Q. What happens during surgery? A. A Beverly Hills Tummy Tuck usually takes about two hours. During the procedure, you'll be under general (not local) anesthesia. After marking exactly where the incision will be made-above the pubic bone to just below the hip area- an incision is made, a flap of skin is lifted, and excess skin is removed. The muscles are tightened, using numerous sutures (which later dissolve by themselves), and the belly button is brought out through a new opening in a new location. Finally, all the incisions are closed with more sutures. Photo courtesy of Jim Mutter, Director of Plastic Surgeon Marketing for Spore Medical