We're worth the trip!
As a destination practice offering world-class care, the Quatela Center attracts patients from around the globe. Our virtual consultations and support program take the effort out of travelling for surgery.
Learn More
Quatela Center for Plastic Surgery
973 East Avenue
Rochester, NY 14607
Phone: (585) 244-1000
Fax: (585) 271-4786
Monday–Friday: 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Quatela Center for Plastic Surgery
973 East Avenue
Rochester, NY 14607
Phone: (585) 244-1000
Fax: (585) 271-4786
Monday–Friday: 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Tummy Tuck
At our practice in Rochester, tummy tuck surgery, or abdominoplasty, is a very popular option with patients who want a slimmer, flatter abdomen free from sagging tummy skin. Patient’s visit our center from Syracuse, Buffalo and throughout New York for our natural-looking transformations. Women who want a flatter abdomen after having children or a significant weight loss are the most common tummy tuck patients, but men who have lost weight also come to the Quatela Center for Plastic Surgery for tummy tuck surgery.
Women and men come to our practice from nearby New York cities as well as out of state for tummy tuck surgery by our body contouring specialists. Request a consultation using our online form to meet personally with one of them or call our office at (585) 244-1000 to schedule an appointment.
Calculate your BMI to see if you are a candidate for a tummy tuck. Visit our patient safety page here.
Tummy Tuck
Before & After Photos
WARNING:
This feature contains nudity. Please click OK to confirm you are at least 18 years of age and are not offended by such material.
What Is a Tummy Tuck?
A tummy tuck removes excess skin and repairs abdominal muscles, if necessary, resulting in a contoured midsection. The procedure is often combined with liposuction, which removes excess fat for a more sculpted waist and flanks. Women who have finished having children may also want cosmetic breast surgery as part of a Mommy Makeover.
William j. Koenig, M.D.
Specializes in Breast & Body Procedures
A board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Koenig's experience and gentle bedside manner help put patients at ease and build an uncommon level of trust. He meticulously customizes each procedure, and sculpts beautiful results that consistently exceed his patients' expectations.
Read On
Ashley N. Amalfi, M.D.
Specializes in Breast & Body Procedures
Recognizing the unique goals and desires of each of her patients, Dr. Amalfi uses her attention to detail and experience to create personalized surgical outcomes for her patients. A board-certified plastic surgeon, she specializes in cosmetic breast and body procedures.
Read OnIdeal Tummy Tuck Candidates
Abdominal skin stretched by pregnancy or large weight gain often will not return to its former state after childbirth or weight loss. Men and women who undergo weight loss surgery, such as a gastric bypass, will typically have excess skin that hangs in rolls over the waist. Exercise and making changes to your diet won’t help tighten the skin or repair stretched abdominal muscles.
If you’re self-conscious about having excess abdominal skin and avoid wearing a bikini or if you’re a man, taking your shirt off in public, a tummy tuck is an excellent option. You should be in good overall health and have reasonable expectations about the results. The procedure is particularly beneficial if you’ve given birth and don’t plan to have additional children or if you’ve lost a significant amount of weight and have excess skin.
Your Tummy Tuck Consultation
The consultation is your opportunity to meet your surgeon, discuss your concerns about your appearance, and ask questions about the potential benefits of having a tummy tuck. Your surgeon reviews your medical history and current medications, and performs a physical examination.
After listening to you describe your short and long-term aesthetic goals, your surgeon may recommend an abdominoplasty, a different procedure, or combining the tummy tuck with other cosmetic surgery. Before-and-after photos of our recent tummy tuck patients help you visualize the procedure’s potential results. After an open and honest discussion, your surgeon will create a customized treatment plan and a member of our team will quote a specific cost of the tummy tuck before you leave.
How Should I Prepare for a Tummy Tuck?
To assist in ensuring a safe procedure and a smooth recovery, take care of the following a week or two before surgery:
- Arrange for a ride home from the Lindsay House Surgery Center after your procedure.
- Pick up prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines before the day of surgery.
- Get help with light chores because you’ll be sore and tired for several days.
- Have reading materials, the TV remote, and extra pillows near your bed.
- Put all important phone numbers and emergency information in an easy-to-find location.
- Decide ahead of time what you want to tell friends and co-workers about your surgery.
- Always take the recommended time off work to heal, usually 2 weeks for a tummy tuck.
- Put your follow-up appointments on your calendar and attend each appointment with your surgeon.
- Relax; this is the most important thing you can do for a stress-free recovery period.
A nurse reviews with you detailed pre- and post-operative abdominoplasty instructions and it is important that you carefully read through these instructions. Please do not hesitate to contact the Quatela Center for Plastic Surgery if you have any questions.
A Reputation Built on Results
Absolutely can’t say enough positive things about my experience with Dr. Montague. My mom went to him...
Dr. Amalfi and her team were amazing to work with! They made the whole process seemly, and I couldn't...
Dr. Amalfi is an absolute artist. I’m two weeks out from a mommy makeover with breast lift and upper...
Doctor Lee was extremely knowledgeable and took her time explaining every step of my surgery
I am extremely...
Your Tummy Tuck Procedure
Our surgeons use general anesthesia during a tummy tuck and the procedure generally takes 2 to 4 hours. Their expertise and training in various surgical techniques allows them to tailor the procedure to your needs.
Your surgeon begins by making a vertical incision from hip to hip just above the pubic bone. A full tummy tuck involves repositioning the belly button, so the surgeon makes an incision around the navel and down to connect with the vertical incision. Then excess skin and fat are removed. Liposuction is a common part of a tummy tuck our surgeons use to sculpt and shape the abdomen. A full tummy tuck also includes tightening the abdominal muscles. Before closing the incisions, your surgeon pulls the underlying tissue tight.
What’s Involved In a Mini Tummy Tuck?
A mini tummy tuck is best for patients seeking the majority of correction below the belly button. This procedure involves a shorter incision than a full tummy tuck, similar to that of a Caesarean section. The surgeon removes excess skin and fat and tightens the layer of skin just below the belly button.
What Is a Reverse Tummy Tuck?
A reverse tummy tuck is an excellent option for people who need skin tightening and/or muscle correction in the upper abdomen to create a smoother, tighter appearance. The incision is placed across the inframammary fold (breast crease), which allows it to be easily hidden by a bra or two-piece bathing suit. With scarring being a chief concern for many potential patients, our surgeons find that the majority of their patients are highly satisfied with their results after surgery.
After pregnancy or drastic weight loss, patients often seek a combination of breast augmentation with or without a lift and a reverse tummy tuck. One benefit of combining these procedures is that the same incision can be used for both thereby minimizing scarring.
Most patients are able to return to work and normal activities one week after surgery. Patients typically have mild to moderate pain immediately after surgery but report that it typically decreases significantly after the first few days.
Related Tummy Tuck Blog Posts
Tummy Tuck Recovery
Patients each recover at their own pace, but there are some general guidelines that are useful to keep in mind. Most tummy tuck patients need up to 2 weeks for the initial recovery. Expect bruising and swelling in the abdominal area, which should resolve gradually during the recovery process. Your surgeon prescribes medication to help you remain comfortable. A pain pump is used for most patients. The drainage tubes inserted during the procedure remain in place for 4 to 5 days before your surgeon removes them at a follow‐up appointment. Also, a specialized tight-fitting garment that helps you heal is worn for several weeks.
How Long Does Swelling Last After a Tummy Tuck?
Initially, the results are difficult to notice because of swelling which may take up to 6 to 8 months to fade.
Do Scars From a Tummy Tuck Go Away?
While scars are inevitable with any surgery, our surgeons attempt to make abdominoplasty incisions low enough that the resulting scar is easily concealed when wearing even a low-cut bikini bottom. Additionally, we offer Scar Revision/Therapies, an advanced scar therapy that specifically helps healing and reduces the appearance of surgical scars. Over-the-counter creams and oils are also available for scar treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to some of the questions our surgeons hear most frequently about tummy tuck surgery.
How long do you have to take off work after a tummy tuck?
Expect to return to work after a week or 2, but you shouldn’t resume vigorous exercise for 6 weeks.
What are the risks of a tummy tuck?
Abdominoplasty performed by a highly trained and experienced plastic surgeon such as ours is considered an extremely safe and effective procedure. As with any surgical procedure, complications can occur. Some of these include bleeding, infection, scarring, blood clots, and fluid collection.
Where is the surgery performed?
Our surgeons perform all of their procedures at the Lindsay House Surgery Center, the Quatela Center for Plastic Surgery’s private, on-site operating facility.
What happens if I get pregnant after a tummy tuck procedure?
We recommend getting a tummy tuck only after you’ve decided not to have more children. During a tummy tuck, your surgeon tightens the skin and abdominal muscle fascia (both of which stretch during pregnancy). A pregnancy after having a tummy tuck likely will undo much of the improvement achieved with the surgery.
How long does a tummy tuck last?
The results from a tummy tuck procedure should last indefinitely as long as you maintain a relatively healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise and a nutritious diet. Gaining a significant amount of weight after the procedure can compromise the results.
What procedures can be combined with a tummy tuck?
Procedures that can be combined with a tummy tuck are Liposuction and cosmetic breast surgery, such as breast augmentation with a lift. Combining these procedures is often referred to as a Mommy Makeover.
What are the tummy tuck options?
The different types of tummy tucks are:
- Mini tummy tuck — allows for a short incision and tightens the abdomen below the belly button
- Full abdominoplasty — tightens the entire abdomen
- Extended abdominoplasty — tightens the abdomen and flanks
Will stretch marks be removed by a tummy tuck?
Stretch marks on the lower part of the abdomen below the belly button will be included in the section of skin that is removed. If you have stretch marks higher on the abdomen, they won’t be removed. Because the procedure tightens that skin, the appearance of those stretch marks usually improves.
How much is a tummy tuck?
The cost of a tummy tuck varies, depending on your specific needs and goals. All prices quoted from the Quatela Center are all-inclusive and include pre and postoperative appointments, surgeon’s fees, surgery center fees, and anesthesia costs. For more information, see our page on Plastic Surgery Costs.
Quatela Center
for Plastic Surgery
The Quatela Center's reputation as one of New York's finest cosmetic plastic surgery practices attracts patients to Rochester from throughout the state. Choose one of the locations below for driving directions to our practice.