Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

What does this involve?

Abdominoplasty is carried out under a general anaesthetic and usually requires a two night stay in hospital.

During the procedure, the surgeon will make incisions over your abdomen and across the bikini line. An incision is also made around your umbilicus (tummy button) so that it can be repositioned. If necessary, stretched or torn abdominal muscles are pulled together and stitched in place. Your skin is pulled down and any excess is removed. A new hole is made to accommodate the umbilicus. Once surgery is complete, all incisions are closed with stitches. 

Following the procedure you will be taken from the operating theatre into the Recovery Suite where you will be looked after until you are fully awake following the anaesthetic. After this, you will return to your room, where nursing staff will check your dressings and monitor your pulse and blood pressure at regular intervals.

The anaesthetist is likely to prescribe painkillers to reduce any potential discomfort and you should take these regularly for the first few days. Pain can slow down your recovery, so it is important to discuss any discomfort with the nursing staff.

You may have drainage tubes in your abdomen for a short period of time after the procedure. These have bottles attached to them and are in place to drain away any excess fluid. These are removed before you are discharged home.

There may also be a drip in one of your arms which is to ensure that you are kept well hydrated so that your recovery is as quick as possible. The drip will be removed once you are able to drink a satisfactory amount.  Providing you are not feeling nauseous, you may start to drink and eat as soon as you feel ready.

You will also have wound dressings and a supportive compression garment in place around your abdomen.  

Until the affects of the anaesthetic have passed, you will need to rest. In the meantime you will be visited by your surgeon who will assess your progress and answer any questions or concerns you may have. You will also be visited by the Cosmetic Surgery Specialist Nurse before you are discharged home who will give you advice about caring for your wounds and dressings, the wearing of your supportive compression garment and support stockings, and discuss your post-operative activity. 

Hospital contact details will be provided should you require any advice once you have returned home, and a post-operative follow-up appointment with your surgeon will be arranged.

When will I recover?

After an Abdominoplasty you are likely to have some discomfort, swelling, bruising, and pain in your abdomen. These are temporary and should subside after the first few weeks.

You should follow your surgeon's advice regarding how long to avoid driving but you certainly should not begin driving again until you are confident that you can safely perform an emergency stop without experiencing any discomfort. 

Your surgeon will also advise you on how long you are required to wear your supportive compression garment and whether it is to be worn day and night.

You will receive a post-operative telephone call from the Cosmetic Surgery Specialist Nurse one to two days after your discharge home to ascertain your progress and well being. You will also receive a follow up appointment at which your surgeon will assess your progress and give advice on when you can resume your normal activities.

It is very likely that they will suggest that you avoid any strenuous exercise, heavy lifting, swimming and vacuuming for around four to six weeks after surgery.

The length of time you will need to take off work will depend on your type of employment but it is usually a minimum of two weeks.

What risks should I know about?

Abdominoplasty is a commonly performed and generally safe procedure. However, all surgery carries an element of risk.

The possible complications of any surgery can include an unexpected reaction to a general anaesthetic, excessive bleeding, developing a blood clot (usually in a vein in the lower leg, known as a DVT - deep vein thrombosis) and infection. Signs of infection include uncontrolled pain, redness, swelling, oozing from wounds, and fever.

After the procedure you will be left with visible scars. Initially they will be red and slightly raised, but they should gradually soften and fade over the following months. You may also experience some numbness in the lower part of your abdomen - this is usually temporary, but in some cases is permanent. It is also possible that the final position of your umbilicus will not be central and in some cases there is a small risk of complete loss of the umbilicus though this is very rare.

Circle care

Abdominoplasty is carried out at CircleBath, our state of the art hospital, which provides you with the best facilities and superb patient care.  We have a dedicated team of Cosmetic Surgeons and Nurses who will guide you through the process from first consultation to after-care and will be available to answer any questions or queries you may have.