Abdominoplasty

A tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is a cosmetic surgical procedure to improve the shape of the abdominal area. The aim is to remove excess skin on the abdomen that cannot be removed by exercise, for example sagging skin caused by pregnancy or losing too much weight. As the procedure is usually recommended for people with a healthy body mass index, it is not recommended for weight loss.

There are two types of abdominoplasty and both are usually performed under general anesthesia.

Partial Abdominoplasty: a large incision is made along the lower abdomen, separating the skin from the abdominal wall below the belly button and removing excess fat and skin. The remaining skin is brought together and sutured with the help of sutures and the operation is terminated.

Total Abdominoplasty: a large incision is made along the lower abdomen just above the groin area and the belly button is separated from the skin. Subsequently, the skin is separated from the abdominal wall and the abdominal muscles are realigned. Excess fat and skin tissues are removed. A new hole is made for the belly button and the belly button is re-sutured. The remaining skin is brought together and sutured with the help of sutures and the operation is completed.

The operation may take between 2 and 5 hours. You usually need to stay in hospital for 2 or 3 nights.

When you wake up in your room after the operation, your abdomen will be dressed and an abdominal corset will be applied around your abdomen. You may have some pain after the surgery and painkillers and sometimes sleep-inducing medications are used to make this period more comfortable.

It takes about 6 weeks to fully recover and see the full effect of the tummy tuck. You will usually need to wear an abdominal corset for 6 weeks to encourage your skin to heal properly and reduce any swelling that may occur. During this time you need to stay calm and keep your knees bent in bed (V position) to avoid straining your stitches. After 6 weeks you can usually stop wearing the brace and return to most of your normal activities.

The risks of abdominoplasty surgery are excessive bleeding, embolism, infection and allergic reaction to anesthetic drugs (very rare). Your doctor will explain all the complications and risks of the surgery to you during your pre-operative consultation.