Tummy Tuck Facts
Medical Name: Abdominoplasty
Common Name:Tummy Tuck
Estimated Cost: €4,000 to €8,000
Type of Anesthesia: General
Length of Procedure: 2-5 hours
Time in Hospital: 3-5 days
Down Time: 2-4 weeks
Recovery Time: 4-6 weeks
Discomfort Level: Moderate to severe, controlled with pain medication.
General complications: bruising, swelling and bleeding
Procedure Location: Hospital or surgery center
Individuals with excess abdominal skin and fat may be candidates for abdominoplasty. Abdominoplasty
cosmetic surgery removes excess lower abdominal skin and fat and may also help improve contours, muscle weaknesses and some
abdominal scarring. There are various types of abdominoplasty, which in some instances, can be combined with liposuction to achieve a better cosmetic result.
Anaesthetic
General anaesthetic
Technique
In a standard abdominoplasty skin and fat between the umbilicus and pubic hair is removed. An incision is made above the pubic hair extending out towards the hips; another, incision is made around the umbilicus.
The abdominal wall skin and fat are freed off the underlying muscles and excess skin & fat from below the umbilicus is then pulled down and cut off. Weaknesses of abdominal wall muscles are repaired at the same time. Tubes are placed to remove excess fluid and the incision is stitched with dissolving stitches.
Other types of abdominoplasty use different skin incisions (usually in the same place but longer or shorter; occasionally a vertical midline incision may be used).
Abdominoplasty may be combined with liposuction to thin certain parts of the abdominal wall, particularly the hips and flanks. Liposuction may be done at the same time or as a separate procedure.
Length of operation - 2 - 5 hours
Time in hospital - 3 - 5 days
Postoperative discomfort/limitations
Abdominoplasty is a major procedure; significant postoperative discomfort is common - this is controlled with pain-relieving drugs. In the first few days after the operation the knees and hips should be kept bent to take the strain off the stitches.
Swelling and numbness of the abdominal wall for several weeks are common. Mobility is limited for 2 - 4 weeks; lifting and sports should be avoided for 6 - 8 weeks.
Abdominoplasty will not improve the appearance of the waist - if this is needed an additional vertical midline scar can be considered; this will be conspicuous - but if a scar is already present then it can be a used.
Abdominoplasty will not remove stretch marks above the umbilicus. The scar of an abdominoplasty is noticeable and long; the main scar runs horizontally across the lower abdomen - the surgeon tries to place the scar where it will be hidden by underwear - the placement of the scar should be discussed with the surgeon; it is not always possible to completely hide the scar.
There will be a scar around the umbilicus.
Secondary procedures are sometimes necessary to improve the results; this commonly involves tidying up scars and liposuction.
Time off work - 4 - 6 weeks
Risks and complications
General anaesthesia is safe; but in a tiny proportion caries a very small risk.
General complications: bruising, swelling and bleeding which may be heavy and need a blood transfusion and a return to the operating theatre to stop; chest and wound infections, unsatisfactory scarring.
Leg vein thrombosis (clot) - this is a particularly important complication and has been associated with death following abdominoplasty - part of the clot breaks of and gets lodged in the lung (pulmonary embolism), fortunately this complication is rare (0.04%).
Specific complications: Delayed wound healing, especially in midline where the stitching is tightest; umbilical loss; dog-ears (prominent folds of skin may be formed at the ends of any scar); bulging of skin and fat above the scar -because the tissue of the abdominal wall is generally fatter than that of the groin; seroma - a collection of fluid which forms when the skin and fat do not stick back down onto the muscles of the abdominal wall
Last Editorial Review: 22/2/2010
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