Abdominoplasty – more commonly known as a ‘tummy tuck’ – is one of the most effective treatments for getting rid of loose skin and tightening the stomach muscles. Whilst we do carry out tummy tucks on men, most treatments are carried out on women who feel they have got as far as they can with diet and exercise and who need an extra bit of help to get the shape they desire, particularly after childbirth.
At our practice, abdominoplasty is one of the most popular treatments and our surgeons are highly experienced in both partial and full abdominoplasty, so you can rest assured you’re in safe hands. Of course, a tummy tuck is major surgery and should not be undertaken lightly, so at the outset, we’ll discuss the pros and cons so you can make an informed decision about whether surgery is right for you.
Complications are rare, but they can occur.
Anaesthesia can cause problems for some people, but we’ll cover this in your pre-operative assessment. If you’ve had problems with anaesthetic before, we’ll need to know so that we can prepare and make you as comfortable as possible.
Infections & clots
Post-operative complications are rare but can include infections and blood clots. Infection can be treated with drainage and antibiotics, but you’ll probably have to stay in hospital until you are completely well.
You can minimise the risk of blood clots by moving around as soon as possible after surgery. Of course, we’ll provide all the support and guidance you need to minimise the risk of blood clots to help you have a safe and speedy recovery.
Scarring is another important consideration.
Whether you opt for the full or partial tummy tuck, you’ll be left with a permanent scar.
There is a small risk of poor healing, which can result in conspicuous scars, though it is normally possible to address this with a second operation.
Following the surgery, we will inform you of how to check for any infection in your scars. To reduce the chances of this happening, we will tell you how to care for the incision wound while it is still healing.
It's worth bearing in mind that your scars may appear to worsen during the first 3 months as they heal, but this is normal. Expect it to take up to a year for the scars to flatten out and lighten in colour, you should then be able to hide your scar under clothing.
Managing risk
Whilst it’s important to consider these concerns before you go ahead with abdominoplasty, it should be remembered that complications are rare, particularly when you work with an experienced team. The first step is to attend an initial consultation where we’ll provide lots more information about what’s involved in a tummy tuck, giving you all the information you need so you can make an informed choice about whether to go ahead.
