Tummy Tuck
Abdominoplasty removes excess skin and fat from the midsection and repairs separated abdominal muscles, leaving the stomach firmer and flatter.
What Patients Say
Before & After
Real patients, real results. These images show actual tummy tuck outcomes achieved by Dr. McGovern.
Is Tummy Tuck Right for You?
Answer a few quick questions to see if tummy tuck could be a good fit for you — or take the full Renewal Assessment for a comprehensive treatment plan.
What to Expect
A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) removes excess skin and fat and repairs abdominal muscles that have separated, giving you a flatter, firmer midsection that diet and exercise alone cannot reach.
Ideal Candidates
This procedure suits you if you are living with loose abdominal skin, stubborn belly fat, or diastasis recti after pregnancy or significant weight loss. You should be at a stable weight before moving forward.
The Consultation
Dr. McGovern will examine your abdominal muscles, the elasticity of your skin, and how fat is distributed across your midsection, then recommend the right approach for you: full, mini, or extended tummy tuck.
The Procedure
The surgery takes place at RenewalASC under general anesthesia and lasts 2 to 4 hours. Your surgeon tightens the muscles, removes the excess skin, and repositions your belly button to look natural.
Recovery
Plan for 2 to 3 weeks off work. You will wear a compression garment for 6 weeks. Walking slightly hunched the first few days is normal.
Artistry Meets Precision
My technique goes beyond removing skin. I repair the muscle wall underneath with care, because that repair is what gives you a core that is truly flat and strong, not just skin pulled tight.
She creates natural contours and places the incision low enough to be hidden by underwear and swimwear.
Plan Your Downtime
Tummy tucks are probably the most uncomfortable operation we do. Expect some pain for 10–20 days, and don't plan on sports or heavy exercise for at least 6 weeks.
Rest, walk, and watch for hematoma
You'll have difficulty standing up straight because extra abdominal skin was removed and the abdominal muscles were usually tightened. A pillow or two under your knees in bed is often more comfortable. Two drains are collecting fluid so you heal faster.
Do this
- Begin walking as soon as you get home — first to the bathroom, then around the house between naps.
- Strip the tubing and empty the drain bulbs every four hours; record amounts, dates, and times.
- Wear your abdominal binder or compression garment; loosen it several times a day so it doesn't restrict circulation.
- Wear TED hose at all times except to bathe.
- Keep feet elevated above heart level; change positions often, flex and point your toes.
- Drink plenty of fluids to maintain hydration.
- Get up and walk four or five times a day.
- Always lie with your feet elevated above the level of your heart.
- Always have your legs elevated if sitting in a chair.
Avoid
- Do not attempt to stretch or pull the abdomen straight.
- No alcohol.
- Do not take aspirin or medicines containing aspirin.
- Do not use heating pads.
- Do not sit still or nap for long periods.
- Do not drive until your physician clears you.
- Do not sit in a chair with knees bent and feet on the floor.
- Do not smoke or use any form of nicotine.
- Avoid long automobile trips or flights.
Can I do this yet? Day 1
Begin walking as soon as you get home. Four or five times a day.
After 24 hours. Pin the drains to a towel around your neck. Remove pads and garment first; leave suture strips on.
Removed 5–7 days after surgery. Sutures under the skin dissolve at 14–28 days.
Cleared day 5A nurse removes them 5–10 days out, once fluid turns clear straw color.
Cleared day 5Make no special attempts to stretch or pull the abdomen straight for the first 2–3 weeks.
Cleared week 3You won't feel like resuming sports or heavy exercise for at least 6 weeks.
Cleared week 6No tub baths. Showers only.
On provider clearanceDo not drive until your physician has given you clearance.
On provider clearanceWear them at all times except to bathe, until your provider says otherwise.
On provider clearanceAvoid long automobile trips or flights.
On provider clearanceWorn for several weeks. Your doctor will tell you when to stop.
On provider clearanceYour milestones
Call the office right away if…
- Any significant increase in swelling, drainage, firmness of the abdomen, or pain not controlled by medication — these can signal a hematoma (a collection of blood under the skin), a real risk in the first week.
- Any fever greater than 100 degrees — this could be a sign of infection and should be reported immediately.
- A drain bulb that fills rapidly after emptying, or needing to empty it more than three times a day.
- Drainage that stops within the first 24 hours.
- An increase in bleeding through the dressing.
912-920-2090 · Dial 911 for medical emergencies.
Your full post-op instructions
These are RenewalMD's standard post-operative instructions for tummy tuck. Every patient is different — the instructions you receive from Dr. McGovern's team at discharge are the ones that govern your recovery. When in doubt, call us at 912-920-2090.
Cost & Financing
A tummy tuck at RenewalMD typically costs between $10,000 and $12,000, depending on how extensive the procedure is: mini, full, or extended.
These estimates are for illustration only. Actual costs are determined after your consultation, and financing terms set by the financing companies are subject to change. Subject to credit approval.
Why Choose RenewalMD for Tummy Tuck
When searching for a plastic surgeon for tummy tuck in Savannah, experience and trust matter most. At RenewalMD, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Meghan McGovern personally performs every procedure — from your initial consultation at our Mohawk Street office in Savannah or Merchant Way office in Statesboro through your final follow-up.
Recognized as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor and NewBeauty Top Doctor for 2026, Dr. McGovern brings precision, artistry, and genuine care to every patient. Our AAAHC-accredited surgical center, RenewalASC, gives you hospital-quality care in a comfortable, private setting — right here in Savannah.
Patients travel from across southeast Georgia and the Lowcountry for tummy tuck at RenewalMD — including Pooler, Richmond Hill, Statesboro, Hinesville, Tybee Island, and Hilton Head. Whether you're exploring your options or ready to take the next step, we invite you to schedule a consultation and meet the RenewalMD team.
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Schedule Your Consultation
Schedule your consultation to discuss how a tummy tuck can give you the flatter, toned abdomen you have been working toward.