Tummy Tuck in Denver
Regain tone & confidence with Dr. Aline Rau
Let’s talk tummy tucks
A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen and repairs separated abdominal muscles, creating a flatter, firmer midsection.
At Amavi Aesthetic Surgery in Denver, Dr. Aline Rau, a board-certified plastic surgeon, performs tummy tucks for women and men.
Many come to her to restore a flatter, firmer abdomen after pregnancy or major weight loss, including weight lost on GLP-1 medications. Once skin has stretched and the abdominal muscles have separated, no amount of diet, exercise, or non-surgical tightening can pull them back together.
If you have put in the work and still see a lower belly pooch or a fold of skin that rests over your waistband, a tummy tuck is the procedure designed to fix exactly that.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, it ranks among the top five cosmetic surgeries in the country, and it is one of the most requested procedures at our practice.
Not sure whether you need a tummy tuck or liposuction? Our guide to liposuction vs. tummy tuck explains the differences.
Procedure Details
A tummy tuck is performed under general anesthesia. Dr. Aline Rau makes a low, discreet incision beneath the bikini line so it stays hidden by underwear once healed. She removes excess skin and fat, tightens the separated abdominal muscles, and repositions the belly button for a natural look.
Depending on the amount of excess skin, Dr. Aline Rau will recommend a standard, mini, or extended tummy tuck. After significant weight loss, a more extensive technique may be needed to remove excess skin.
For enhanced results, Dr. Aline Rau may recommend combining your tummy tuck with liposuction, either as a single procedure or as two separate procedures. She will walk you through the safest and most effective option during your one-on-one consultation.
What to Expect During Tummy Tuck Recovery
Tummy tuck recovery takes about six weeks, with most patients doing some gentle walking the same day, which is encouraged to promote healthy circulation.
Keep in mind that rest and avoiding strenuous activities during the initial weeks are crucial for optimal healing.
Some initial swelling, bruising, and mild discomfort are expected as your body heals. In the days leading up to your procedure, the Amavi Team will provide you with detailed post-op instructions and compression garments.
Dr. Aline Rau will closely monitor your progress at every follow-up, offering guidance and support to ensure a smooth, supported recovery. Our goal is simple: for you to enjoy your smooth, contoured results with confidence and peace of mind.
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Days 1 to 3: Rest, walk, stay bent
Home the same day in a compression garment; we see you the next day. Walk slightly hunched at first to protect the repair, with short walks every couple of hours.
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Days 4 to 10: Standing taller, light activity
Tightness and soreness more than sharp pain. Standing straighter gets easier each day, and most patients are moving normally by day 7 to 10.
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Weeks 2 to 4: Desk work, driving, garment stays on
Most patients return to a desk job and drive again once off prescription pain medication. The compression garment stays on through week four.
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Weeks 4 to 6: More activity, no lifting or core yet
Garment comes off. Walking for exercise is fine. Still no heavy lifting, toddlers included, and no core exercises until six weeks.
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Week 6 and beyond: Cleared for exercise
Dr. Aline Rau clears most patients for full workouts, including core, at six weeks. Swelling still comes and goes, especially in the evening.
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Months 3 to 6: Final shape settles
Residual swelling resolves and the scar begins to flatten and fade. This is when your clothes fit the way you pictured.
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Ongoing: Continued support
Follow-ups at 1 day, 1 week, 1, 3, 6 months, and 1 year, with 24/7 aftercare access in between.
Am I a good candidate for a tummy tuck?
Good candidates for a tummy tuck are in good overall health, at a stable weight, and do not use any tobacco products.
If you are unhappy with loose skin, a stubborn belly pooch, or a core that never regained its strength after pregnancy, you are likely a candidate for a tummy tuck.
A tummy tuck may be right for you if:
Your abdominal muscles weakened (also known as diastasis recti) during pregnancy
You lost weight, including weight lost on GLP-1 medications, and now have loose skin, a stubborn pooch, or weakened core muscles that do not improve with exercise
Many of these patients also explore a mommy makeover to address multiple areas at once.
You are at a stable weight and have realistic expectations
You do not plan to become pregnant
The timing may not be right yet if:
You are planning a future pregnancy, which can undo the muscle repair
You are still actively losing weight, on your own or with a GLP-1 medication
Why Choose a Female Plastic Surgeon for Your Tummy Tuck in Denver?
Many women in Denver specifically seek out Dr. Aline Rau because of the unique advantages a woman-to-woman approach provides:
A Shared Aesthetic Perspective: As a female plastic surgeon and a mother of 2 boys, Dr. Aline Rau understands how pregnancy and childbirth change your stomach in ways that no amount of exercise can fix.
Intuitive Communication & Discretion: Our women-owned practice provides a compassionate, highly discreet environment where you can speak candidly about your goals and concerns.
A Personalized, Boutique Experience: As a female-led practice, we prioritize you, ensuring your entire journey is closely guided and supported from your first consultation through your final post-op visit.
What our patients say
Your Questions About Tummy Tucks, Answered
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Most patients return to light activities within 2-3 weeks, but full recovery and final results may take several months.
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Yes, a tummy tuck is often combined with liposuction for comprehensive body contouring or as part of a mommy makeover.
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The cost varies based on the complexity of the procedure and whether additional treatments like liposuction are included. Contact us for a personalized quote during your consultation.
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Diastasis recti is a separation of the left and right abdominal muscles (rectus abdominis) that commonly occurs during pregnancy. This separation can cause a belly "pooch" that doesn't respond to diet or exercise.
During a tummy tuck, Dr. Aline Rau repairs diastasis recti by suturing the muscles back together along the midline, restoring a firmer, flatter abdominal wall.
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Most patients describe the first few days after a tummy tuck as having significant tightness and soreness rather than sharp pain. Dr. Aline Rau provides a detailed pain management plan that may include prescribed medication and guidance on comfortable positioning. Most patients find the discomfort manageable and steadily improving by the end of the first week.
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The best candidates are at or near a stable, healthy weight. Being close to your goal weight helps
Dr. Aline Rau achieve the most defined and long-lasting results. During your consultation, she will evaluate your individual health profile and discuss whether reaching a specific weight first would optimize your outcome.
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A full tummy tuck addresses the entire abdomen, removing excess skin above and below the navel, tightening the full length of the abdominal muscles, and repositioning the belly button.
A mini tummy tuck focuses on the lower abdomen only, with a smaller incision and a shorter recovery.
During your consultation, Dr. Aline Rau will recommend the approach that best matches your anatomy and goals.
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Tummy tuck results are long-lasting, especially when you maintain a stable weight and consistent fitness routine. The repaired abdominal muscles and removed excess skin do not return. However, significant weight gain or future pregnancy can alter your results.
Dr. Aline Rau recommends that patients be finished having children before undergoing the procedure.
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Yes, in almost every case. Dr. Aline Rau places the tummy tuck incision at or just below the level of a C-section scar, so the old scar is removed along with the excess skin above it.
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Yes, and it is one of the most common reasons patients come to us now. Skin does not shrink back after fast weight loss the way muscle and fat do. Dr. Aline Rau asks that your weight has been stable for about six months first, so the result you get is the result you keep. Read more about loose skin after GLP-1 weight loss.
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The scar runs hip to hip, low enough to hide under a bikini bottom or low-rise underwear. It is red and raised for the first few months, flattens and fades between month six and one year, and keeps softening after that. Dr. Aline Rau plans the incision height with you before surgery, so bring the swimsuit or underwear you want it to hide beneath.
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Driving: once you are off prescription pain medication and can brake without pulling, usually within two weeks. Lifting: no heavy lifting for six weeks, which means no carrying toddlers. Exercise: walking right away, light activity within 7 to 10 days, full workouts and core at six weeks once Dr. Aline Rau clears you.
Considering a tummy tuck or wondering how it compares to other body contouring options? Explore these insights from Dr. Aline Rau and the Amavi team to help you feel confident and informed before your consultation.
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Dr. Aline Rau's extensive training and professional achievements reflect her unwavering commitment to excellence. Board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, she completed residencies at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Colorado, where she served as Chief Resident.
As a mother of two school-aged boys, Dr. Aline Rau understands the realities of the female aging process and the body's changes after pregnancy and childbirth. She can personally relate to her patients, enriching her understanding of how women feel about their appearance and enhancing her ability to support them when discussing their aesthetic goals and concerns with their most intimate body areas.
Amavi was built around a belief that the relationship between surgeon and patient doesn't end when the procedure does. Your consultation is one-on-one with Dr. Aline Rau — and so is every post-operative appointment that follows. She is directly available for questions at every stage of your recovery, because that level of continuity is rare, and she believes you deserve it.
Dedicated to enhancing your natural beauty while preserving exactly what makes you, you.Book your consultation
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