The Gift of Confidence: Why a Tummy Tuck Is the Perfect Present to Yourself

Women carry the bulk of the mental load when it comes to the holiday season and gift giving. While you’re trying to remember the ages of distant nieces and nephews and scrambling to find the right thing for a picky boss, don't forget that someone else deserves a present — you.

At DiGeronimo MD Advanced Plastic Surgery in Doral, Florida, Dr. Ernest M. DiGeronimo offers full and mini tummy tucks to make you feel years younger and confident enough to wear that slinky dress that’s been languishing in the back of your closet since it shows your “muffin top.”

Here’s everything you need to know about tummy tucks.

Tummy tuck basics

A standard tummy tuck, or full abdominoplasty, focuses on the middle and lower tummy region, from above the belly button to your hipline, where stubborn fat can linger even after diet, exercise, and weight loss. A mini tummy tuck is aimed to correct just the lower abdomen, where pregnancy and childbirth may have taken a toll. 

The procedure is done in a hospital, and you’ll stay on for a few days afterwards to rest and make sure there are no complications. Your doctor might put in a few drains to ensure excess fluid doesn’t get trapped in your belly, and you’ll be monitored to make sure you’re in a position that doesn’t strain your incision.

It can take anywhere from six weeks to a few months to completely recover from a tummy tuck, although most people feel well enough to resume light duties after a few weeks have passed. Your doctor will explain how to protect your healing tummy and prevent injury as you heal.

Standard tummy tuck

For a standard tummy tuck, your doctor carefully finds a natural fold across your belly that bisects through your belly button and makes an incision across horizontally, cutting around your belly button to preserve it.

Then they take our extra fat tissue and trim excess skin before sealing your stomach back together, repositioning your belly button for a natural look. We might use liposuction to capture stray fatty tissue and give you the flattest profile possible.

Mini tummy tuck

For a mini tummy tuck, your doctor makes a smaller cut along the bikini line — similar in position to a C-section incision. Again, fat and excess tissue and skin are removed before the remaining skin is stretched gently but firmly and sealed together.

This gives you a flatter lower abdomen so you can feel confident wearing form-fitting dresses, slim-fit jeans, and two-piece swimsuits with confidence that there’s no belly bulge or abdominal “pouch” showing.

Think a tummy tuck might be just what you need to face 2026 with confidence? Schedule a consultation with Dr. DiGeronimo by calling 305-376-0378, or request an appointment online.