Tummy Tuck
Tummy Tuck
2-3 hours
Time
Day
Length
£6000
Starting price
What is a tummy tuck?
It is also known as abdominoplasty, Brazilian tummy tuck or mini-tummy tuck.
A tummy tuck is a surgical procedure to remove excess skin and fat from the lower abdomen to improve the shape and contour of your abdomen.
The procedure is usually combined with liposuction to reduce the abdomen, flanks, and upper abdominal areas as well as aid muscle repair and tightening in some cases.
Types of tummy tuck surgery
What is a Brazilian tummy tuck?
Some websites and social media use ‘Brazilian tummy tuck’ to refer to the combined standard tummy tuck with liposuction and a muscle tightening procedure. It is important for patients to understand that combining the three procedures does not guarantee the best results in every case as there may be no indication for muscle tightening or liposuction. Once a surgeon has examined the patient, they should be able to advise on the best course and combinations to use to achieve the desired aesthetic outcome.
What is a mini- tummy tuck?
A mini tummy tuck, also known as mini abdominoplasty, is a smaller version of tummy where the scars are limited to the pubic hair line area like CS scars. The belly button does not move and the amount of skin excised is less than that excised in a standard tummy tuck. Mini tummy tucks are less time consuming, easier, and quicker to recover from, and cost much less. Please be aware that they don’t suit every patient, so you will need a consultation to find out if this treatment is suitable for you.
Tummy tucks & liposuction
Do I need a tummy tuck or liposuction?
It is common for patients to get confused between these two surgeries. Studies shows that a third of patients attending abdominal liposuction procedures needed a tummy tuck. The key word here is the amount of excess redundant skin. If the patient has tight skin with no laxity or redundancy with good tone and no muscle weakness or separation, then a liposuction procedure may be enough.
However, if the patient suffers from excess skin and fat with muscle separation, possibly due to a previous pregnancy, then they may need tummy tuck with muscle repair.
Can you combine a tummy tuck with liposuction?
It is very common to combine a tummy tuck with liposuction and muscle repair at the same time. This combination improves the final cosmetic and functional outcomes as it helps narrow the waistline, strengthen the abdominal muscles, trim more skin, and cut down the costs and recovery time. Most of our patients opt to have them all done during the surgery.
About the surgery
How do you conduct a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty surgery?
A tummy tuck or abdominoplasty are moderate to major procedures done under general anaesthesia or at least TIVA which is a mild form of general anaesthesia.
The surgery involves an incision at the bikini line and just above the patients supra pubic hair. All surgeons aim to put their incision at a hidden skin crease. The skin and fat tissue are lifted off the abdominal wall muscles up to the upper abdomen. The belly button is transposed, muscles tightened with permanent or semi-permanent sutures and excess tissues excised.
In many cases, liposuction is also performed to contour the waist, hips, and flanks area. Once wounds are closed and drains inserted, dressings and garments are applied. Lastly, patients move to the recovery area for a few hours to recover before they move to their room before full discharge.
How painful is a tummy tuck?
It is normal to feel some discomfort and mild pain after any surgical procedure. Tummy tuck patients used to report an average pain score of 7 out of 10 in the first two nights after surgery. Thanks to the introduction of nerve blockers, this score has dropped to 4.5 out of 10 after a tummy tuck.
At Delta Clinics and partner hospitals, we don’t send our patients home before they have mobilised, eaten and drank and been to the toilet with some assistance. Most of our patients report tolerable pain after surgery.
Is a tummy tuck a big operation?
A tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is classified as a moderate to major surgery. It takes 2-3 hours on average. Patients need 3-5 days to be able to mobilise freely with confidence. If muscle repair was done at the same time, then patients would be encouraged to have longer period of rest to allow the muscles repair to heal and prevent any suture rupture.
About loose skin & muscle
Why does excess skin occur?
Excess skin is a normal product of our physiological evolution. With aging, skin becomes looser and weaker due to the loss in collagen and elastin fibres within. Healthy diet and regular exercises help slow down the process unless other factors such as weight gain and weight loss, pregnancy, and dietary issues take place. Tummy tuck surgery helps remove all this weak, excess skin successfully.
What is muscle weakness or diastasis?
Muscle weakness, also known as diastasis or divarication of recti or muscle separation, happens due to an increased gap between the recti muscles at the anterior part of the abdomen. This could be because of muscle weakness or stretch due to pregnancy or fat inside the abdomen.
How do I know if my tummy muscles are separated?
Separation of abdominal muscles, also known as diastasis or divarication of recti, occurs due to weakness in the muscle itself or increased intra-abdominal pressure due to internal visceral obesity or lumps or pregnancy.
The most common cause of abdominal muscle separation in women is pregnancy as the muscles stretch to accommodate the growing baby inside their mother’s womb. Unfortunately, some mothers do not restore their muscle strength after delivery, and they could be left with some gap between the muscles. This gap increases every time they become pregnant. Hence, doctors encourage mothers to train and exercise once they recovered from delivering their babies to improve the chances of their muscles gaining their strength and position back.
When you consider tummy tuck surgery, your surgeon will examine your muscle status as part of the standard examination of the abdomen. Therefore, they should be able to tell you immediately if you have any muscle separation or divarication.
Aftercare
What aftercare is needed after a tummy tuck?
Immediately after a tummy tuck surgery, patients are advised to mobilise and wear elastic stockings on their legs to prevent blood clots. Dressings should be left intact for few days after the surgery to minimise the risk of infection. If there are any drains, they will be removed within the first 24 to 48 hours after surgery. A change of dressings should be done between 7 and 10 days after surgery and garments are typically worn for 6 weeks after a tummy tuck.
What can you do in the early recovery period after your tummy tuck?
After a tummy tuck, patients are encouraged to wear elastic stockings and mobilise from day 1 to prevent DVT, also known as blood clots, and fluid collection. They should mind any drains while mobilising.
In the following days, patients can walk around, do minimal homework, and allow themselves enough time and space to avoid any trauma. Patients can go out one week after a tummy tuck. Driving and exercises should be deferred for 3 to 4 weeks until you feel confident enough.
Before & after
