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Abdominoplasty
Charlotte's Most Trusted Plastic Surgeon
— delivering confidence through precision and care.
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Reclaim a Flatter, More Toned Midsection
Feeling comfortable in your own skin is at the heart of what we want for our patients at May Plastic Surgery. Stretched abdominal muscles, loose skin and stubborn fat can leave you feeling disconnected from your body, especially after pregnancy or major weight changes. Dr. Brian May helps patients restore that sense of harmony and physical confidence through abdominoplasty. His tailored approach redefines the waistline and flattens the abdomen to help you feel strong, sculpted and completely at home in your body again.
General
2-4 hours
2-4 weeks
What Is an Abdominoplasty?
Abdominoplasty, commonly known as a tummy tuck, is a surgical body contouring procedure that restores a firmer, flatter abdomen by removing excess skin and fat from the abdomen while tightening weakened or separated abdominal muscles. These changes are often the result of pregnancy, weight fluctuations or the natural aging process, and can lead to a protruding or lax midsection that feels resistant to even the most dedicated diet and exercise regimens. While a tummy tuck won’t help with weight loss or prevent future aging, it can dramatically improve core strength, abdominal contour and the way clothes fit.
Dr. May offers several types of abdominoplasty, including mini, full, and extended techniques, depending on your unique anatomy and specific goals. His approach goes beyond the surface, combining aesthetic and functional precision with careful attention to proportion, incision placement and long-term results, always aiming for a natural and harmonious outcome.
- Dr. Brian May
Types of Abdominoplasty at May Plastic Surgery
There isn't one tummy tuck that works for everyone. Dr. May performs several variations of abdominoplasty, and the right one depends on how much loose skin you have, where it’s located, and whether your abdominal muscles have separated.
Mini Tummy Tuck
A mini tummy tuck addresses loose skin in the lower abdomen through a single short incision in the bikini line. It's the least involved version, with a smaller scar, no navel repositioning and a quicker recovery. Mini tummy tucks are suitable for patients who don’t need the muscle repair of a full or extended tummy tuck.
Full Tummy Tuck
A full, or traditional, tummy tuck treats the entire abdomen. Dr. May makes a low horizontal incision from hip to hip, hidden within the underwear or bikini line, to tighten the abdominal muscles and remove excess skin and fat from above and below the belly button. He then repositions the navel for a natural look. This is the most commonly performed version of the tummy tuck, often recommended for patients who have experienced pregnancy or weight changes.
Extended Tummy Tuck
An extended tummy tuck does everything a full tummy tuck does, then carries the incision farther around toward the hips and flanks to remove loose skin from the sides. It's often the right choice after a larger weight change, when the skin that's left behind wraps past the abdomen and settles around the waist.
Other Types & Related Procedures
Beyond the three standard techniques, Dr. May offers less common variations for patients with specific anatomy, and he can guide you toward related procedures when a classic abdominoplasty may not offer the best path forward. These may include:
- A fleur-de-lis tummy tuck, which uses an upside-down T-shaped incision to remove excess skin in both the horizontal and vertical planes, addressing laxity that standard approaches can’t reach. A fleur-de-lis tuck is for patients with significant skin laxity throughout the entire abdomen, often after a substantial weight change.
- A reverse tummy tuck, which places the incision along the lower breast crease to remove excess skin in the upper abdomen. This approach is designed for patients with a firm lower abdomen but loose skin or wrinkling above the belly button.
- Panniculectomy, which isn’t a tummy tuck but a procedure designed to remove hanging skin in the lower abdomen that is often described as an “apron belly.” Panniculectomy is often performed following significant weight loss and can relieve frequent rashes, mobility issues and other concerns caused by excess skin.
What Can an Abdominoplasty Address?
A carefully tailored tummy tuck with Dr. May can restore strength, contour, and definition to the midsection by addressing common changes caused by pregnancy, weight loss or aging, including:
- Loose, hanging abdominal skin
- Separated or weakened abdominal muscles (diastasis recti)
- Stubborn deposits of fat throughout the midsection
- The belly “pooch” that often remains after pregnancy
- Poor abdominal contour and definition
- Stretch marks and scarring below the belly button
Dr. May often combines abdominoplasty with liposuction to enhance your results, create smooth transitions throughout the torso and achieve a natural, balanced overall appearance.
Am I a Candidate for Abdominoplasty?
The best candidates for abdominoplasty have loose abdominal skin, separated stomach muscles or a lower-belly bulge that hasn't responded to diet and exercise. Most come to Dr. May after pregnancy or a significant weight change, when the skin and muscle have been stretched beyond their capacity to retract naturally.
If you’re considering a tummy tuck, you may be a good candidate if you:
- Are in good general health
- Have reached a healthy, sustainable weight
- Are bothered by loose skin, stubborn fat or muscle separation in the abdomen
- Don’t smoke, or are willing to stop before and after surgery
- Feel good about your reasons for surgery
- Have realistic expectations about what abdominoplasty can achieve
Timing is also an important consideration. For women who plan on having more children, Dr. May usually suggests waiting until their family planning is complete before moving forward with surgery, since pregnancy can re-stretch the same skin and muscles.
The Art & Science of Body Contouring With Dr. May
There’s an art to sculpting the body that goes far beyond measurements or technique. It’s about understanding how curves interact, how light moves across the waistline, and how to restore definition without creating results that feel artificial or overdone. Dr. May brings a thoughtful, detail-oriented mindset to every contouring procedure, not just aiming to flatten the abdomen or remove fat, but to create a natural-looking shape and proportion that feels uniquely yours.
Body contouring requires precision, but it also requires restraint — knowing when less is more, and how to shape rather than simply remove. “Body contouring isn’t just about skin and fat removal,” Dr. May explains. “It’s more important to know what to leave behind. That means looking beyond any one feature and designing something that makes sense for the whole body… something that feels natural and balanced.”
Every decision Dr. May makes, from where to remove fat to how each area flows into the next, is made with harmony and longevity in mind. His goal is always a result that enhances your shape while staying true to your natural form.
- Dr. Brian May
Procedure Details
At May Plastic Surgery, abdominoplasty is performed as an outpatient procedure under general anesthesia. The surgery typically takes two to three hours, depending on the complexity and whether it’s combined with liposuction or other body contouring procedures.
Dr. May places the incision low across the abdomen, just above the pubic area, so it can be concealed beneath undergarments or swimwear once healed. Through this incision, he carefully tightens the abdominal wall by repairing separated abdominal muscles (diastasis recti), removes excess skin and fat, and repositions the belly button for a natural, centered appearance.
To promote a smoother recovery and provide a more stable result, Dr. May often uses a progressive tension suturing technique that minimizes tension on the incision and reduces the potential for fluid accumulation. While some surgeons may rely on this method alone to prevent fluid collection, Dr. May typically places surgical drains as well, believing that controlled fluid removal helps reduce swelling more quickly and allows patients to recover faster and more comfortably.
Tummy Tuck Recovery & Results: What to Expect After Surgery?
Recovery from abdominoplasty is a gradual process. In the first few days, you can expect swelling, tightness and some discomfort, all part of the body’s natural healing response. Dr. May will prescribe medication to keep you comfortable, and surgical drains are typically placed to reduce fluid accumulation and promote a smoother recovery. You’ll also wear a compression garment for the first three months to support your results and minimize swelling.
Dr. May often recommends lymphatic massage during the early recovery period, and our team will help coordinate your sessions with a trusted specialist to enhance healing and reduce discomfort. Most patients are able to return to desk work and light activities within seven to 10 days, though strenuous exercise, heavy lifting, and abdominal muscle exercises like crunches or sit-ups should be avoided until cleared by Dr. May.
You’ll notice a flatter, firmer abdomen almost immediately, but your final results will continue to refine over several months as swelling subsides and tissues settle. With proper care and a healthy lifestyle, your new contours can last for many years. Dr. May and his team will guide you through each step of the recovery process, ensuring you feel supported, informed and confident as you heal.
Inside the Consultation Room With
Dr. Brian May
Adjunct Procedures:
To take your
Abdominoplasty
results to the next level, consider these options for a more complete transformation:
Why Charlotte Patients Choose Dr. May for Abdominoplasty
Choosing a plastic surgeon means choosing someone you can trust implicitly with how you'll feel in your own body for years to come. Patients across Charlotte come to Dr. Brian May because he pairs serious surgical credentials with something harder to find: the sense that he genuinely sees them and never takes the trust they place in him for granted.
Dr. May is a board-certified plastic surgeon who earned his medical degree from Duke University School of Medicine and completed his residency at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, one of the country’s leading plastic surgery training programs. He is also an active member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and The Aesthetic Society.
His credentials inspire confidence, but his patients often remember something more personal. In review after review, they describe a surgeon who listens closely, takes his time and offers honest guidance without pressure. He sets realistic expectations, recommends only what he believes will serve you well and strives to create results that feel natural and balanced.
Tummy Tuck FAQs
Tummy tuck cost varies depending on the details of your surgery, which are shaped by the nuances of your anatomy, the technique used and whether other complementary procedures are being included. Every tummy tuck is unique, with pricing that reflects that level of personalization. Dr. May can provide a detailed quote after evaluating your anatomy and goals.
A standard tummy tuck can remove some stretch marks, but not all of them. Any stretch marks on the skin below the belly button will be removed, but those above the navel or off to the sides usually remain, though they often look less noticeable once the skin is tightened. Extended and fleur-de-lis tummy tucks are better at removing stretch marks in other areas of the abdomen, but Dr. May will let you know what you can realistically expect at your consultation.
The choice between a tummy tuck and liposuction comes down to what you see when you look in the mirror. If your skin is relatively firm and it's stubborn fat that keeps you from wearing the clothes you love, liposuction alone may be all you need. If your skin has lost some of its elasticity or you have a lower belly bulge after pregnancy or weight loss, a tummy tuck is more likely to deliver the results you want. Some patients need a combination of both to address stubborn fat and skin laxity throughout the abdomen.
This isn’t an answer you’re expected to figure out on your own. When you come in for your consultation, Dr. May will take the time to understand your concerns, explain what each option can accomplish and help you feel confident in the plan you choose together.
Dr. May places the main tummy tuck incision low across the abdomen, just above the pubic area, so it sits comfortably beneath underwear and swimwear once healed. A full tummy tuck also leaves a small scar around the navel where it's repositioned.
Tummy tuck scars are permanent, but they mature and soften considerably over the first year, especially with good scar care. Dr. May will guide you on how to care for your incision so it heals as discreetly as possible.
It depends on which type of tummy tuck you have. For a mini tummy tuck, many patients feel comfortable returning to desk work after five to seven days, while you might need closer to 10-14 days after a full or extended tummy tuck.
Patients with physically demanding jobs should plan on taking at least four weeks off, as heavy lifting will be restricted to support a smooth recovery. That includes lifting small children, so you may need to arrange for help at home if you have toddlers. Dr. May takes your lifestyle and recovery needs into consideration when recommending the right tummy tuck for you and can help you plan ahead for your surgery.
Request Your Consultation
At May Plastic Surgery, we’re excited to help you look and feel your best. If you’re bothered by loose skin and fat that won’t budge despite a healthy lifestyle, Dr. May can help you reclaim a toned, contoured midsection. Call May Plastic Surgery in Charlotte, NC, today at 704-200-2493 to request a consultation with Dr. Brian May and find out if abdominoplasty is right for you.
Let's Connect
We are here to help. Whether you’re exploring your options or ready to schedule, our team is here to answer your questions about procedures, recovery, and next steps — and to personally guide you every step of the way.