Abdominoplasty · Liposuction + tissue excision + vertical umbilicoplasty
"My belly won't go back after childbirth." "Even with dieting, my belly stays the same." — the cause of these concerns is often not fat but loose skin and abdominal wall. The abdomen is the area that most easily stretches and is hardest to recover from with age, childbirth, or rapid weight change1.
Abdominoplasty performs liposuction on the sagging abdomen, then excises the loose tissue to create a smooth, firm abdomen. It is divided into Mini · Full · Extended · 360° based on the extent of sagging, and Bong Bong Plastic Surgery simultaneously performs an ideal vertical umbilicoplasty.
The 3-minute summary
- Procedure
- Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)
- Surgical extents
- Mini · Full (180°) · Extended (210–270°) · 360° full torso
- Surgery time
- 1.5–6 hours (varies by extent) · general anesthesia
- Inpatient
- Same-day discharge – 2 days (varies by extent)
- Recovery
- Suture removal at 7 days – 2 weeks · daily life within about 1 week
What is abdominoplasty
Abdominoplasty performs liposuction on a sagging abdomen that has lost firmness, then excises the loose tissue to make the belly smooth and firm2.
Bong Bong Plastic Surgery performs liposuction above the umbilicus, below the breast, and along the anterior flanks, then dissects a palm's width (about 7 cm) to bring the incision line down to the bikini line. Minimal dissection is combined with an ideal vertical umbilicoplasty performed simultaneously.
The abdomen is the area that reveals age. That's why abdominoplasty must be comprehensive reshaping, not simple fat removal.
Dr. Seongsoo Park · Chief Director, Bong Bong Plastic Surgery Clinic
Who needs it
- Belly gains fat noticeably faster than other areas — hereditary fat distribution
- Loose abdomen from rapid weight loss after childbirth — skin and abdominal-wall laxity
- Abdominal fat overflowing over the waistband — significant contour deformation
- Not simply abdominal obesity but sagging from abdominal fascial laxity
Especially when skin laxity and abdominal-wall laxity coexist, dieting, exercise, or non-surgical treatments cannot improve it. Accurate diagnosis of the cause (fat, skin, abdominal wall) is the first step.
Comparison of 4 extents
Abdominoplasty is divided into 4 categories based on the extent of sagging. The most appropriate extent is determined by the individual's abdominal condition.
| Extent | Indication | Coverage | Surgery time | Recovery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mini | Sagging only below umbilicus | Partial anterior abdomen | 1.5 hours | 2–4 days |
| Full (180°) | Sagging extends above umbilicus | Entire anterior abdomen | 3–4 hours | 1 week |
| Extended (210–270°) | Sagging extends to flanks | Abdomen + flanks | 4–5 hours | 1 week |
| 360° full torso | Abdomen, flanks, and back | Entire torso circumference | 5–6 hours | 1 week |
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MINI
Mini Abdominoplasty
For sagging only below the umbilicus. Surgery 1.5 hours · general anesthesia · no hospitalization · recovery 2–4 days · suture removal at 7–8 days. The least demanding approach.
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180°
Full Abdominoplasty
For sagging extending above the umbilicus. Covers the entire anterior abdomen. Surgery 3–4 hours · same-day discharge to 1-day stay · recovery 1 week · suture removal at 1–2 weeks. The standard for postpartum abdominal laxity.
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210–270°
Extended Abdominoplasty
For sagging extending above the umbilicus and to the flanks. Includes love handle refinement. Surgery 4–5 hours · same-day discharge to 1-day stay · recovery 1 week · suture removal at 1–2 weeks.
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360°
360° Abdominoplasty
Full torso: abdomen + flanks + back. The standard after major weight loss. Surgery 5–6 hours · 1–2 day inpatient stay · recovery 1 week · suture removal at 1–2 weeks.
Vertical umbilicoplasty
The last piece that determines the completeness of abdominoplasty is umbilicoplasty. As abdominal tissue is excised, the umbilicus is repositioned — and redesigning it as a natural vertical shape during this step significantly elevates the overall result.
Bong Bong Plastic Surgery completes an ideal vertical umbilicoplasty with minimal dissection to reduce scarring. Protruding and excessively depressed umbilicus can also be corrected.
Safety anesthesia system
Because abdominoplasty involves long surgery time and general anesthesia, anesthesia safety is especially critical. Bong Bong Plastic Surgery operates a 1:1 dedicated anesthesia system with an in-house anesthesiology specialist3.
1:1 Dedicated anesthesia
In-house anesthesiology specialist · safety monitoring throughout the surgery.
Sterilization system
In-hospital sterilization system to prevent secondary infection.
Emergency response
Emergency medical equipment such as defibrillators kept on standby at all times.
Surgical process and aftercare
Abdominoplasty is a 2–6 hour surgery, with same-day discharge to 2-day inpatient stay depending on extent. Suture removal begins at day 7 and continues for up to 2 weeks.
- STEP 01
Detailed Consultation
3-layer evaluation (fat, skin, abdominal wall) determines surgical extent.
- STEP 02
Safety Workup
Blood work, ECG, CT/ultrasound, and preoperative diagnostics.
- STEP 03
Design Marking
Incision location, liposuction zone, and umbilicus position individually planned.
- STEP 04
Surgery (2–6 hours)
General anesthesia · liposuction → tissue excision → umbilicoplasty.
- STEP 05
Recovery · Inpatient
Same-day discharge to 2-day inpatient stay depending on extent.
- STEP 06
Aftercare
1:1 focused care by dedicated medical staff · scar and regeneration care.
Bong Bong aftercare system
- Intense Ultra high-density ultrasound — scar and skin regeneration
- Stem Cell therapy — used in scar management
- SmartLux Toning — scar, swelling, bruising relief; wound healing; skin calming and regeneration
- CAPS — recovery and pain relief; swelling and bruising prevention
- Spectra VRM Laser Toning — scar and pigmentation management
Curious which surgical extent fits your abdomen? Book a consultation.
Diagnosed personally by the chief director of Bong Bong Plastic Surgery. Consultation and diagnostics are complimentary.
Frequently Asked Questions
QWhat is abdominoplasty?
QCan abdominoplasty and breast surgery be combined?
QI'm worried about scarring.
QWhich of the 4 extents is right for me?
QWhat is vertical umbilicoplasty?
- Anatomy 3-layer structure of the abdomen — fat, skin, abdominal wall (fascia) perspective.
- Technique Abdominoplasty — Standard Surgical Technique (ASPS).
- Safety In-house anesthesiology specialist system — Bong Bong safety protocol.
Closing thoughts
Abdominoplasty is a comprehensive solution to the 3-layer problem of fat, skin, and abdominal wall. It fundamentally improves skin and abdominal-wall laxity that dieting and non-surgical procedures cannot address. However, the choice of surgical extent (Mini to 360°) determines outcome satisfaction, so accurate diagnosis is above all essential.
If you want to approach abdominal fat primarily, liposuction may be the alternative. More clinical columns are available on the Bong Bong Plastic Surgery Blog.