A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, removes loose abdominal skin and, when needed, tightens the stretched connective tissue between the abdominal muscles. It is commonly considered after pregnancy or weight loss, when exercise cannot tighten skin or repair muscle separation. Dr. Khaled O. Alameddine performs tummy tuck surgery in Coral Gables, Miami, planning the scar, belly button, waist, and surrounding contours together.

With Dr. Khaled O. Alameddine in Coral Gables, Miami, a full tummy tuck starts at $10,500, a mini tummy tuck at $8,000, and an extended tummy tuck at $12,500. A tummy tuck with Lipo 360 starts at $14,500. The price includes the surgeon’s fee, anesthesia and facility fees, two abdominal binders, and routine postoperative visits. Medications, testing, and separately arranged recovery services are additional. The $250 surgeon consultation is credited toward your surgery if performed within 12 months.

A drainless tummy tuck uses internal progressive-tension sutures to secure the abdominal tissues and reduce the space where fluid can collect, so external drain tubes are usually not needed. Dr. Khaled O. Alameddine uses this approach in most of his tummy tucks. Drainless does not mean fluid collections are impossible, and a drain may still be used when your operation or health makes it appropriate.

A lower belly pooch that stays despite diet and exercise is usually caused by loose skin, separated abdominal muscles, or both, often after pregnancy. Exercise cannot remove excess skin or reliably close muscle separation, which is why a tummy tuck is often the lasting solution. If the pooch is mainly fat with good skin tone, liposuction may be enough. Dr. Alameddine examines skin, fat, and muscle separately to find the cause.

Liposuction removes fat beneath the skin, while a tummy tuck removes loose skin and can tighten a stretched abdominal wall. If loose skin or muscle separation is the main concern, liposuction alone may leave the abdomen looser. Many patients benefit from both: a tummy tuck with Lipo 360 starts at $14,500, while liposuction of one to two areas starts at $6,500. Dr. Alameddine recommends the combination that fits your anatomy.

A mini tummy tuck treats loose skin mainly below the belly button through a shorter incision, and it starts at $8,000 with Dr. Alameddine. It suits a limited amount of lower abdominal laxity. It is not a substitute for a full tummy tuck when there is loose skin above the belly button or significant muscle separation, and your examination determines which fits.

An extended tummy tuck treats loose skin that continues around the sides toward the flanks, using a longer incision to create a smoother transition at the waist. It is often considered after larger weight loss or when a full tummy tuck would leave loose skin at the hips. With Dr. Khaled O. Alameddine, an extended tummy tuck starts at $12,500.

When indicated, a tummy tuck can repair diastasis recti by tightening the stretched connective tissue between the abdominal muscles with internal sutures. This can improve abdominal contour and support; the muscles are not cut or removed. Dr. Alameddine assesses how much tightening is appropriate. A true hernia is different from diastasis and may need separate evaluation.

In a standard tummy tuck, Dr. Alameddine preserves your own belly button and brings it through a new opening in the repositioned skin. He aims for a subtly inset, vertically oriented shape, with the scar placed within its natural folds where possible. Your anatomy and healing influence the final appearance, and no particular shape can be guaranteed.

The main scar is planned low on the abdomen so it can sit beneath your preferred underwear or swimwear where anatomy allows, and you are encouraged to bring a favorite style to your consultation. Its length depends on how much loose skin is removed. A low C-section scar can often be removed with the excess skin, though it is replaced by the tummy tuck scar.

Stretch marks on the skin that is removed, usually below the belly button, go with it. Stretch marks on the remaining skin stay, although they may shift position as the skin is tightened. Dr. Alameddine can show you which areas are likely to be removed during your examination.

Dr. Alameddine generally looks for breastfeeding to be complete, your weight to be stable, and your body to have recovered, usually at least about six months after delivery. Waiting allows the abdomen to settle so the operation can address what remains. Your consultation confirms the right timing for you.

Yes, a tummy tuck does not prevent a future pregnancy. However, pregnancy can stretch the skin and abdominal wall again and change the result, so many patients choose to complete their family first. If you are planning another pregnancy, discuss timing with Dr. Alameddine before scheduling surgery.

No. A tummy tuck is a contouring operation that removes loose skin and tightens the abdominal wall; it does not remove the fat around internal organs or replace weight loss. You do not need to reach a perfect number, but a relatively stable weight and good health give the most lasting result. If you are still losing substantial weight, Dr. Alameddine will discuss timing.

Tightness and soreness are expected, especially in the first days and when moving or getting up. Dr. Alameddine uses a multimodal pain-control plan, which may include local anesthesia and several complementary medications, to manage discomfort and reduce reliance on opioids. A drainless technique avoids drain care but does not make recovery painless.

Most tummy tucks are outpatient procedures under general anesthesia, and gentle walking begins early. For office work, plan approximately two to three weeks off when possible; physical jobs may need longer. Swelling settles gradually over several months while the scar matures. You will need an adult to take you home and help during the first days.

Under Dr. Alameddine’s protocol, formal exercise and lifting more than about five pounds are generally restricted for six weeks, while gentle walking starts early. Plan ahead for help with childcare, pets, and household tasks. Your postoperative clearance guides when you return to each activity.

Yes, an abdominal binder is part of recovery, and two binders are included in Dr. Alameddine’s tummy tuck price. How long and how often you wear it follows your specific postoperative instructions.

The removed skin does not come back, and a repaired abdominal wall can provide lasting support, so results can last many years. Weight gain, future pregnancy, and aging can still change the abdomen. Maintaining a stable weight is the best way to protect the result.

A mommy makeover combines procedures that address changes after pregnancy, most often a tummy tuck with breast surgery and liposuction. With Dr. Khaled O. Alameddine, a mommy makeover with tummy tuck, breast augmentation, and flank liposuction starts at $16,500; with a breast lift instead, $17,500; and with breast augmentation and lift, $19,500. Combined surgery is recommended only when it is safe for your health and recovery.

Yes. After major weight loss, loose skin often extends beyond the abdomen, so an extended tummy tuck ($12,500), a lower body lift ($16,500), or a custom post-weight-loss body contouring plan may fit better. Weight stability and good nutrition are especially important before surgery, and Dr. Alameddine explains the trade-offs of each scar pattern.

Risks include fluid collections, bleeding, infection, wound-healing problems, changes in sensation, unfavorable scarring, blood clots, and anesthesia-related complications. Smoking and certain health conditions increase some risks. Dr. Alameddine reviews your individual risks and prevention plan before surgery.

Dr. Khaled O. Alameddine performs tummy tuck surgery through his practice, Alameddine Plastic Surgery, at 2903 Salzedo Street, Coral Gables, FL 33134, near Miami. He completed his plastic and reconstructive surgery residency at Mayo Clinic and an aesthetic surgery fellowship at UT Southwestern. The office can be reached at (305) 501-0040. Surgery is performed in a QUAD A–accredited surgery center, and Dr. Alameddine speaks English, French, and Arabic.

Yes. You can begin with a virtual consultation with Dr. Khaled O. Alameddine for $250, credited toward your surgery if performed within 12 months, and Belma can help with recommendations for accommodation and recovery arrangements. Plan your local stay and return travel with the practice before booking flights, since timing depends on the operation and your recovery.