A tummy tuck, or 'abdominoplasty', is cosmetic
surgery to improve the shape of the tummy area (abdomen). It can involve removing fat and excess loose skin
and tightening the abdominal muscles.
The aim is to remove excess tummy skin that
can't be removed through exercise - for example, after losing a lot of weight
or after pregnancy. But it’s not a quick fix for losing weight.
An abdominoplasty is regarded cosmetic surgery, so
not normally available on the NHS. If you are thinking of going ahead, you must make sure that you are
aware of the costs and the fact that it is major surgery,
with risks to consider. You must take time
to reflect on your decision.
How much does it cost?
It costs about £4,500 to £6,000 to have an
abdominoplasty in the UK, plus the cost of any consultations or follow-up
care that may not be included in the price.
Where do I go?
If you are looking in England, you can check the Care Quality
Commission (CQC) website for treatment centres that can
perform a tummy tuck. All independent clinics and hospitals that provide
cosmetic surgery in England must be registered with the CQC, which publishes
inspection reports and performance ratings to help people choose care.
You should also research the surgeon who is going
to carry out your surgery. All doctors must, as a minimum, be
registered with the General Medical Council (GMC). Yuo can check
the register to see the doctor’s fitness to practice history. You may also want
to find out:
- how
many operations they've performed where there have been complications
- what
sort of follow-up you should expect if things go wrong
- their
own patient satisfaction rates.
What does it involve?
There are two types of tummy tuck, and both are
usually carried out under a general anaesthetic.
A partial tummy tuck involves:
- making
a large incision (cut) across the lower tummy
- separating
the skin from the abdominal wall below the tummy button
- removing
excess fat
- cutting
away excess skin
- pulling
together the remaining skin and stitching it in
place
A full tummy tuck involves:
- making
a large incision across the lower tummy, from hip to hip,
just above the pubic area
- making
a second incision to free the belly button from the tissue
that surrounds it
- separating
the skin from the abdominal wall
- realigning
the abdominal muscles
- removing
excess fat and skin
- cutting
a new hole for the belly button, and stitching this back in
place
- pulling
together the remaining skin and stitching it in
place.
The operation can take between two and five
hours. Most people need to stay in hospital for a few nights. A tummy tuck may be quite painful, although pain
relief would be provided.
You would leave hospital with dressings and a
pressure garment (corset) on your tummy, or tummy control pants. Someone would
need to drive you home and stay with you for the following 24 hours.
Recovery
You would need to take about four to six weeks off
work and exercise. You wouldn't be able to drive for a few weeks after the
operation (your surgeon and insurance company would advise about this). It takes about six weeks to fully recover, and it
may be several weeks before you see the full effects of the tummy tuck.
You would need to wear a special type of corset or
tummy control pants to encourage your skin to heal properly and reduce any
swelling. Generally, you would need to take it easy for a few
weeks and keep your knees bent while in bed, to avoid putting strain on your
stitches.
After a week or two: A
wound check would be carried out.
At six weeks: Your corset should be able
to come off and you'd usually be able to return to most of your normal
activities.
Side effects to expect
You would be left with a scar running across your
lower tummy and, if you had a full abdominoplasty, a scar around your belly
button. It is also common after a tummy tuck to:
- find
it difficult to stand up straight – it will feel like your
tummy is being pulled (this will improve over time)
- have
pain and bruises
- feel
numbness in your tummy for a few months to years
- have
a temporary fluid-filled swelling above the scar
- have
red, raised scars in the first six weeks – which eventually fade
to white.
What could go wrong
A tummy tuck can occasionally result in:
- thick,
obvious scars developing
- bulges under
the skin
- 'dog
ears' (extra skin) at the edges of the scar
- wounds
failing to heal
- a
collection of fluid in the area that was operated on
- a collection
of blood underneath the skin (haematoma)
- numbness
or pain in the tummy or down the leg
- tummy
cramps or pain
- breathing
problems.
Any type of operation also carries a small risk of:
- excessive
bleeding
- developing
a blood clot in a vein
- infection
- an
allergic reaction to the anaesthetic (very rare).
The surgeon should explain how likely these risks
and complications are, and how they would be treated if they occurred. Occasionally, people find the desired effect wasn’t
achieved and feel they need another operation.
Schematic diagram showing how the procedure of Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is performed.
What to do if you have problems
Cosmetic surgery can sometimes go wrong and the
results may not be what you expected. You should contact the clinic where the operation
was carried out as soon as possible if you have severe pain or any unexpected
symptoms.
If you have a tummy tuck and are not happy with the
results, or you think the procedure was not carried out properly, you
should take up the matter with the surgeon who treated you.
If you have concerns about your care, you should
contact the CQC.
If necessary, you can make
a complaint about a doctor to the General Medical Council (GMC).
For more information on this, you can read the Royal College of
Surgeon's advice on What if things go wrong?
Who should not have it?
A tummy tuck is not a procedure for someone who is
overweight.
More information
