Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

Abdominoplasty or ‘tummy tuck’, is a procedure performed on patients who are not overweight but sometimes have problem areas like bulging stomachs, or loose, folded skin around the abdomen. It is very common for people who have lost weight, sometimes following pregnancy, to have excess skin that cannot be resolved by dieting. People may notice weakness in their abdominal muscles that is not changed through exercise. Abdominoplasty treats these problems by removing extra skin and fatty tissue and tightening the abdominal muscles. Stretch marks on the lower abdomen are also removed and/or made less conspicuous.

It is extremely important to be aware that this surgery is not a means of losing weight and is not a substitute for eating healthily and exercising. The surgeon will discuss this with you at the consultation. This is a major operation and it will take some time to fully recover.

The procedure is performed under general anaesthetic and requires a 1 or 2 night stay in the Hospital. A long, horizontal incision is made just above the pubic area, extending out to below the hip bones on each side. The skin and fatty tissue of the anterior abdomen are separated from the underlying muscle and supportive tissues. The underlying muscles are then tightened, the umbilicus is separated from the skin and left attached to the abdominal wall. The excess skin and fatty tissues are then pulled downwards and removed and the umbilicus is relocated to a more favourable position. Small plastic drains are placed beneath the skin for the first 24 hours and a firm elasticated dressing is applied to the abdominal wall.