Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) in Albany, NY
Abdominal Contouring at DeLuca Plastic Surgery
A flatter abdominal contour, with a plan built around your anatomy.
A tummy tuck, also called abdominoplasty, removes loose abdominal skin and can repair a weakened or separated abdominal wall. Liposuction may be included to shape the abdomen and waist. The right operation depends on the amount of loose skin, where it extends, and whether muscle repair is needed.
At DeLuca Plastic Surgery in Albany, NY, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. David Tauber evaluates these concerns together and explains which changes surgery can reasonably achieve.
Is a Tummy Tuck Right for You?
Loose skin, an abdominal overhang, or persistent bulging.
A tummy tuck may be worth considering when stretched skin remains after pregnancy or weight loss, or when abdominal-wall weakness contributes to a bulging contour. Liposuction alone may be more appropriate when excess fat is the main concern and the skin can retract.
Candidacy depends on your medical history, weight stability, nicotine use, future pregnancy plans, and ability to allow for recovery. The consultation is also the time to discuss scar placement and whether the expected improvement justifies the surgery. A tummy tuck is not a substitute for weight loss.
Tummy Tuck Before and After
Explore three real patient examples. Each case links to additional views and details about the procedures performed.
49 F Extended Tummy Tuck with Liposuction
An extended incision and liposuction to address a broader area of abdominal laxity.
Drag the handle to compare before and after, or use the arrow keys.
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41 F Tummy Tuck with 360 Liposuction
Tummy tuck and abdominal muscle repair with 360 liposuction, combined with a breast lift and implants.
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36 F Tummy Tuck
Abdominoplasty to address loose abdominal skin and improve lower-torso contour.
View This Case →Tummy Tuck Patient Reviews
Selected patient experiences shared on Google and RealSelf.
Honest answers without pressure
“He answered all my questions and did not try to upsell me.”
A positive team experience
“I had an excellent experience with Dr. Tauber and his amazing staff at Deluca’s Plastic Surgery.”
Clear explanations
“Dr. Tauber explains everything very well.”
Selected excerpts. Individual experiences, recovery, and results vary. See all patient reviews.
Our CoreComplete™ approach brings liposuction, skin removal, and muscle repair together when appropriate. Your treatment plan uses familiar procedure names—mini, full, or extended tummy tuck, with or without muscle repair—so you know what your surgery includes.
Tummy Tuck Options and Scar Planning
Mini, full, or extended tummy tuck.
The operation and scar pattern are selected according to where loose skin is located, how far the abdominal skin can safely move, torso length, navel position, and the preferred underwear or bathing-suit line. The exact plan can only be confirmed after an examination.
Mini tummy tuck
Addresses loose skin concentrated below the navel. It usually uses a shorter low horizontal incision and ordinarily does not require a new opening around the navel.
Full tummy tuck
Addresses loose skin above and below the navel. It usually uses a longer low horizontal incision plus an incision around the navel. Muscle repair may be included when indicated by the examination.
Extended tummy tuck
Extends skin removal and the horizontal scar toward the flanks when laxity reaches beyond the central abdomen. If a buttock and lower back lift is added, the scar may continue around the torso.
With or without muscle repair
Skin removal does not automatically require muscle repair. Abdominal-wall plication is considered when weakness or separation contributes to bulging. Liposuction can be added to refine the abdomen and waist.
Why a short vertical scar may sometimes be necessary:
During a full tummy tuck, the navel remains attached while the surrounding skin is moved downward and a new navel opening is created. In a relatively tight abdomen, the original opening may not move far enough downward to be removed with the low horizontal incision. Closing it can leave a short vertical scar just above the horizontal scar, often near the underwear line. This may allow the main scar to remain lower and avoid excessive tension. Whether it will be needed cannot be determined from photographs alone.
Fleur-de-lis tummy tuck: when a vertical excision helps
A standard tummy tuck tightens abdominal skin mainly from top to bottom. A fleur-de-lis tummy tuck adds a vertical strip of skin removal to reduce side-to-side looseness as well. It may be useful when substantial laxity remains across the upper and central abdomen, particularly after major weight loss. The decision depends on the direction and amount of loose skin, rather than weight loss or an existing scar alone.
The tradeoff is a longer midline vertical scar in addition to the low horizontal scar and the scar around the navel. This is different from the short vertical scar sometimes needed simply to close the original navel opening during a full tummy tuck. The added contour improvement must justify the more visible scar. The junction where the vertical and horizontal incisions meet can be more prone to delayed healing.
Planning a tummy tuck after previous abdominal surgery
Prior surgery, including a liver resection, does not automatically rule out a tummy tuck. However, old incisions can affect the blood supply to the skin that remains after surgery. Dr. Tauber reviews the scar pattern, prior operative reports, medical history, and any abdominal-wall weakness or possible incisional hernia before recommending the extent of skin removal, tissue release, and liposuction. An existing midline scar may be incorporated into a fleur-de-lis plan, but removing it replaces it with a new scar; it does not make the abdomen scar-free. Clearance from the treating specialist may also be needed, alongside an examination of the abdominal tissues.
Typical Investment Range
How much does a tummy tuck cost in Albany, NY?
Current estimated total surgical costs depend on the skin-removal extent and whether abdominal-wall plication is included.
Mini Tummy Tuck
$4,660–$6,310+
Full Tummy Tuck Without Muscle Repair
$7,960–$12,760+
Full Tummy Tuck With Muscle Repair
$9,620–$14,300+
Published prices are planning estimates, not binding quotes. Your written estimate controls and may vary with anatomy, procedure extent, implants or devices, and other individualized needs. Financing is subject to approval and independent lender terms.
Tummy Tuck Recovery
Recovery reflects what the operation includes.
Return-to-activity guidance is individualized, but the largest difference is whether skin removal and abdominal-wall plication are performed. Your surgeon’s clearance takes priority over any general timeline.
Tummy tuck without muscle repair
Without plication, many patients resume desk work or light activity within days and return to exercise, including lifting, within approximately 2–3 weeks when cleared.
Tummy tuck with muscle repair
Many patients resume desk work or light activity within days. Non-core exercise may resume progressively, but abdominal-wall repair generally requires protection from strenuous exercise and heavy lifting for approximately eight weeks.
Compression, drain care when drains are used, swelling and scar maturation are reviewed as part of the individualized postoperative plan.
Risk Transparency
What can go wrong — and how we plan for it.
Every surgical procedure carries risk. The goal is not to ignore risk, but to reduce it through careful patient selection, planning, technique, and follow-up.
- Fluid collection: Drains, compression, and follow-up visits help monitor healing.
- Delayed healing: Incision care, activity restrictions, and close follow-up help reduce wound-healing problems.
- Scarring: Scars are permanent. The patterns are described above; scars often fade over time but do not disappear completely. Scar quality depends on healing biology and aftercare.
- Asymmetry or contour irregularity: Some unevenness can occur as swelling resolves.
- Revision surgery: Uncommon, but possible.
Posterior Contouring
When loose skin extends around the back.
A buttock and lower back lift removes loose posterior skin and repositions the buttock tissues upward. When it is combined with a tummy tuck, the excision continues around the torso and is often called a circumferential body lift, lower body lift, or belt lipectomy.
The added scar, operating time, recovery, and possible change in buttock position must be weighed carefully. For some patients, staging the posterior lift after the abdomen and sides have healed is the better plan.
Tummy Tuck Video Q&A
Answers to common tummy tuck questions.
Dr. David Tauber explains how tummy tuck planning changes when loose skin, muscle separation, stretch marks, recovery goals, and the extent of skin removal are considered together.
Does a tummy tuck repair separated abdominal muscles?
In this short video, Dr. Tauber explains when abdominal-wall plication may be included to address weakness or rectus separation that contributes to bulging.
Planning Your Visit from Clifton Park
Tummy tuck consultations for Clifton Park patients.
If you live in Clifton Park and are considering a tummy tuck, DeLuca Plastic Surgery welcomes you to our Albany practice at 5 Ulenski Drive.
Start with a photo review
An Instant Email Consult can provide preliminary guidance about your options before an office visit. An in-person examination is needed to confirm the surgical plan.
Plan your appointments
Ask our team about consultation, preoperative appointments, and postoperative checks before choosing a surgery date. Review directions to our Albany office when planning travel from Clifton Park.
Compare the full plan
Review tummy tuck cost ranges, actual patient results, and recovery guidance. Your consultation will address time away from work, help at home, and the follow-up visits your procedure requires.
