Abdominoplasty

The operation of abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, is among commonest aesthetic procedures worldwide. It evolved as a procedure to tighten slack abdominal skin, improve the abdominal contour and often to include liposuction of the tummy wall and flanks and is favoured by patients who have either experienced significant weight loss, often as a result of pregnancy and weight gain/loss factors.

It is often combined with other procedures, such as breast surgery or liposuction, however combining a tummy tuck operation with other procedures can be mostly done in low risk patients to avoid a high complication rate. As a general rule, patients are advised to stabilize their weight for 12 months before surgery.

There are various procedures described, with the standard abdominoplasty as one of the most common procedures performed. It allows for the treatment of upper abdomen, belly button and then lower abdomen, maintaining a low positioned and concealed scar. It is usually indicated in patients who present with a localized, diet-resistant fatty tissue deposit of the abdominal wall and slack skin.

The most common symptoms after a standard tummy tuck include pain, tightness, numbness below the scar, bruising and general discomfort.

Tummy tuck results are usually long lasting if a stable weight is maintained.