomach fat and excess skin, then tighten the abdominal muscles by suturing them together, creating a smoother abdominal surface.

An added benefit of a tummy tuck is that it can decrease stretch marks caused by pregnancy and also dramatically improve scars from previous surgeries, such as a Caesarean section, stomach stapling or an appendectomy. In addition, many of my patients experience improved posture and decreased back pain after having this procedure, due to the tightened muscles supporting their spine.

How long does the surgery take and what’s the recovery time?

A tummy tuck requires 1-2 hours in an operating room under general anesthesia. Recovery times vary, but most patients can go back to work in 1-2 weeks.

To learn more about a tummy tuck, watch this short video

To hear me describe tummy tuck surgery in more detail, watch my short video by clicking on the image below.

How to tell if you’re a good candidate for a tummy tuck

I can confidently say that I am very experienced in this procedure, having performed hundreds of tummy tucks with very few complications. In my plastic surgery practice, I have found that the best candidates for abdominoplasty:

• are in good health
• have sagging skin, loose muscle and excess fat which they want removed
• are within 20% of their ideal body weight
• have had significant weight loss and have kept it off for at least 6 months
• do not smoke
• men are also good candidates for a tummy tuck, especially if they have experienced extreme weight loss

Who should not consider a tummy tuck? 

If you plan to get pregnant, you should postpone a tummy tuck until after you've had children. During surgery, your vertical muscles are tightened, and future pregnancies can separate those muscles. Also, if you’re planning to lose a lot of weight, you should not have a tummy tuck.

How long do the results last?

The results of a tummy tuck are permanent. However, if you lose or gain a considerable amount of weight after the surgery, or get pregnant, this could negatively affect your results.

Is a tummy tuck safe?

Like any surgical procedure, there are some risks involved with a tummy tuck, but if you’re healthy, without other medical problems, are a non-smoker, are in good shape, and have the procedure done in the right location with the right surgeon, this procedure can be done very safely.

I perform my procedures at the Surgical Specialty Center of Westchester

For almost every plastic surgery procedure I perform, I use the Surgical Specialty Center of Westchester. As the standard of excellence in the region, this technologically advanced, leading-edge facility was specifically designed by our group of surgeons (Cosmetic Surgery Associates) to provide our patients with the highest level of care, personal privacy and optimal surgical results. To learn more about the Surgical Specialty Center of Westchester, watch this short video by clicking on the image below.

Insurance coverage

Insurance companies consider a tummy tuck to be elective cosmetic surgery and therefore the procedure would be self-pay.

Add liposuction for even better results

I often recommend that a patient have liposuction at the same time as a tummy tuck. This enables me to remove additional unwanted fat from around their waist, hips, thighs and buttocks as well as just their tummy, giving them even more dramatic results. Sometimes I can re-use this unwanted fat and transfer it to their buttocks to enhance their size and shape, which is known as a Brazilian butt lift.

Considering a tummy tuck?

I understand that choosing to have tummy tuck surgery is an important decision. I also know how much it means to each of my patients to achieve the results they want. If you are thinking about getting a tummy tuck and would like to schedule a free consultation, please contact me and I will send you additional information prior to your appointment. To make sure you are fully informed about your surgery options and understand exactly what results to expect, I will take all the time you need to make sure your questions are answered.

For more information, I recommend these 3 blogs

So that you can be fully informed before you decide to have a tummy tuck, I’ve written several blogs explaining this procedure and its many benefits:

• What Is A Tummy Tuck And Should I Get One?
• 10 Things to Keep in Mind When Considering a Tummy Tuck
• Can I Get Pregnant After A Tummy Tuck?

To learn more about the full range of contouring body procedures I offer

For further information on the many body slimming, toning and contouring procedures I offer, you might find these pages on my website helpful: 

• Body Procedures
• Butt Augmentation
• Brazilian Butt Lift
• CoolSculpting
• EmSculpt®
• Liposuction
• Lower Body Lift
• Mommy Makeover
• Tummy Tuck

Board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS), and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), Samuel J. Beran, MD is a highly accomplished plastic surgeon with offices in Manhattan, Harrison and Mount Kisco, NY. With more than 20 years’ experience and a thorough command of the most advanced techniques and technologies, Dr. Beran consistently provides his patients with the highest level of plastic, cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the breast, face, skin and body. Recently, Dr. Beran was named a “Top Doctor” by RealSelf for his dedication to responding to consumer questions and patient feedback. The “Top Doctor” designation is awarded to less than 10% of the RealSelf physician community.