Fleur-de-lis Tummy Tuck Bellevue
Procedure Time 2 to 5 hours
Recovery Time 2 to 3 weeks
$219 20 Units with Surgeon/Injector
$299 30 Units with Surgeon/Injector
Dropped a hundred pounds but still hiding under loose, apron-like skin? When one undergoes major weight loss, it leaves a drape of loose skin that a standard tummy tuck can’t fully tighten. NW Face & Body’s Fleur-de-Lis tummy tuck removes the excess in both directions- vertical and horizontal, so your slimmer shape can finally show.
What Is a Fleur-de-Lis Tummy Tuck?
A fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty combines the familiar low bikini-line incision of a traditional tummy tuck with a second, midline incision that runs vertically up the abdomen. Once the two lines meet, excess skin can be removed in two directions side-to-side and top-to-bottom, much like trimming fabric along both the hem and the seam.
- Incision pattern: an inverted “T” (resembling a fleur-de-lis) that allows the surgeon to tailor-fit the abdominal skin envelope.
- Skin excision: addresses laxity above and below the navel, not just the lower belly.
- Core repair: underlying muscles can still be tightened, and liposuction may be added for shaping around the waist and flanks.
- Umbilicus: the belly button is repositioned to maintain a natural look after the extra skin is gone.
How it differs from a standard tummy tuck
A standard abdominoplasty removes a horizontal strip of skin and pulls the remainder downward. That works well when most laxity is below the navel. However, patients who have lost 75–100 pounds or more often develop vertical laxity too, loose skin cascading from the upper abdomen. Only the fleur-de-lis approach removes that vertical excess, preventing residual “pouches” above the waistline and achieving a tighter, straighter midsection from rib cage to pubic bone.
Who Should Consider a Vertical-Plus-Horizontal Tummy Tuck?
Because a fleur-de-lis tummy tuck targets both vertical and horizontal laxity, it is best for people whose skin has stretched in multiple directions, most often after substantial weight loss.
You’re likely a strong candidate if you:
- Have lost 75 pounds or more (through bariatric surgery, medication, or lifestyle changes) and maintained a stable weight for at least six months.
- Notice loose skin or “aprons” above and below the navel that a standard tummy tuck cannot fully tighten.
- Are in overall good health, cleared by your primary-care provider, and do not smoke (or can stop six weeks before and after surgery).
- Understand and accept the trade-off of a visible midline scar in exchange for a flatter, firmer abdomen and narrower waist.
- Have no plans for pregnancy or significant weight changes that could impact the repair.
Benefits of Fleur-de-Lis Abdominoplasty
- 360° Contour Refinement – Tightens loose skin above, below, and beside the navel for a smoother torso and a more defined waistline.
- Greater Skin Removal – Eliminates vertical “aprons” that a standard tummy tuck can leave behind, giving visibly flatter results in clothing and swimwear.
- Posture & Core Support – Muscle plication can improve core stability, reduce back strain, and make exercise more comfortable.
- Hygiene & Skin Health – Removes folds that trap moisture and cause rashes or irritation.
- Confidence Boost – Reveals the body shape you worked hard to achieve, helping many patients feel “finished” with their weight-loss journey.
Your Fleur-de-lis Tummy Tuck Consultation at NW Face & Body
During your one-on-one visit at NW Face & Body, our surgeon will examine how your skin drapes both above and below the navel, test core muscle tone, and review the story behind your weight loss to determine whether a fleur-de-lis or a standard tummy tuck in Bellevue best fits your goals. Expect photographs for surgical mapping, a thorough review of your health and medications (with any necessary lab or cardiac clearances arranged), and a discussion about the vertical scar, recovery timeline, and realistic outcomes. You’ll leave with a custom quote, financing options, and a detailed pre-operative packet so you know exactly how to prepare in the weeks leading up to surgery.
Day of Surgery
You’ll arrive at our AAAHC-accredited suite, where a board-certified anesthesiologist administers general anesthesia. After marking a low horizontal line and a vertical midline, the surgeon removes excess skin, tightens abdominal muscles, and may add liposuction to refine the waist. The navel is brought through a new opening, and layered sutures close the inverted-T incision with minimal tension. You’ll wake in a compression garment, spend a short time in recovery, and head home the same day with detailed after-care instructions.
Recovery & After-Care
Despite the added vertical incision, most patients find fleur-de-lis healing feels much like a standard tummy tuck. Plan on about two to three weeks away from desk work (longer if your job is physical) and postponing strenuous workouts for four to six weeks. Early activity should be limited to short walks and light household tasks to keep blood moving without stressing the repair.
Your discharge packet will outline personalized instructions, which typically include:
- Staying slightly bent at the waist for the first few days to reduce tension
- Sleeping in a recliner or propped-up position
- Taking prescribed pain medication and antibiotics as directed
- Never skipping scheduled follow-up visits so we can monitor incision healing and remove drains on time
Follow these guidelines, and most swelling subsides within six weeks, with scars continuing to fade over the next 9–12 months.
Fleur-de-lis Tummy Tuck Results
Your new contour appears quickly most swelling recedes by six weeks but the skin, scars, and abdominal wall continue to refine for a full 12 months. Because the fleur-de-lis technique removes more tissue than any other tummy-tuck style, the eventual change can be profound, turning loose folds into a firm midsection and slimmer waist that many patients describe as life-changing.
Take the Next Step
If loose, excess skin still overshadows your weight-loss success, a fleur-de-lis tummy tuck may be the finishing touch you’ve been waiting for. To schedule a private consultation with NW Face & Body, call (425) 671-175 or click here. Our team will guide you through every detail from candidacy to financing so you can move forward with clarity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a fleur-de-lis tummy tuck worth it?
For patients with skin laxity above and below the navel, the vertical-plus-horizontal excision delivers a flatter abdomen and narrower waist that a traditional tuck cannot achieve, making the added scar worthwhile for most.
What is the difference between a tummy tuck and a fleur-de-lis?
A classic tummy tuck uses one low horizontal incision; a fleur-de-lis adds a vertical midline incision, allowing extra skin removal in the upper abdomen and greater waist contouring.
Who needs a fleur-de-lis tummy tuck?
People who have lost 75 lbs or more or who have significant vertical skin laxity from multiple pregnancies or prior surgery benefit most from the two-direction skin excision.
What is safer than a tummy tuck?
Less-invasive options such as mini tummy tuck (lower skin only) or liposuction alone involve smaller incisions and quicker recovery, but they cannot correct extensive excess skin above the navel.