There are three types of tummy tuck procedure:

Standard

Mini

Extended

They all involve removing variable amounts of skin and fat.

What is a standard abdominoplasty?

A standard or full abdominoplasty involves removing the excess skin and fat between your pubic area (bikini line in women) and your belly button. Your belly button is left attached in its place, but a cut is made around it to free it from the surrounding skin (which is to be removed). The remaining skin left at the level of the belly button is then pulled down and stitched at the pubic level. The belly button is brought out through a new cut made in the skin that has been pulled down over it. Any weakness of your muscles or hernias is repaired before your wound is closed.

What is a mini tummy tuck?

A mini tummy tuck is less invasive than a full tummy tuck because much less skin is removed and there are no cuts around your belly button. You might be suitable for it if you only have a small amount of loose skin or fat affecting the lower part of your tummy. Your belly button remains undisturbed but may be pulled down slightly. The scar from a mini-abdominoplasty is usually shorter (but not always) than that of a standard abdominoplasty.

An apronectomy is a modification of the mini-abdominoplasty for patients who have a large overhang of skin and fat over the lower tummy area. In this procedure, only the surplus skin and fat is removed. The scar is long and extends from one side of the apron to the other.

What is an extended abdominoplasty?

An extended abdominoplasty may be needed after massive weight loss. It involves removal of excess skin and fat from the abdomen and lower back. It will leave a scar around the umbilicus and a long curved scar on the abdomen above the pubic area, and around towards the flank/ lower back. Sometimes the wound extends the whole way around the body – circumferential abdominoplasty, and this is a very major and involved procedure.

A tummy tuck is a major surgical procedure. Fortunately, most patients have few problems, but there are some serious complications that can occur.

Surgery is carried out under general anaesthesia and typically lasts around 3 hours. We do not use drains, and there is no requirement to wear a pressure garment.

Possible general complications include an unexpected reaction to the anaesthetic, chest infection or developing a blood clot, usually in a vein in the leg (deep vein thrombosis, DVT). A DVT can cause problems if the clot spreads to the lungs (pulmonary embolus), then the outcome can be fatal. Fortunately, the incidence of pulmonary embolism after abdominoplasty is infrequent (under 1 in 100 patients). You will have a risk assessment during your pre-assessment, and we take precautions to reduce the risks of DVT. These include stockings, mechanical pumps that keep the circulation going in your legs, and blood thinning injections where appropriate.

The risk of having an adverse complication under a general anaesthetic is approximately 1 in 100,000.

Complications specific to tummy tuck include:

Infection – This might require treatment with antibiotics. Very rarely infection can be serious and result in you becoming unwell and require an operation to wash out the abdomen. In severe cases, this can result in loss of skin or the inability to close the wounds.

Bleeding (haematoma) – This might require a return to theatre to stop the bleeding and drain the area (risk less than 5 in 100).

Delayed wound healing – Particularly in the tighter central part of the wound. Sometimes dressings are needed for a few weeks. This is more common in patients who are overweight and who smoke.

Seroma – Is a collection of serous (straw coloured) fluid under your skin. The fluid can be drained with a needle during your post-operative visits. Such drainage generally stops eventually (but may last for more than a month) and does not affect the final cosmetic outcome. The incidence of seroma is between 7-10 out of every 100 patients.

Poor scarring – Scars are permanent. They can remain red, thickened and itchy (hypertrophic scars). These can take several months to settle down. The scars may stretch with time.

Numbness – This is usually temporary but can be permanent.

Change in shape of the belly button (umbilicus) – Your belly button will be brought out through the skin once the skin has been pulled down. This will result in a different shape and a scar around the umbilicus.

Asymmetry – Perfect symmetry does not exist before or after abdominoplasty surgery. Scars will never be identical from side to side, and the umbilicus may not be exactly in the midline.

Revision surgery – Occasionally, revision surgery may be required if the outcome is unsatisfactory. Better outcomes are achieved when patients are at their ideal body weight.

It is essential that you walk and move around when you get home, but it will be a few weeks before you are entirely up to speed.

Your mood may fluctuate after surgery – this is normal. A small amount of blood staining on the inside of your dressings is typical during the first few days.

Discomfort/ Pain

Some pain is typical in the first few days after surgery (especially with muscle tightening). You will experience some numbness around your wound. You may experience temporary soreness, tightness and swelling as well as some discomfort in the incision areas.

Bruising/ swelling

Your tummy may feel tight and swollen for several days, and bruising is expected especially if you have had liposuction. Increased swelling after a week or so may mean that you have a seroma (tissue fluid) that may require drainage.

Appearance

Most of the swelling will subside in 4-6 weeks.

Any scars you have may be red and angry looking for six months. In time, these usually soften and fade.

Quaba Tummy Tuck Aftercare…

If you have had a tummy tuck with us or are considering it – please find some detailed instructions and advice on aftercare following your procedure.

Mini tummy tuck from £4750

Full tummy tuck from £7950 (includes 1-2 nights in hospital)

Consultation £150

All-inclusive costs for one year following surgery

Information about tummy tuck from BAAPS

Download an information leaflet