Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)
The Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) procedure removes excess skin from the abdomen which will have usually resulted from weight loss or pregnancy. It does leave a scar which is hidden in the waist and also a very discrete scar around the umbilicus. The rectus muscles are tightened together in order to enhance a narrower waist. This can be combined with liposuction to the flanks in order to decrease the lateral zones and provides the optimum way to deal with diet resistant excess skin.
Abdominoplasty usually involves a 2 night stay
Liposuction around the love handle area was combined with abdominoplasty to restore this patient’s abdominal contour
This patient had both a midline laparotomy scar and caesarian section scar which was pulling causing a W shaped fold. These were removed along with the skin excess to show this result at two months
Although this patient had a large divarification, her skin was too tight for a full closure, necessitiating a small vertical scar just above the pubic hairline
This patient had a large muscle divarification and umbilical hernia repaired with her abdominoplasty
‘This patient was very slender so skin removal achieved with a floating umbilical technique’
Fleur de Lys Abdominoplasty
For post-bariatric (massive weight loss) patients who have had a gastric band or bypass procedure, the volume of skin excess may be in both horizontal and vertical directions. In this case a Fleur de Lys pattern of excision is required where the scar is shaped like an upside-down letter T.Examples of this procedure and the more extensive belt lipectomy are shown in the Massive Weight Loss Surgery section.
Each patient will require individualised evaluation to see which is the best procedure in their case.
This patient had complicated previous surgical scars in the upper abdomen with tethering, reshaped with 3.7kg of tissue removal
This patient had lost 4 stone with a severe overhang to the pubic zone requiring a further 5lb of tissue removal
General FAQs
Am I suitable for a tummy tuck?
An abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) is usually suited for someone who has had children and completed their family. We can then remove the skin excess and repair any split in the rectus(six-pack)muscles. It’s also used for large weight loss to remove the resultant empty skin. Depending on how loose your skin is will decide whether the standard pattern or Fleur de Lys pattern will be required.
Can the work be undone?
Subsequent pregnancies or weight changes can undo the benefits of this surgery causing the skin to become loose
How long is recovery?
We would expect that you should be able to resume heavy lifting and full activity by six weeks but until then to take things gently at first. It’s normal that stretching backwards would be tender and also there may be small lumps along the scar line which will shrink over a few months. A small permanent numb patch above the middle of the scar is normal.