Tummy Tuck Before & After

Patient Story
Patient 5 was a 42-year-old woman, 5’5” and 155 lbs, who came to Dr. Michele Koo after three full-term pregnancies with large 8–9 lb babies. Despite healthy eating and consistent workouts, she could not restore her abdominal contour or core strength. Her midsection remained stretched with a persistent bulge that exercise alone could not fix. She was constantly asked if she was pregnant and told by numerous surgeons she would need mesh to repair her hernia.

Dr. Koo’s Consultation
On examination, Dr. Koo identified significant abdominal muscle separation (diastasis recti) and redundant lower abdominal skin. She recommended an extended abdominoplasty to repair the abdominal wall, remove excess skin, and recontour the waistline for a smooth, balanced shape. Dr Koo intended to fully repair the diastasis with sutures and felt confident she would NOT require mesh as the patient did not have any previous surgeries, was young and healthy. Dr Koo examined the patient and determined the fascia was intact, only needing repair.

Treatment
Dr. Michele Koo performed an extended abdominoplasty with meticulous repair of the patient’s diastasis using her specialized interrupted and reinforced running sutures, in a custom umbrication repeated suturing to tighten and bring the rectus muscles back into midline—achieving a flat, smooth abdominal wall without the use of mesh. Excess skin was removed and the waistline refined. The umbilicus was preserved and relocated.

Recovery & Results
The after photograph is shown 6 months post-surgery. During recovery, the patient was unable to drive for 2 weeks and wore a continuous compression garment for the first 2 weeks. By weeks 2–4, she returned to her office career, and resumed daily activities such as driving her children to their events, but she did not return to workouts until 8 weeks postoperatively. She has maintained her results with a healthy lifestyle—achieving a flat, toned shape she could not have reached without surgical intervention by Dr. Koo.

This 50-year-old woman came to Dr. Michele Koo feeling frustrated and disheartened after years of dedicated dieting and exercise with little visible change. Despite her commitment to a healthier lifestyle, the lack of tangible results made it difficult for her to stay motivated. She was ready for a real transformation, one that would help her feel confident in her body and inspired to continue her wellness journey.

Dr. Koo performed a full tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) procedure combined with thigh contouring to restore her silhouette and jumpstart her progress. With her new, sculpted shape, the patient has continued to lose weight, stay active, and fully embrace a healthier, more confident lifestyle.