Tummy Tuck for Pleasantville, NY

Which tummy tuck, and whether you need one

“Tummy tuck” covers more than one operation. At Bellava, Dr. Chang Soo Kim performs four versions of it, and the first thing a consultation settles is which of them — if any — matches what you see in the mirror. For Pleasantville that conversation is about ten miles up the Saw Mill River Parkway, around 16 minutes without traffic, at 182 Route 117 Bypass Road in Bedford Hills.

Dr. Kim trained at the Yale School of Medicine and Yale–New Haven Hospital, holds American Board of Plastic Surgery certification and has done more than 500 of these operations. About Dr. Kim.

The four versions

• Full. Works on the whole abdominal wall: tightens separated muscles, removes a larger amount of loose skin and moves the belly button. Usually advised after several pregnancies or where the skin is very lax.
• Mini. A shorter incision that treats only the area under the navel; the belly button stays where it is and recovery tends to be quicker. Suited to mild looseness low down with good tone above. See our mini tummy tuck page.
• Extended. The incision runs from hip to hip so the flanks and outer thighs are included — often after a large weight loss leaves skin hanging around the sides.
• Fleur-de-lis. Adds a vertical incision to the horizontal one, for skin that is excessive in both directions, typically after weight loss surgery.

Questions to bring from Pleasantville

1. Have I finished having children? Bellava advises waiting until your family is complete, because a later pregnancy can affect the outcome.
2. Am I close to my goal weight? A tummy tuck removes skin and tightens muscle; it is not a way to lose weight, and the result lasts best when your weight stays steady.
3. Is there a gap between my stomach muscles? Diastasis recti — the separation that leaves a bulge even in fit people — is repaired during a full tummy tuck.
4. What about my C-section scar? Dr. Kim can often take it in or revise it within the tummy tuck incision.
5. Would liposuction help too? Adding it to the flanks, hips or thighs in the same session is a combination Dr. Kim performs often.

What the visit covers

Dr. Kim looks at your skin, muscle and any scars, asks what bothers you, and recommends a technique — or tells you plainly that surgery is not right for you yet. You leave with a quote that covers surgeon, anesthesia and facility together. Bellava offers financing. A cosmetic tummy tuck is generally not covered by insurance, though a component such as a hernia repair may qualify for partial coverage.

Pleasantville patients ask

Is the first consultation free? Yes, and private, with no obligation to book.

Can men have a tummy tuck? Yes. Bellava’s candidates include men as well as women who want a firmer abdomen after weight changes.

Can I see his own work? Yes — Dr. Kim’s before and afters show his own patients. More detail is on our tummy tuck page.