Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

An Abdominoplasty operation tightens the abdomen. Sometimes the abdomen is lax, or pouchy, all over; or more often, just the lower part is the problem, with the upper part quite flat. So the operation can be adjusted to deal with whatever part you want tightened. If the extra skin is down low then only a lower incision or scar is needed. If skin above the umbilicus needs to be tightened, then you will also have to have a scar around the umbilicus. When the skin is lifted up, the underlying muscle will be tightened separately as well as the skin.

Basically there are a variety of operations, with increasing complexity and involvement, giving more tightening and bigger results.

The least amount of surgery is to have suction only, which effectively reduces the amount of fat, and so the amount of pouching, but cannot tighten the muscle wall or the skin, but leaves just a hidden small scar.

With a small low incision, the skin and fat can be lifted up and the muscle tightened and the skin pulled down and tightened. With a bigger incision, including one around the umbilicus, the entire anterior abdominal wall can be lifted, all the muscles tightened, and all of the skin pulled down tight. This is a much bigger operation, with more risks, but can give a better result.

The risks involved are proportional to the amount of surgery. The bigger the scar the greater the risk of bleeding, fluid formation, and skin loss. There will be numbness for months, and swelling for many weeks. The biggest problem is always the scar. The longer the scar, the more smoothing you can have, but the more you can see the scar in bikinis and high-cut bathing suits. The shorter the scar, the more the scar is hidden, but the less smoothing there is and the more folds of skin can be seen. You have to make a decision as to whether folds or the scar is more important.

The operation is done with you asleep, at the hospital, as day-surgery. You will need two weeks to heal before going back to work or exercising.