An abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, can help you to achieve your dream of a flat stomach when diet and exercise have failed. The tummy tuck consistently remains one of the UK’s most popular cosmetic surgery procedures and is often combined with liposuction.
An abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, can help you to achieve your dream of a flat stomach when diet and exercise have failed. The tummy tuck consistently remains one of the UK’s most popular cosmetic surgery procedures and is often combined with liposuction.
For many people, a flat and toned abdomen is often an unattainable goal, particularly through diet and exercise alone. After significant weight loss, pregnancy or as the result of gravity, men and women are often left with excess sagging skin on the abdomen. Over time, the muscles within the stomach can weaken or separate, making it almost impossible to tighten them up through exercise.
There are several techniques which can be used today to help patients achieve a flat abdomen. Here, you will discover more about this in-demand procedure and whether or not it could be right for you.
+ What is an abdominoplasty?
An abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, is considered a body contouring procedure. It is important to note that it isn’t designed as a weight-loss treatment. Instead, it targets sagging skin and small pockets of excess fat, helping to provide a flatter, tighter abdomen.
Depending on the extent of excess skin and fat on the abdomen and any muscle weakness, there are a number of different techniques that can be used. Your main options when undergoing an abdominoplasty include:
Liposuction: For those patients that have small deposits of excess fat, but good skin and muscle laxity, it is possible to remove the fat tissue and reshape the body through liposuction alone.
Standard abdominoplasty: An incision will be made across the lower abdomen, stretching from hip to hip and then another incision is made to release the belly button. From there, the tissue and skin are separated from the abdominal wall muscle. The muscles will be tightened up before being stitched and secured into their new position. Any excess skin and fat will be removed before the belly button is repositioned and the skin is redraped to produce a tighter, flatter abdomen.
Extended abdominoplasty: The procedure is the same as a standard abdominoplasty except there is more tissue removed around the sides and behind the hips so that the scar is longer. The benefit is of a better contour in patients with laxity at the sides of the hips.
Mini abdominoplasty: A mini tummy tuck is a less invasive option, requiring a single incision to be made across the abdomen. It is suitable for those patients whose problem area is below the umbilicus. Mr Horlock will remove the fat and stretch the skin down to the incision. Excess skin will be removed before the incision is closed.
Fleur-de-Lys abdominoplasty: This technique works in much the same way as a full abdominoplasty. However, an additional incision is made down the centre of the abdomen.
Total body lift (Circumferential abdominoplasty): After massive weight loss, you are usually left with sagging skin and lax muscles in many areas of the body, not just the abdomen. To achieve the body shape you want, it may be necessary to have a combination of procedures in the form of a total body lift which will remove excess skin and fat from all areas of the body. The excision of tissue stars with a standard abdominoplasty and extends all around the sides to meet in the midline at the back.
You will be advised which procedure is better for you during the consultation with Mr Horlock.
+ Am I an ideal candidate for an abdominoplasty?
If you are fit and well, but concerned about the appearance of your abdomen, then a tummy tuck can be a highly satisfactory procedure. However, it isn’t suitable for those generally overweight. As it is a body contouring procedure, it is best suited to those who are at, or near, their ideal weight.
Those who have experienced a pregnancy or who have lost a lot of weight will be best suited to the procedure.
+ What results can I expect from an abdominoplasty?
It is possible for the results of an abdominoplasty to last a lifetime. However, this will depend upon whether the patient gains a lot of weight. To maintain results, patients will need to adopt a healthy lifestyle.
+ What is the recovery like after a tummy tuck?
Depending upon the type of abdominoplasty procedure you have undertaken, you may need to spend a couple of nights in hospital. You should keep as mobile as you can, and a compression garment may need to be worn for up to six weeks. This will help to minimise both the pain and discomfort felt after the procedure.
You should stay off work and avoid driving for two to three weeks and gentle exercise can be resumed after six weeks. It can take over a year for the scars to fade and fully flatten, but you should be able to see a greatly improved abdomen appearance after three to six months.
+ What are the risks and complications?
An abdominoplasty is generally a low-risk procedure. However, the main risks and complications it can present include:
All of the risks and complications will be discussed in detail during your consultation. You will also be provided with aftercare advice after the procedure to minimise potential complications.
Mr Horlock aims to make your consultation a calm, non-pressured time for you to explain your issues and wishes in full. Combined with a thorough physical examination, Mr Horlock will then be able to assess whether your expectations from surgery are realistic and achievable.
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