Tummy Tuck FAQ

As a board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in body contouring procedures, Dr. Louis Cutolo, Jr., is one of the leading authorities on tummy tuck surgery serving Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and other boroughs. With more than 20 years of experience, Dr. Cutolo has answered questions about tummy tucks from thousands of patients. This page provides the answers to the most common questions he’s heard throughout his career.

If you have additional questions, write them down to discuss during your consultation. You can request your complimentary consultation using the online form or call us at (718) 720-9400 to schedule an appointment.

Tummy Tuck
 Before & After Photos

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Before & After

Case: 1 of 8

Case #51

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This is a 58 year old female who wanted to improve the shape of her abdomen. She hated the long scar in the middle that was from previous surgery and wanted to eliminate it.  She also wanted to obtain a flat "tummy".  We discussed her options (liposuction, coolsculpting) and the best one that would allow her to... Read More

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Case: 2 of 8

Case #32

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This is a 33 year old female who desired to obtain a flatter stomach.  Multiple pregnancies stretched her skin and abdominal muscles and she wanted to get back to her "pre pregnancy" state.  She desired an abdominoplasty in Staten Island.  She underwent the procedure without any difficulties and is seen here ap... Read More

Before & After

Case: 3 of 8

Case #73

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This 42 year old female desired to improve her tummy.  She had 3 pregnancies and wanted to return her abodment to her "pre pregnancy" state.  She considered a tummy tuck in order to fulfill her desires.After a thorough consultation discussing all of her options she opted to proceed.  The excess skin was removed... Read More

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Case: 4 of 8

Case #44

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This is a 48 year old female who disliked the shape and skin texture of her abdomen.  She also wanted to try to remove a scar that was present for many years while flattening her stomach and improving the skin texture.  After considering all of her goals,  it was decided that a tummy tuck would be the optimal choice.  It w... Read More

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Case: 5 of 8

Case #3

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This is a 46-year-old female in excellent health who gained and lost weight with each of her pregnancies. She had become unhappy with the stretched skin and the noticeable stretch marks. She thought that the excess skin made her appear older. Her goal was to reduce the excess skin of her abdomen, obtain a better contour and reduce the number... Read More

Before & After

Case: 6 of 8

Case #26

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This 31 year old female disliked the shape of her abdomen that resulted from pregancies.  She wanted to obtain a flat stomach and reduce the excess skin that was present.  She desired a tummy tuck and after consulting with other physicians decided to proceed. She underwent the procedure with ease - her recover was so smooth that she... Read More

Before & After

Case: 7 of 8

Case #28

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This 57 year old female desired to turn back the clock and get back the tummy that she had prior to pregnancies.  She did not like the excess skin as well and the shape of her abdomen. She desired a tummy tuck in Staten Island.She underwent a tummy tuck which included removing the excess skin below her belly button as well as tigh... Read More

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Case: 8 of 8

Case #2

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This is a 58-year-old female in excellent health who had pregnancies and weight gain and loss. She had become unhappy with her inability to obtain a flatter stomach with exercise and diet. She disliked the hanging flap of skin on her abdomen. Her abdominal muscles, the rectus abdominus, had stretched apart and separated and regardless of the... Read More

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Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary.

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What happens during a tummy tuck consultation?

At an initial consultation, Dr. Cutolo reviews a patient’s medical history and asks about the patient’s lifestyle and their reasons for getting a tummy tuck. He uses the answers*mdash;along with a physical examination—to create a surgical plan designed specifically for each patient. He takes the time needed to answer patients’ questions during the consultation.

Can I have children after a tummy tuck?

It’s possible and safe to become pregnant after having a tummy tuck. Dr. Cutolo, however, recommends that patients postpone scheduling the surgery until after you’re finished having children. Pregnancy stretches abdominal muscles that are usually tightened during an abdominoplasty, and you may again have excess skin that will have to be removed in a revision tummy tuck procedure.

How visible are tummy tuck scars?

Scarring is one of the most common concerns Dr. Cutolo hears from patients considering tummy tuck surgery. During a full tummy tuck, Dr. Cutolo makes an incision that stretches from hip to hip as low as possible—usually just above the pubic area. This means the scar can be concealed even when wearing bikinis. Another incision is made around the belly button to reposition and shape the navel. Dr. Cutolo can recommend products designed to fade scars, and he also advises patients to stay out of the sun while the incision is healing.

How much does a tummy tuck cost?

The cost of a tummy tuck depends on several factors. Those factors include the extent of the surgery (which includes how long the operation takes), the plastic surgeon’s training and expertise, and the practice’s geographic location. Other costs associated with the final tummy tuck price include the anesthesiologist’s fee, the operating room fee, and the cost of medications.

Can a tummy tuck remove stretch marks?

It’s possible in some tummy tuck procedures to remove stretch marks caused by pregnancy. Sagging skin on the lower abdomen removed during the surgery often includes stretch marks. You can minimize the appearance of remaining stretch marks with topical creams and ointments, but those treatments can’t completely erase them.

Dr. Louis C. Cutolo Jr.

Meet Dr. Louis C. Cutolo Jr.

A board-certified plastic surgeon in Staten Island, Dr. Cutolo has the experience, skills, and aesthetic sensibilities needed to transform your dreams into reality. Known for providing warm and personal care, Dr. Cutolo can achieve beautiful, natural-looking results tailored just for you.

Patients from Staten Island and Brooklyn come to Dr. Cutolo to rejuvenate and enhance their natural beauty. Dr. Cutolo is most known for making patients feel beautiful through breast augmentation, tummy tuck, and facelift procedures. Request a consultation with us to look and feel your very best. Meet Dr. Cutolo

How do you know if you’re ready for a tummy tuck?

Knowing when you’re physically ready for tummy tuck surgery involves a few factors. One of the most important considerations is that your weight is stable. Gaining weight after a tummy tuck can stretch the tightened muscles and remaining skin. Having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or lower minimizes the chances of complications. It’s also important that you’re not a smoker.

Who is a good candidate for tummy tuck surgery?

Women and men who have sagging excess skin after weight loss, are in good overall health, and at a stable weight can benefit most from tummy tuck surgery. Many women who are finished having children often decide to get a tummy tuck along with liposuction and cosmetic breast surgery, such as a breast lift, as part of a Mommy Makeover. A tummy tuck isn’t weight loss surgery, but liposuction can remove pockets of fat to create attractive contours.

How long does it take to recover after a tummy tuck?

Recovery times vary from patient to patient based on the extent of the surgery and a person’s natural healing process. Dr. Cutolo provides detailed post-op instructions to help accelerate the recovery process and make it as comfortable as possible. We recommend taking 2 weeks off from work if your job doesn’t involve strenuous physical activity; you’ll need more time off if it does require lifting or other physically demanding work.

It’s important to begin taking short walks on the day after surgery to minimize the chance of blood clots and improve circulation. If you have small children, you’ll have to avoid lifting them for at least 2 weeks. Strenuous exercise can usually be resumed 6 weeks after the surgery.

How long will the results of my tummy tuck last?

Patients typically enjoy their tummy tuck results for several years if they maintain a healthy, active lifestyle. Plastic surgery doesn’t stop or slow down the aging process, though, so you can expect to see some age-related changes occur over the years, including the loss of skin elasticity.