A tummy tuck improves the appearance of loose skin and fat on your tummy. It can also tighten your abdominal muscles.
Call us in confidence on 0131 346 0020 to discuss the options
A tummy tuck (also known as an abdominoplasty) is a procedure that will improve the shape of your tummy by removing excess skin and fat. You may be suitable for a tummy tuck if you are affected by the appearance of your stomach after weight loss or pregnancy. A tummy tuck can also help tidy up bulges or improve scars after a caesarian section or hysterectomy.
Find out more about our Tummy Tuck procedures below…
An abdominoplasty is a major cosmetic surgery operation and takes around 2-3 hours to perform. You will need 4-6 weeks to recover fully. Satisfaction rates are high, and the best results are seen in patients who are at or near their ideal weight.
The procedure is often combined with the tightening of the abdominal muscles (especially if there have been previous pregnancies) and with liposuction (to reduce fullness in the flanks and upper abdomen).
Read about our “no drain” abdominoplasty and our audited complication and revision rates
Please take the time to read more about the process below…
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 £5500
Full tummy tuck from £8400 (includes 1-2 nights in hospital)
Consultation £150
All-inclusive costs for one year following surgery
Integrity and attention to detail are our key elements for the provision of successful cosmetic surgery
Your care is led by Consultant Plastic Surgeons and is Hospital-Based.
Call us in confidence on 0131 342 0020 to discuss the options
What our patients have to say…
Feedback is from external review sites such as Google and RealSelf
Tummy tuck – Great tummy tuck experience
My experience with Mr Omar Quaba was excellent. I had previously been to see another surgeon and decided to go with Mr Quaba instead which was definitely the correct decision. He came recommended to me and I would recommend him to anyone considering having a tummy tuck. He put me at ease at all times during my consultations and especially before my operation. I am very happy with my results.
Tummy tuck and arm lift -I had an extended tummy tuck and double…
I had an extended tummy tuck and double brachioplasty with Mr Awf Quaba in January 2016. The surgery went well, as did my recovery and almost 8 months on, I am delighted with the result! The scars are fading well and both procedures have made a huge difference to both how I look and feel. I believe Mr Quaba is one of, if not the best aesthetic plastic surgeons in the UK.
Tummy tuck and Lipo
I had wanted tummy tuck for a time, after 2 pregnancies, had left a large volume of excess skin.
Mr Omar Quaba was excellent from my initial consultation, he was approachable and I felt reassured, all the way to aftercare. I am delighted with the results. I would definitely recommend this surgeon.
Mommy makeover – I wish I had done it years ago!
I had to travel over 300 miles to have a consultation and again to have the surgery so I did lots of research and initially visited 3 different hospitals before deciding on Mr Omar Quaba at the Murrayfield Spire Hospital in Edinburgh. Mr Quaba immediately made me feel at ease and explained the procedure fully (abdominoplasty) and all associated risks and possible complications. I went back home with all the information required to make an informed decision about that procedure.
Mr Quaba agreed to have another (telephone) consultation at my request to discuss an additional procedure (breast reduction & lift) and decided to have the 2 operations at the same time.As soon as I arrived at the hospital, I knew I was in good hands and Mr Quaba made me feel relaxed and confident. My surgery went very well and I was very pleasantly surprised that it was not nearly as painful as I had expected and I was delighted to have no drains, nor did I have to wear compression garments.
After 2 very comfortable nights in the hospital with wonderful care, I was discharged to stay with friends until my checkup a week later. I was given phone numbers to call had I any worries or problems (which I didn’t) and then 6 months later I met Mr Quaba again for a follow-up appointment.
It was a very positive experience and if I felt I required any further procedures, Mr Quaba would be my 1st choice!
Tummy tuck – Clean, easy to park and excellent reception and nursing staff
Life changing! I’m 62. I had 4 Caesarean sections and a road map of stretch marks. For 25 years I had kept my stomach hidden but in the last few years, I found the flap over my scars becoming increasingly infected, smelly, irritable. I was convinced to have surgery was vanity and I had a husband who really did not mind. I was washing the area twice a day (frying it with a hairdryer) and meditated cream could not get on top of the infections. Finally, my daughter told me to get an option on it. I took the decision it would get worse and worse. I am now 3 months since the surgery. I feel healthier, I feel happier. I am going to be fitter. This was not for vanity or weight (I will never be thin) but why I didn’t have it done years ago I have no idea.
Drainless tummy tuck – I was left with loose skin following the birth of…
I was left with loose skin following the birth of my eldest daughter. It caused me a lot of anxiety and confidence issues. I began researching the tummy tuck procedure a year later. I had three consultations at different practices none of which I was overconfident in. I then had my second daughter which put things on hold. I visited Mr quaba for the first time in mid-2014. It was £120 for a consultation. I felt instantly confident with him. He showed me before and after photos of previous patients and drew diagrams. He knew what he as talking about. I was advised to get full tummy tuck with muscle repair and liposuction to achieve a more flattering shape. I felt confident to book the procedure with him and was meant to get it done in September 2014 but due to unforeseen circumstances, I had to cancel. I then visited him two more times before I finally had the procedure done in June 2015.
On the morning of the operation, I was extremely nervous but the staff were very very good. The next thing I knew I was back from surgery. I do remember a tightening/bruising pain but nothing unbearable. I was up and about at the toilet the same evening. There were no drains so nothing to accidentally tamper with. I went back for my 7 day check to get the surgical dressing off and cleaned. I was very happy with the result. I was given special tape to apply to the area to help with healing. A year on and my scar has healed very well. I will unfortunately always have stretch marks but that was part of pregnancy. Everyone’s result is individual.
I would highly recommend mr quaba.
Quaba appear regularly in Tatler Magazine’s list of best surgeons for facelift surgery.
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