Philadelphia Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
What Is a Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)?
A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is a surgical procedure that treats stretched abdominal skin and muscles through an incision along the lower abdomen. A tummy tuck sculpts a protruding belly by removing excess skin and tightening the abdominal wall muscles, flattening and shaping the abdomen. Liposuction is typically included to remove stubborn fat and refine the contour. A tummy tuck may also remove some abdominal stretch marks. The incision, and thus your scar, sits just above the pubic area so a swimsuit can hide it. Dr. R. Brannon Claytor, a Philadelphia plastic surgeon named one of America’s Best Plastic Surgeons by Newsweek in 2026, offers his Drainless Tummy Tuck at his Bryn Mawr practice on the Main Line.
and Tummy Tuck, 2026
If you are struggling with excess skin after weight loss or pregnancy, you have likely found that diet and exercise cannot eliminate it. Only plastic surgery can. Abdominoplasty removes excess skin and also treats abdominal bulging caused by separated abdominal muscles (diastasis recti), which is especially common after pregnancy. A tummy tuck is also often part of a mommy makeover, a customized set of procedures such as breast surgery, tummy tuck, and liposuction designed to help restore your pre-pregnancy shape.
More Than a Decade of Drainless Tummy Tucks
For many tummy tuck patients, surgical drains are the biggest worry about recovery. Dr. Claytor’s Drainless Tummy Tuck avoids them for most patients.
Dr. R. Brannon Claytor has performed the Drainless Tummy Tuck almost exclusively for more than ten years. His technique preserves a thin layer of Scarpa’s fascia, the tissue layer that carries much of the abdominal wall’s lymphatic drainage, so the body can clear fluid on its own. For most patients, that means no external drains, less early discomfort, and an easier return to daily routines. Individual results vary.
Dr. Claytor teaches the Scarpa’s fascia-sparing technique to other plastic surgeons at national meetings of The Aesthetic Society. You can read more in our blog, “4 Reasons to Choose a Drainless Tummy Tuck.”
Dr. R. Brannon Claytor
Dr. Claytor is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and holds over 20 years of experience as a cosmetic plastic surgeon. A teacher in the field of plastic surgery, he uses techniques like the Drainless Tummy Tuck and deep plane facelift designed to simplify recovery and create natural-looking, long-lasting results.
Tummy Tuck for Men: The Torso Tuck
Dr. Claytor fully customizes abdominoplasty surgery for men to preserve and enhance a trim, masculine physique. During a “torso tuck,” your abdominal muscles and skin will be tightened and excess skin removed. Dr. Claytor can also include liposuction or extended incisions, as needed, to address excess skin around the waist and stubborn fat deposits throughout the abdomen and lower back.
Tummy Tuck Patient Stories
In these audio stories, Dr. Brannon Claytor engages in heartfelt conversations with his tummy tuck patients, uncovering their plastic surgery experiences. From the day of surgery to their results months later, these stories provide a genuine portrayal of what it’s like to navigate the post-operative stages, spanning weeks, months, and beyond after a tummy tuck surgery.
What Patients Say About Their Tummy Tuck
Each patient in the recordings above agreed to share their story, and these excerpts are in their own words. We trimmed filler words, personal details, and a few sentence openings and endings.
“The recovery is not as bad as I expected. Certainly, having the drainless… was a major factor in my decision.”
Drainless Tummy Tuck patient, 44, two years after surgery
“I felt kind of ashamed of my body and just did not feel pretty. And after my procedure, now I’m confident I look great in all my clothes.”
Drainless Tummy Tuck patient, two years after surgery
“I was looking for someone who promised realistic results, who would be honest if something I was looking for wouldn’t work.”
Drainless Tummy Tuck patient, 44, two and a half weeks after surgery
Individual results vary.
Who Is a Good Candidate for a Tummy Tuck?
Good tummy tuck candidates have loose abdominal skin, stubborn fat, or separated abdominal muscles that diet and exercise have not corrected. Most are close to a stable goal weight, in good overall health, non-smokers or willing to stop smoking before and after surgery, and finished having children.
Many patients choose a tummy tuck after pregnancy or major weight loss from bariatric surgery. A tummy tuck is not a substitute for weight loss. Anyone planning to lose a significant amount of weight, and women planning more children, should wait before having a tummy tuck. Our blog explains how long to wait for a tummy tuck after a C-section. After major weight loss, loose skin often wraps around the flanks and back; in that case, Dr. Claytor may recommend a body lift instead, and our blog compares the tummy tuck vs. body lift. During your consultation, Dr. Claytor will discuss your goals and determine whether you are a candidate for surgery.
Three months after her Drainless Tummy Tuck, this patient tells Dr. Claytor why she chose him (his before-and-after photos were one reason) and why she chose to have surgery awake, as an outpatient. She also talks about taking high-intensity interval training classes.
Individual results vary.
Listen to more tummy tuck patient stories »
What Happens During Tummy Tuck Surgery?
A full tummy tuck procedure takes approximately three to four hours under general anesthesia. Dr. Claytor makes a low incision that a bikini can conceal, removes excess skin and fat, repairs separated abdominal muscles with sutures, and repositions the belly button. With the Drainless Tummy Tuck, most patients need no surgical drains.
During the tummy tuck procedure, you will be asleep under general anesthesia. The incision is usually placed along the lower abdomen, where a bikini can conceal the scar. First, Dr. Claytor will release the belly button from the excess skin. Second, he removes the excess skin and fat. Then, the abdominal muscles, which have typically been stretched, are pulled together and sutured for a firmer abdomen and narrower waist. After that, the separated flap of skin is then brought down over the newly tightened muscles, and the belly button brought up through a small incision in the skin.
Finally, he closes the incisions and places sterile surgical dressings over the sutured areas. If you are a good candidate for a Drainless Tummy Tuck, then you may not need to wear a drain during recovery.
View before and after photos of Dr. Claytor’s abdominoplasty patients.
*Individual results may vary.
Tummy Tuck Types: Full, Mini, and Drainless
There are several types of tummy tucks, including a drainless tummy tuck and mini tummy tuck. Dr. Claytor can help you determine which is best for your desired results.
Drainless Tummy Tuck
The Drainless Tummy Tuck is not just a standard tummy tuck without the use of drains; rather, it involves a unique surgical technique that leaves a thin layer of Scarpa’s fascia intact to allow for natural lymphatic drainage. This eliminates the need for cumbersome post-surgical drains.
One of the modifications to the classic tummy tuck procedure involves placing quilting sutures, or sparing the Scarpa’s fascia which has the most lymphatic drainage tissue in the abdominal wall deep to the skin.
Dr. Claytor teaches an advanced course on this Scarpa’s fascia-sparing abdominoplasty technique at national meetings for The Aesthetic Society. During this procedure, he carefully keeps Scarpa’s fascia intact so that this connective tissue may act as a lymphatic drainage system.
Dr. Claytor has published his own results. In a 2026 study of 350 consecutive cases in Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum, Dr. Claytor and colleagues reported a 2% seroma (fluid collection) rate using progressive tension sutures, minimal cautery, and preservation of Scarpa’s fascia. A separate study of 451 abdominoplasties at another surgery center found that seroma rates decreased after the center adopted progressive tension sutures without drains. Individual results vary.
Dr. Claytor’s technique also uses less cautery and discontinuous undermining, which help protect blood supply and reduce tissue trauma during healing.
Because the technique depends on precise surgical skill, experience matters: Dr. Claytor has performed it almost exclusively for more than ten years.
Video Transcript
Hi, Dr. Claytor here talking about the drainless tummy tuck and why this is significant and why so many patients are coming and asking about it. Well, here I have certificates of the last five years where I have taught this at the Aesthetic Society meeting. Why is this so significant? Well, patients are looking for faster recovery, better aesthetic results, and fewer complications. The drainless tummy tuck can help achieve that.
By preserving the body’s own lymphatic system, we’re able to achieve a drainless follow-up result — no drains necessary. Leave the lymphatic system intact and allow the body to train the lymphatics on its own. This is a cross-section. Up here is the skin, down here is the fascia or the muscles of the abdominal wall, and in between are the fat layer and blood vessels and Scarpa’s fascia. This middle layer here is Scarpa’s fascia and which carries a significant amount of the lymphatics of the abdominal wall.
The entire body has a very rich network of lymphatics and traditionally, or the traditional type abdominoplasty, tummy tuck, removed all of this and therefore removed the lymphatic drainage from the abdomen thus necessitating the need for drains. By preserving this layer we’re able to leave intact the lymphatic system of the abdominal wall. By doing this discontinuous undermining and liposuctioning, we’re able to thin that upper trunk and get a nice tight contoured high-definition liposuction. The lower abdomen section is removed.
Now you don’t want to leave any abdominal girth or thickness deep to Scarpa’s fascia so what’s done is liposuctioning of that layer where you go in and you liposuction out that area where you have a direct excision of it. But you maintain and keep that little thin layer’s Scarpa’s fascia which is as thick as a piece of paper or one of my certificates. That’s it, that’s the thickness so it’s not causing any abdominal girth or thickness or fullness but it’s maintaining your body’s own lymphatics which allow for internal drainage and avoid the need for drains in the postoperative period.
By preserving this lymphatic layer, we are able to achieve a drainless final result – highly sculpted, excellent aesthetics, no drains necessary.
Mini Tummy Tuck
A partial abdominoplasty, or a mini tummy tuck, is similar to abdominoplasty, but involves shorter incisions and is an overall less invasive procedure. A mini tummy tuck is best suited to patients whose loose skin and fat sit below the belly button. It typically leaves a shorter scar along the bikini line and involves a shorter recovery than a full tummy tuck.
Full tummy tuck or mini tuck – Which is right for me?
To help you decide which tummy tuck procedure is best to help you reach your goals, Dr. Claytor has made this video in which he explains the difference between a full tummy tuck and a mini tummy tuck, illustrates where the incisions will be placed, and explains how recovery will differ between the two:
Video transcript »
Dr. Claytor here. Many patients come in and ask about the difference between a full tummy tuck and a mini-tummy tuck. They want to know which one is better and if one has a faster recovery time. We’ll simplify it for you. If your issue spans your entire abdomen, you should consider a full tummy tuck. If the area of concern is from your belly button down to your Mons, then a mini tummy tuck is what you’re looking for.
A mini tummy tuck involves an incision that goes down to be hidden by underwear or a bikini. The dissection is done up but no further than the belly button. While a significant amount of tissue can be removed, the belly button stays attached to the abdominal wall, albeit possibly pulled down a bit. The excess skin is brought down and removed. Simultaneously, liposuction can be used to thin and contour the area below the umbilicus, improving the overall shape.
In some cases, individuals may have a bulge or pooch below the belly button due to rectus diastasis, where the abdominal muscles have separated. Repairing these muscles during a mini tummy tuck can flatten and improve the contour of the lower abdomen. Liposuction can also enhance body sculpting and contouring in this area.
A full abdominoplasty, on the other hand, involves a more extensive dissection, reaching up to access the rectus muscles that have separated. This procedure requires reconstructing the belly button as the tissue is lifted and a larger piece of tissue may be excised. The result is a more comprehensive transformation of the abdominal area.
Ultimately, the choice between a full and mini tummy tuck depends on your specific needs and goals. It’s essential to have a conversation with your plastic surgeon to determine which option is best for you. Thanks so much!
SmartLipo vs. a Tummy Tuck
If your goal is to trim down your abdominal profile so that less bulging is visible in clothes, a SmartLipo procedure under local anesthesia or a liposuction procedure in the hospital may be exactly what you are looking for. Compared to a tummy tuck, this fat reduction procedure involves less cost, making it desirable for many patients. When loose skin or separated muscles are part of the concern, Dr. Claytor recommends a tummy tuck.
Tummy Tuck with Liposuction
Video Transcript
I’m Dr. Brannon Claytor, board-certified plastic surgeon. I’d like to talk to you about the tummy tuck operation with concomitant liposuction. Here the suction areas are marked on the abdomen to ensure and maximize abdominal contours and definition. The tumescent fluid is injected into the abdomen, and then the liposuction is performed. You can see here the fat being withdrawn, which is allowing for the skin to be contracted. The red and blue represent blood vessels. Suction area 4 is the abdominoplasty portion to be removed. The central area is dissected down to the rectus fascia; laterally, the scarpa’s fascia is left intact to allow for lymphatic drainage. The upper flap is elevated up to the level of the xiphoid. Additional liposuction of the upper flap is performed. Cross sectional analysis of this demonstrates reduction of the fat in this area with protection of the blood vessels to improve wound healing. The rectus diastasis is repaired with sutures. If the scarpa’s fascia is still full on the inferior aspect, additional liposuction can be performed to de-bulk this area and minimize the contours. The green areas represent the intact lymphatics that are left in scarpa’s fascia. Excess scarpa’s fascia is excised superiorly to improve abdominal contour. The flap is advanced to closure and the umbilicus is delivered and inset. This has been a demonstration of tummy tuck with concomitant liposuction. I’m Dr. Brannon Claytor, board-certified plastic surgeon. I hope you found this 3D animation helpful as you explore your options for abdominal rejuvenation.
When Will I See My Tummy Tuck Results?
Most patients notice a flatter abdomen right away, although swelling hides the final shape at first. Most patients see their settled tummy tuck results over several months as swelling fades and the scar matures. Dr. Claytor’s goal is a natural-looking abdomen that suits your frame. With a stable weight, results are long-lasting; pregnancy or significant weight gain can change them. Muscle repair is why a tummy tuck does more than its name implies. Individual results vary.
“My tummy tuck with hernia repair journey began by sending an email through the website. I received a response that same day. I felt the initial communication was very straightforward, and that was helpful. I was extremely nervous for the consult but as soon as I met Dr. Claytor all my concern went away. He has an amazing bedside manner and way of making you feel comfortable with him. Once my surgery was booked the rest of the team took over and they were amazing! Every person I dealt with was so kind and supportive. There wasn’t a question or concern that I didn’t receive an immediate response to with kindness. I felt prepared each step of the way leading up to my surgery. Everything the team or Dr. Claytor said would happen did, and I was so thankful. My recovery through to my office visits have been thorough and thoughtful. This was a major procedure for me and not having to worry about anything but healing and loving the new me is something I will forever be grateful to Dr. Claytor and his team for.”
Tummy Tuck Recovery: What to Expect
Most tummy tuck patients return to work within one to two weeks and resume exercise gradually after four to six weeks, once Dr. Claytor clears each step. Expect swelling, bruising, and soreness at first. You will wear a compression garment for several weeks, as directed, and avoid heavy lifting and strenuous activity until you are cleared. Most Drainless Tummy Tuck patients have no drains to empty at home or remove at follow-up visits. Dr. Claytor personally calls each patient before and after surgery, and every patient receives a step-by-step recovery plan. Recovery experience varies from patient to patient. For more ways to prepare, see our guide to optimizing your recovery.
Tummy Tuck Recovery in Our Patients’ Words
Dr. Claytor recorded these conversations between nine days and three months after surgery. Many patients describe a recovery close to the timeline above. One found it harder than expected, and that account is here too.
The first week. “The first week was hard. I mean, I was having some pain, but I was back to work within the first week.”
Drainless Tummy Tuck patient, 50, three months after surgery
Days four and five. “You [Dr. Claytor] had said that the first three days were the hardest ones, and then it was funny how the fourth and fifth I just started feeling better and better.”
Drainless Tummy Tuck patient, 52, nine days after surgery
Past the first week. “I was in a little bit of pain just the first week, and then ever since then I really haven’t had much pain or swelling.”
Drainless Tummy Tuck patient, 29, two months after surgery
When it’s harder than expected. “…The recovery period was definitely harder than I realized it was going to be.”
Drainless Tummy Tuck patient, 63, six weeks after surgery
Individual results vary. Every patient receives a step-by-step recovery plan, and Dr. Claytor clears each new activity before you start it.
View before and after photos of Dr. Claytor’s abdominoplasty patients.
Tummy Tuck Risks and Side Effects
Every surgery carries risk. In addition to the general risks of surgery and anesthesia, tummy tuck risks include bleeding (hematoma), fluid collection (seroma), infection, poor wound healing, skin numbness, asymmetry, visible scarring, loose skin, and the possible need for revision surgery.
In your personal consultation with Dr. Claytor, he will review your medical history, including any medications, as well as any allergies or past surgeries you have had in order to minimize the risk of complications.
Following your post-operative instructions closely helps reduce the risk of complications. These precautions may include avoiding certain activities, taking prescribed medication, keeping the surgical site clean and dry, and attending your follow-up appointments.
“The experience with Dr. Claytor has been nothing but excellent, both the people and the results. He evaluates each and every patient. I respect those doctors who are on-time appointments. His amazing staff is just wonderful; kudos to Debbie, Emily and Heather. Night before my surgery, Dr. Claytor personally called me to answer any final questions and calm my anxiety about the procedures. When I got home, he called to check on me. I would recommend Dr. Claytor and his entire staff! You’ve changed my life for the better!”
Tummy Tuck Cost in Philadelphia
The cost of a tummy tuck in Philadelphia depends on whether you need a full or mini tummy tuck, muscle repair, or added liposuction. Your quote includes three parts: the surgeon’s fee, the hospital or surgery center fee, and the anesthesia fee. Dr. Claytor’s team provides a personalized quote after your consultation at our Bryn Mawr office. Financing options are available to spread the cost into monthly payments; see the practice for terms.
- Key Benefits
- Glossary
- Repair of diastasis recti: A tummy tuck surgically repairs diastasis recti (separation of abdominal muscles), restoring a smoother and firmer abdominal profile.
- Removal of excess skin: Abdominoplasty eliminates loose, sagging skin, often resulting from significant weight loss or pregnancy.
- Improved clothing fit: Patients often experience a better fit and more comfort with clothing and swimwear due to the reduced waistline and flatter abdomen.
- Removal of stretch marks: Although not its primary goal, the procedure can reduce or eliminate stretch marks located on the excised skin.
- Hernia repair: A tummy tuck can sometimes aid in the correction of ventral hernias, by strengthening the abdominal wall.
- Improved posture: The tightened abdominal muscles can provide better support to the spine, contributing to improved posture and potential relief from certain types of back pain.
Abdominoplasty: The medical term for a tummy tuck, a surgical procedure that removes excess fat and skin from the abdomen.
Diastasis Recti: A condition where the large abdominal muscles separate, commonly occurring during pregnancy.
Endoscopic Surgery: A less invasive surgical technique utilizing small instruments and cameras to perform the procedure.
Hematoma: A collection of blood outside of blood vessels that might occur after surgery.
Incision: The cut made in the skin during surgery.
Intravenous Sedation: Medication administered through the veins to help patients relax during the procedure.
Liposuction: A procedure often performed in conjunction with a tummy tuck to remove excess fat.
Modified Tummy Tuck: A less extensive form of tummy tuck for individuals with minimal excess skin and fat.
Muscle Tightening: The process of suturing separated abdominal muscles together during abdominoplasty.
Recovery Period: The time it takes for a patient to heal post-surgery.
Seroma: Accumulation of serous fluid that may occur in the area where tissue has been removed.
Skin Elasticity: The skin’s ability to return to its original form after being stretched.
Skin Excision: The surgical removal of skin.
Sutures: Stitches used to hold body tissues together after an incision or injury.
Underlying Muscle Repair: Correction of muscle separation or weakness as part of the tummy tuck procedure.
Umbilicus: The navel or belly button; often repositioned during a tummy tuck.
VASER Lipo: A type of ultrasound-assisted liposuction often used in conjunction with tummy tuck procedures.
Tummy Tuck Alternatives: Non-Surgical Options
There are several non-surgical and minimally invasive procedures for improving abdominal contours and reducing fat and tightening skin around the stomach area. These procedures typically incorporate cryolipolysis (fat-freezing), radiofrequency, or ultrasound technologies.
Non-surgical fat reduction treatments are ideal for patients who want to reduce stubborn fat without the risks and recovery associated with surgical procedures. The benefits of non-surgical fat reduction include:
- Short recovery
- No anesthesia
- No incisions or scars
- Shorter treatment sessions
- Typically mild side effects
Non-surgical body contouring is a convenient way to improve your look by firming skin or reducing a fat bulge. However it should be noted that the effects of such procedures are typically mild, sometimes unpredictable, and not all patients are good candidates for these treatments.
For the typical patient seeking to address excess fat or skin sagging on the abdomen, a surgical approach typically produces more noticeable results. This is because a surgeon can customize their technique to thoroughly address the patient’s individual concerns and sculpt a shape that enhances the patient’s overall figure. Tummy tuck surgery can reduce stretch marks, improve belly button shape, emphasize hourglass curves, and address other details to achieve a more attractive abdomen, whereas non-surgical technology cannot yet adequately address such details.
Furthermore, because multiple non-surgical treatments are often needed to achieve satisfying results, it often ends up resulting in a total cost similar to that of a surgical tummy tuck.
Dr. Claytor evaluates a patient based on RealSelf photos
Video Transcript
Hi, I’m Dr. Claytor. Welcome to Claytor Noone Plastic Surgery. We’re answering RealSelf-questions today. Here’s a patient who, ten years after pregnancy, is very frustrated with the excess skin and stretch marks on her abdomen. There’s a lateral, here’s an oblique photograph, and you can see she’s pinching, and what that means is she has a lot of extra skin.
So, somebody talking to her about doing a CoolSculpting or a SculpSure treatment for this is not going to be able to treat that excess skin. That’s really an excisional procedure to remove that skin and tighten the lower abdomen. Here we are, looking at her from straight on, and you can see she has a significant amount of striae. This is something that we can improve a little bit with the Fraxel laser, and we can lighten this, and there’s some different laser techniques that we can do to improve this, but to truly treat this would be an incision across the lower abdomen and then down just above the pubis area to remove this skin and then re-drape and lower the abdomen, providing a tummy tuck procedure or an abdominoplasty.
Now, a lot of times when you do this procedure, people talked about using drains in the post-operative period. You don’t have to do that, and you can use the scarpas-sparing abdominoplasty, or simply stated, you can leave certain anatomic parts of the abdominal wall which help with lymphatic drainage and clearing out any sort of excess fluid that can be left over after any tummy tuck procedure. I can’t really tell from her photographs here, but it would seem that she could have a full tummy tuck which would give her the best results.
Where Will My Tummy Tuck Scars Be?
Full tummy tuck scars are placed along the base of the abdomen, just above the pubis, from hip bone to hip bone. There will also be a small scar hidden within the folds of the navel (umbilicus). Mini tummy tuck scars are typically shorter in length and do not include a belly button scar.
Tummy tuck scar revision
Dr. Claytor uses advanced suturing techniques and provides recovery protocols that are meant to help your scar heal to a fine, faint line over time. However, some patients may require a scar revision surgery or scar treatment with laser or microneedling to help improve its appearance (read about Dr. Claytor’s award-winning research on this topic here). In the video below, Dr. Claytor shares a scar revision case with one of his patients who is one year post-op from her abdominoplasty.
Video Transcript
Hi! Here we are, Dr. Claytor, at Claytor Noone Plastic Surgery. We do a tremendous number of tummy tucks, and sometimes there’s a little bit of a scar that could benefit from a revision. So, we’re gonna mark our lovely patient here who’s come back in. She’s about a year out from her tummy tuck, and we’re gonna do a little revision here. You can see down here on her belly how great her abdomen looks. She had a modified float tummy tuck with re-inset of her belly button, and the scar here looks spectacular, which is what we’re going to try and revise this area here to look like. We’re just gonna excise this a little bit here; right here we’re gonna go along here and here. That’s a little bit that we will revise and close up with absorbable sutures, and then some tape and some Steri-strips and mastisol to keep the wound closed. In supplementing the sutures that we put in, which will be absorbable sutures underneath the skin. She’s very active, and so we’ll be able to let her get back to her running in about a week or so.
So here we can see the wound is very well reapproximated. Let’s just swing around here and get a shot on that away. Good. And so you can see the wound edges are well approximated, nice thin edges, and what we do now is we put on some mastisol, which is a product that helps the steri-strips stay adherent. That goes on like such. We dry that. Dry, dry, dry. Then we take our steri-strips and make it applied right over the wound as such. And so this will help with healing, and then afterward she has signed up for the IRB study for micro-needling, which will also help the scar healing. And she’s going to be able to get this wet as early as tomorrow and let water run over this and jump in the shower and slowly get back to regular activities.
Tummy Tuck FAQs
Why Choose Dr. Claytor for Your Tummy Tuck?
Double board-certified plastic surgeon
Chief of the Division of Plastic Surgery, Main Line Health
Board member, The Aesthetic Society
Philadelphia Magazine Top Doctor, ten consecutive years (2017–2026)
Named one of America’s Best Plastic Surgeons by Newsweek (2026)
Performs the Drainless Tummy Tuck, designed for recovery without surgical drains
Teaches the Scarpa’s fascia-sparing technique at national meetings of The Aesthetic Society
Published a 350-case study of his drainless technique (2026)
Surgery in his private, on-site AAAHC-accredited suite, with Main Line Health hospital options
R. Brannon Claytor, MD, FACS (Fellow of the American College of Surgeons), is a double board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in abdominal aesthetic surgery. He has taught the advanced drainless abdominoplasty course at national meetings of The Aesthetic Society for more than ten years.
Dr. Claytor has performed the Drainless Tummy Tuck at his Bryn Mawr practice for more than a decade, and his published series covers 350 consecutive cases. His Drainless Tummy Tuck aims for a more comfortable recovery.
During your personal consultation, Dr. Claytor will assess your needs and will guide you in determining whether you will need an extended tummy tuck, a mini tummy tuck, or a reverse tummy tuck to achieve your goals.
“I went in to see Dr Claytor for diastasis recti, but then I also decided on a mommy tuck and I must say it was so worth it. As confident as I may seem I always had some insecurities. Especially under my breast, my muscles must have spread out dramatically during pregnancy and going to the gym never fixed it, if anything it made it more noticeable… But this procedure definitely blew up my confidence in my abdominal area and the mommy tuck made my curves even better. I can’t say how happy I am with the result. Mama is looking even sexier. All I can say is trust the process, through out this journey I was mentally prepared and physically willing to except all the changes that came my way. And it was all worth it!”
To plan your Philadelphia tummy tuck, schedule a consultation with Dr. Claytor at our Bryn Mawr office. Call (610) 527-4833 or request a consultation online. You can also view tummy tuck before-and-after photos or read our body contouring blogs. Our office serves patients from Philadelphia, Bryn Mawr, the Main Line, and surrounding areas. Individual results vary.
References »
Claytor RB, Fuentes PM, Tolan GC, Karon M. Drainless Lipoabdominoplasty Using Progressive Tension Sutures, Scarpa’s Fascia Preservation, and Minimal Cautery in 350 Consecutive Cases. Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum. 2026;8:ojag023.
Shermak MA. Abdominoplasty with Combined Surgery. Clinics in Plastic Surgery. 2020 Jul;47(3):365-377. doi: 10.1016/j.cps.2020.02.001.
Tummy Tuck: Who is a good candidate for tummy tuck surgery? American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
Pollock TA, Pollock H. Progressive tension sutures in abdominoplasty: a review of 597 consecutive cases. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2012 Aug;32(6):729-42. doi: 10.1177/1090820X12452294. Epub 2012 Jun 29. Erratum in: Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2012 Sep;32(7):910.
Luis H. Macias, Edwin Kwon, Daniel J. Gould, Michelle A. Spring, W. Grant Stevens, Decrease in Seroma Rate After Adopting Progressive Tension Sutures Without Drains: A Single Surgery Center Experience of 451 Abdominoplasties Over 7 Years, Aesthetic Surgery Journal, Volume 36, Issue 9, October 2016, Pages 1029–1035, https://doi.org/10.1093/asj/sjw040
Areas Served
Medically reviewed by Dr. R. Brannon Claytor — Updated on Sep 29, 2026