Abdominoplasty is the type of plastic surgery known as the "tummy tuck." It is a major surgical procedure, with often dramatic results.
A tummy tuck flattens the abdomen by not only removing excess fat and skin, but by tightening the muscles that form the abdominal wall. Plastic surgery of this type is particularly useful for women who, after having had children, have stretched-out abdominal muscles that no longer "bounce back." Patients who have lost a great deal of weight and lost their skin elasticity also benefit. This type of plastic surgery is not recommended for women who intend to have more children, since the muscles that are surgically tight can once again separate as the child and tummy grow.
Plastic surgery like this is not an alternative to weight loss. If you intend to lose a great deal of weight, you should wait to consider plastic surgery until you see how much (or little) your abdomen rebounds on its own.
Many of the people who feel most need a tummy tuck are, unfortunately, not going to get the results they desire from plastic surgery. People who carry most of their weight in their tummies usually have what is called visceral fat. Superficial or "white" fat can be removed by liposuction and during a tummy tuck, but the deepest layer of fat is called the visceral layer, or omentum; it surrounds the organs and its removal enterprises serious surgery that is only considered for critical health reasons, not for cosmetic purposes.
Unfortunately, the only way to remove visceral fat is through diet and exercise.