Abdominoplasty / Tummy Tuck

Abdominoplasty, commonly known as a tummy tuck, is an operation to remove excess skin and fat from the abdomen or tummy. Sometimes conditions are inherited but the majority of patients opting to have this procedure are women who, post pregnancy, are unhappy with the effects that childbirth has had on their body shape and appearance. Another common reason for undergoing this form of surgery is drastic weight loss and the need to reduce consequential loose skin. From diets and exercise to gastric band surgery, many individuals are left with unwanted excess skin as a result of their weight loss; this can be corrected by having an abdominoplasty. This procedure is ever growing in popularity amongst men also.

The surgeon usually requires patients to be within several pounds of their ideal weight to avoid the need for secondary procedures, such as liposuction, in the future.

Surgery consultation

All patients wishing to undergo the abdominoplasty procedure will be expected to have a consultation with the surgeon performing the operation. This consultation provides a chance for the patient and surgeon to discuss individual needs and expectations in order to clarify realistic goals. Any questions that the patient may have can also be answered during this process.

Surgery procedure

This operation is carried out under general anaesthesia and requires a two or three night post operative stay in hospital. The surgery itself usually takes between 2-3 hours to complete.

• An incision across the abdomen which usually results in a scar within or just above the pubic area
• The size of the incision and level of scarring will depend on the individual and the amount of skin that is to be removed
• If there is loose skin above the navel, the surgeon may make a second incision around the navel
• Abdominal skin is pulled downwards, and the excess is removed
• A small opening is made to bring the navel through
• The procedure may include tightening of the underlying abdominal muscles using sutures

The surgeon will discuss all of the above details and inform of any individual variations relevant with their patient before the operation.

Risks

Patients will be informed in detail of all of the potential abdominoplasty complications and will be required to sign consent forms.

Risks include:

• Bleeding (hematoma)
• Infection
• Fluid accumulation
• Poor wound healing
• Blood clots
• Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
• Anesthesia risks
• Skin discoloration and/or prolonged swelling
• Fatty tissue found deep in the skin might die (fat necrosis)
• Major wound separation
• Asymmetry
• Recurrent looseness of skin
• Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
• Persistent swelling in the legs
• Nerve damage
• Possibility of revisional surgery
• Suboptimal aesthetic result

However, these risks are rare and regulatory pre-operation checks are carried out in order to reduce and prevent these conditions from materialising. Patients are also provided with a course of antibiotics as a precautionary measure after surgery.

Cost - £4,500 - £7,500

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