If you’re dreaming of lying on the beach this summer in a teeny bikini showing off a perfectly flat stomach, it’s not too late to make that dream come true.

We at The SHAW Center believe you should feel confident when you rock your swimsuit regardless of your size. But we also understand that you’ll feel your best when you have the body you desire.

Enter abdominoplasty – or a tummy tuck. This surgical procedure removes excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen and tightens the muscles of the abdominal wall, creating a beautifully sculpted stomach.

The tummy tuck is ideal for women who’ve experienced pregnancy or a large amount of weight loss and have loose skin they can’t get rid of despite diet and exercise. It is also ideal for people who are experiencing loss of skin elasticity due to age.

A tummy tuck is a surgical excision of excess skin around the abs. An ellipse of skin is removed between the navel and the hairline of the mons area, eliminating C-section scars as well. The skin above the navel is lifted off the abdominal wall muscles up to the level of the rib cage, then pulled down to the level of the mons and closed. During the procedure, the abdominal wall muscles are tightened, resulting in a narrower waistline.

A tummy tuck procedure lasts about two and a half to three hours and does require some recovery time. Most patients can return to work after two weeks and to more strenuous activity after four to six weeks (sometimes more).

If you’re considering getting a tummy tuck here at our office, please consider this testimonial one of our happy patients posted on Realself.com: