Congratulations, you’re ready for your surgery! You’ve adequately prepared for surgery following your surgeon’s pre-procedure instructions and are now at the surgical facility, waiting to go into the Operating Room (OR).

Typically, you should expect to meet with everyone who is scheduled to perform your surgery first. Markings will be made on your stomach and, if necessary, your flanks, as an outline of where to place the incisions and what to remove. Your nurse or surgeon may also discuss a few things with you, such as how you’ll feel after surgery (this information was probably discussed with you already, but it will be repeated just to refresh your memory). Photos will be taken. Then, once you’ve been taken into the OR, you’ll begin first by being placed under anesthesia. Although there are options, it is common to be placed under general or sedation.

Once you’re comfortably under anesthesia, the actual tummy tuck begins. The number and placement of incisions depends on what type of tummy tuck you’re scheduled to undergo: full, mini or endoscopic. More lengthier incisions are typically made in the event of a full tummy tuck. Whichever tummy tuck you’ll be undergoing, it generally requires one of the incisions made in the same location: horizontally across the pelvis, just above the pelvic bones. Another incision made be made around the belly button, particularly if the upper abdomen is also targeted.

The abdominal muscles are repaired if requested. Excess fat and skin are removed, then the remaining skin and tissue is sutured together and dressed.

Once that is all completed, you’ll be roused from the anesthesia and taken to the Recovery Room, where you’ll be monitored by your anesthetist, surgeon and nurses.