When?

It is best to wait 9-12 months after you give birth so that the body can recover easier.

Dr Kavouni will ask for your general medical history together with details of any previous abdominal surgery.



After major weight loss it is required that you plateau for 6 month before any surgical procedures are performed.

How?

The scar runs from hip-to-hip which is designed to be covered by normal pants (the bikini line). There may be a slight variation on these abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) scars depending on the type of clothing the individual may wish to wear after surgery.

A triangular area of skin and underlying fat is removed from hip to hip above the pubic hair and below the umbilicus. The umbilicus is left attached on a stalk.A pocket is made underneath the skin and fat of the upper abdomen as far as the ribs and this skin is stretched downwards to join the lower incision.

Often (mainly post pregnancy) it is also necessary to tighten the tummy muscles during abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) to improve abdominal contour.

Having closed the skin edges, a moon-shaped incision is made at the new site of the umbilicus which can be combined with liposuction to the waistline and hips to enhance the cosmetic effect

Aftercare

You will stay one or two nights at the hospital. Drainage tubes are placed under the skin to collect any excess fluid that may accumulate. Hidden stitches are used underneath the skin surface which are dissolvable and do not require removal.

A special compression garment is required for a month at least to help with healing. Immediately after abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), the abdominal skin feels very tight and indeed it may be difficult to stand up straight for the first few days. You should drink plenty of water and wear your stockings for two weeks to reduce the risk of blood clotting.

Risks

It is normal to feel moderate discomfort after abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and this is usually controlled by a mild analgesia. Numbness of the lower abdomen will gradually return to near normal although the process may take many months.

Bruising may be considerable, it settles well within two to three weeks. We recommend taking Arnica for one week prior to the abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) surgery and two weeks afterwards to lessen the bruising. Occasionally, fluid continues to collect under the skin and may need to be drained with a needle (seroma formation).



Blood clotting problems can be a factor and as a precaution you will wear TED stockings before, during and after the operation and gentle early mobilisation will be expected although adequate rest is also essential.