This time of year, smooth stomachs are the hottest accessory around.
"When I mentioned to my son, oh I'm gonna get a bikini, he said, 'Oh that's so gross!'" said Doris Gray.
Fifty-seven-year-old Doris won't wear a two-piece, but she is proud of her tummy after dropping two sizes.
Dr. Matthew Schulman gave Doris a smooth tuck. It's for those who aren't thin enough for the traditional tummy tuck.
"A tummy tuck is a skin operation and a muscle operation, so ideally the patients are skinny, have just loose skin and muscles that are weak from pregnancies and changes in weight. Unfortunately, that wasn't the majority of patients. Most of my patients were coming in, and they were 20 to 30 pounds overweight like the majority of Americans," said Dr. Schulman.
In the new procedure the surgeon removes two-to-three liters of fat then takes off excess skin. But no muscles are cut.
"Since I'm not doing any muscle repair, the recovery is much, much quicker," said Dr. Schulman.
Smooth tuck patients are back to work in one week instead of two and can resume normal activities in three weeks instead of six. Patients typically lose up to 10 pounds and two-to-three inches around the waist. The total cost, $8,000. Meghan Redfield says it was worth it.
"I've had three children by three C-sections in four years. I've been working out, and I've been running and the weight after the third just really isn't coming off," she said.
She lost three inches around her waist, and, like Doris, gained confidence.
"I guess it's vanity, but it made me happy, and I decided to make me happy," she said.
Dr Schulman only recommends this surgery for women who are finished having children. Compared to a traditional tummy tuck, this is about $2,000 less.
So far, Dr. Schulman is the only cosmetic surgeon offering the procedure. He's located in New York.
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