Achieving a flatter, tighter abdominal area is a goal for many people, women and men alike. There are a variety of reasons why someone may be dissatisfied with his or her waistline and abdomen, and the "tummy tuck" procedure, or abdominoplasty, might be an appropriate option for achieving a slimmer, more aesthetically appealing abdominal contour.

The term “tummy tuck” refers to a cosmetic surgery procedure also known as abdominoplasty, which is designed to help patients sculpt and tone their abdominal areas. During a tummy tuck procedure, the surgeon manually tightens the muscles of the abdominal wall and sutures them into place. Excess skin from the patient’s abdomen is removed to create a firmer, flatter midsection. The abdominoplasty procedure can be customized to each patient’s needs and can be combined with liposuction .

The ideal candidate for an abdominoplasty procedure is someone who has been unable to tone his or her abdominal region, even with the help of a healthy diet and exercise .

While most people associate cosmetic surgery with women, the male tummy tuck is becoming an increasingly common way for men to flatten the difficult-to-tone stomach area. Abdominoplasty is also a fairly common method of restoring a woman’s figure after pregnancy which is also called the “mummies makeover”.

Many men are concerned about having "love handles," a "pot belly," or a "spare tire." Such concerns are not unfounded; right or wrong, our society places a high value on looking fit and young, for men as well as women. Male abdominoplasty, also called "male tummy tuck," is a common procedure that can reduce the size of a protruding belly by removing excess skin and tightening the muscles in the midsection. Tummy tuck surgery, for many men, can deliver a flatter, tighter, more aesthetically appealing abdominal contour.

In addition, patients should be committed to maintaining their results with a stable diet and regular exercise after abdominoplasty.

A circumferential tummy tuck is more extensive than a standard tummy tuck. It’s usually performed on patients who have lost a great deal of weight (usually after a bariatric surgery) and have loose, overhanging skin around their abdominal region. In a circumferential tummy tuck, the surgeon makes an incision that extends all around the waist line, through which he or she removes excess skin and fat and tightens the muscles. The outer thighs and buttocks are also lifted, and a new navel may be created.

During circumferential tummy tuck surgery, also known as a lower body lift, the surgeon creates an incision that spans the entire circumference of the patient’s torso. The surgeon then uses liposuction and other techniques to re-contour the patient’s figure from the ribs to the knees, in both the front and the back of the body. The surgeon will also tighten the muscles in the abdominal wall and reposition the patient’s belly button for a more natural appearance. At the end of the procedure, the surgeon removes excess skin and closes the incision with sutures. In most cases, the incisional scar can be easily concealed by the patient’s underwear.

Patients who have slightly protruding abdomens or small amounts of excess skin around their midsections are not suitable candidates for a circumferential tummy tuck and are more likely to benefit from a traditional or mini tummy tuck. The purpose of the circumferential tummy tuck is to make dramatic changes to a person’s physique after he or she has undergone massive weight loss. Often, these people are troubled by excess fat and an overabundance of skin in areas that are difficult to tone, such as the abdomen, outer thighs, and buttocks. A circumferential tummy tuck is designed to rid formerly obese patients of this extra skin and fat and add muscle tone, accentuating their new, slim bodies.