A tummy tuck is a major surgical procedure to remove excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen and tighten the muscles of the abdominal wall. The procedure can dramatically reduce the appearance of a large or protruding abdomen and can significantly narrow the waistline.

The best candidates for a tummy tuck surgery are men or women who are bothered by a large fat deposit or loose abdominal skin that won't respond to diet or exercise. The surgery is ideal for women who have been pregnant and have stretched their abdominal muscles and skin beyond the point where they can return to normal, thereby resulting in “stretch marks.” A tummy tuck can also improve a loss of skin elasticity, which frequently occurs in overweight or obese patients. Overall, a tummy tuck can produce excellent results for patients with weakened abdominal muscles or excess skin in the abdominal region.

Mini-Abdominoplasty, sometimes called a mini-tummy tuck, may be performed on patients who only have a limited amount of loose skin or stretch marks in the lower abdomen and who would not need the tightening of abdominal muscles that is part of a standard abdominoplasty, although sometimes, the mini-tummy tuck may include it. However, if the patient has excessive fat but minimal or limited looseness of the abdomen, this plastic surgery procedure may be performed in tandem with liposuction.