Best Tummy Tuck Surgeons in San Francisco (2025 Guide)

Updated November 2025

Considering a tummy tuck in San Francisco? Choosing the right surgeon is the most important step toward a flatter, firmer abdomen and a smooth recovery. Abdominoplasty can remove excess skin and fat and repair separated muscles, but long-lasting, natural results depend on precise planning, careful incision placement, and an accredited surgical setting. This editorial guide explains how we evaluate surgeons, what to expect from surgery and recovery, and the safety standards that matter—so you can move confidently from research to consultation.

How We Chose the Best Tummy Tuck Surgeons in San Francisco

• Board certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery with active professional involvement
• Robust before-and-after portfolio for abdominoplasty across body types, including post-pregnancy and post-weight-loss cases
• Patient experience markers such as clear expectation-setting, consistent reviews, and transparent consent and revision policies
• Accredited facilities with qualified anesthesia providers
• Depth of technique across full, mini, extended, and circumferential lifts, plus lipo-abdominoplasty when appropriate
• Safety-first philosophy with evidence-based DVT prevention, infection control, and meticulous layered closure for scar quality

Top Tummy Tuck Surgeons in San Francisco

Dr. Migue Delgado, MD — San Francisco

Specialty: Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), mommy makeover, hip enhancement About: With decades in practice and board certification in plastic surgery, Dr. Delgado focuses on proportionate contouring and careful soft-tissue handling. His approach combines precise muscle repair, thoughtful scar placement, and measured liposuction to refine the waistline while protecting blood supply and promoting predictable healing.
Known for: Comprehensive abdominoplasty planning and natural, proportional midsection results
Location: San Francisco
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Dr. Kenneth Bermudez, MD, FACS — San Francisco

Specialty: Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), mommy makeover, breast enhancement
About: A board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon with extensive experience, Dr. Bermudez emphasizes core tightening, tailored skin removal, and contour refinement to restore a flatter, firmer abdomen. Patients value his detailed consultations, individualized plans, and attentive follow-up throughout recovery.
Known for: Patient-specific abdominal wall repair and waistline contouring in accredited settings
Location: San Francisco
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What to Expect from a Tummy Tuck in San Francisco

Average Cost of Tummy Tuck in San Francisco

Totals vary based on the type of tummy tuck (mini vs. full vs. extended), whether liposuction is added, surgeon experience, operating time, and anesthesia and facility fees. Many patients can expect an all-in figure in the mid- to upper five-figure range. Request a written, itemized quote that includes surgeon, facility, anesthesia, garments, and follow-ups.

Recovery & Results Timeline

Days one to three:
Anticipate swelling, tightness, and a slightly forward-bent posture. Walk short distances to reduce clot risk, keep incisions clean and dry, and wear compression as directed.

Week one:
Pain and fatigue improve with medication and rest. Many patients need help at home for the first several days. Drains are common and often removed within one to two weeks, depending on your surgeon’s protocol.

Weeks two to four:
Bruising fades and mobility increases; you’ll stand more upright. Desk work often resumes around two to three weeks, depending on energy and job demands. Continue compression and begin scar care as instructed.

Weeks six to eight:
Gradual return to fuller activities and light exercise with surgeon clearance. Scar maturation begins to soften and lighten.

Three to six months:
Contours refine as residual swelling resolves. Final results continue to improve as scars mature over nine to twelve months with diligent sun protection and care.

Extended Risks and Safety Considerations

Common, usually temporary
Swelling, bruising, discomfort, tightness, and temporary numbness around the lower abdomen.

Less common
Seroma (fluid collection), hematoma, delayed wound healing (particularly at the T-junction), minor asymmetries, contour irregularities, hypertrophic or widened scars, and pigment changes along the incision.

Technique-specific points

• Muscle repair (diastasis): Tightening the rectus muscles flattens the core but may increase early tightness. Cough support and early ambulation are important.
• Lipo-abdominoplasty: When liposuction is combined, expect additional swelling and bruising but potentially enhanced waist definition; energy devices should be used judiciously to protect perfusion.
• Umbilicus: Methods for creating and insetting the belly button influence scar visibility and contour.
• Mini vs. extended: Mini procedures address skin below the navel; extended or circumferential lifts treat flank and back laxity but increase scar length and operative time.

Serious but rare
Deep venous thrombosis/pulmonary embolism, significant bleeding, skin necrosis in areas of high tension or compromised perfusion, and infections requiring operative management. Risk rises with smoking, uncontrolled comorbidities, and very long combined procedures.

Risk reducers you should insist on

• Board-certified surgeon operating in an accredited facility
• Structured DVT prevention tailored to your risk (early ambulation is essential)
• Meticulous hemostasis and drain use when indicated
• Tension-managed, layered closure and thoughtful incision mapping for concealability
• Clear medication guidance (pause agents that increase bleeding; absolute nicotine avoidance)
• Realistic informed consent covering scar trajectory, swelling duration, activity restrictions, and the possibility of revisions

Candidacy considerations Ideal candidates are healthy, non-smoking adults at a stable goal weight with realistic expectations about scars and downtime. If future pregnancy or major weight change is planned, timing surgery accordingly helps preserve results.

Tummy Tuck Safety and Accreditation

Why board certification matters Board certification signals accredited training, rigorous examinations, and ongoing peer oversight—your baseline for competence and safety.

Facility accreditation AAAASF, AAAHC, or Joint Commission accreditation indicates standardized safety protocols, anesthesia oversight, and emergency readiness.

Modern safety practices DVT risk stratification, careful fluid and temperature management, conservative cautery near perforators, drain strategy when appropriate, and evidence-based postoperative protocols.

Red flags to avoid Non-accredited facilities, rushed or sales-driven consultations, vague or changing pricing, promises of “scarless” tummy tucks, or reluctance to discuss risks and revisions.

FAQs

What is the average cost of a tummy tuck in San Francisco?
Expect a broad range depending on procedure extent, liposuction add-ons, and facility and anesthesia fees. Ask for an itemized, all-in quote.

How long is recovery?
Plan for two to three weeks before desk work, six to eight weeks before broader activity, and several months for swelling to resolve and scars to mature.

Who is a good candidate?
Healthy non-smokers at a stable weight with abdominal skin laxity or muscle separation and realistic goals about scars and downtime.

What’s the difference between a mini and a full tummy tuck?
A mini addresses loose skin below the navel with a shorter incision; a full includes muscle repair and skin tightening above and below the navel, with belly-button reshaping.

Can a tummy tuck be combined with other procedures?
Yes. Many patients pair abdominoplasty with liposuction or breast surgery as part of a mommy makeover. Your surgeon will advise whether combining or staging is safer for you.

Nearby Cities for Tummy Tuck Surgery

Looking outside San Francisco? Consider San Jose, Oakland, and Sacramento—large Bay Area markets with experienced body-contouring specialists.

Find Your Match

Our free concierge service connects you with board-certified tummy tuck specialists in the Bay Area. Tell us your goals and timeline, and we’ll help you compare safe options.