Many of us have dreams of a fitter, flatter abdominal area. But no matter how hard we try we just can’t seem to do enough sit-ups to produce the results we want. A tummy tuck ( or abdominoplasty ) is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen and tightens the muscles of the abdominal wall. The procedure can virtually eliminate a stubborn fatty deposit or an excessive amount of loose skin that doesn’t respond to diet and exercise. Thousands of successful tummy tucks are performed each year and because the procedure involves the tightening of the abdominal muscles the results are quite long-lasting.