ASET Hospital has a team of some of the most skilled plastic surgeons in the country. We take time to learn about your motivation for surgery, and advise on the best and safest form of treatment.
Our surgeons regularly carry out tummy tuck procedures, and our aftercare packages ensure every patient has access to round-the-clock care. Read on to find out more about the procedure.
A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is a procedure that cuts away excess, loose skin from around the stomach area.
The most common cause of loose skin in the lower abdomen is weight loss, and the skin forms an apron where fatty deposits once were.
Women who have just given birth may also seek treatment to reduce the amount of skin in the area, as it can cause discomfort and make people feel self-conscious.
Tummy tuck procedures are a very common form of plastic surgery, with almost 3,000 being performed on women in 2019, and a further 179 cases performed on men.
The ideal candidate for abdominoplasty is someone who has excess skin around their lower abdomen.
It is also important to manage expectations, and seek improved results rather than perfection.
We carry out detailed consultations prior to surgery to ensure you are equipped with all the information you need to make this important decision.
The consultation also allows us to go through your motivation for surgery, and your physical and psychological health.
Sometimes, surgery isn’t the best option, or the procedure you have in mind isn’t suitable for you. We ask patients to have an open mind and our surgeons will suggest the best procedure (if any) for your indications.
This procedure is carried out under general anaesthetic and usually requires an overnight stay in hospital.
The incision itself runs from hip to hip in the lower abdomen area - usually below the underwear line to allow for discretion.
Your surgeon will then lift the loose skin and tissue up towards the rib cage. Once the skin reaches this point, the surgeon will then repair the abdomen wall muscle. This process requires a lot of skill and can also help contour the stomach area and enhance the overall appearance.
Once the muscle wall is in good shape, the surgeon will stretch the skin to the new position, before trimming any excess skin and tissue.
The wound is then closed with dissolvable stitches and any fluid is drained before you leave the hospital.
The belly button usually remains in place, but sometimes it is moved to a new position once the skin has been tightened in the area, and a new hole is created for it.
We will always discuss with you the different options and go through what to expect on a case-by-case basis.
In most cases, there’s just the one incision made along the bottom of the abdomen, underneath the underwear line.
From time to time, an extra incision needs to be made around the belly button.
As with any surgery, there is downtime associated with a tummy tuck procedure.
It usually takes between 2-3 weeks to fully recover from surgery, and special garments must be worn for at least 6 weeks post-surgery to ensure your body heals and you get the best result possible.
All patients of ASET Hospital will have 24-hour access to our team of trained clinicians, who will be on hand to answer any questions or concerns you may have.
Patients can usually return to work after 2-3 weeks, but it’s advisable to avoid any heavy lifting or strenuous activity.
Follow-up appointments are very important, as they allow your surgeon to check the wounds and make sure you are healing.
While the incision is made below the underwear line to allow for discretion, you will scar after an abdominoplasty procedure.
You may also have a small scar around the belly button. Over time, the scar tissue will mature and begin to fade, but in some cases it will remain visible.
Individual results may vary.
After abdominoplasty surgery, many patients experience some discomfort, swelling and bruising. The potential risks of the surgery include haematoma, infection, loss of skin, wide or lumpy scars, loss of sensation in lower abdomen and upper thighs, persistent pain, DVT (deep vein thrombosis – a blood clot in the veins of the leg), PE (pulmonary embolism – a blood clot in the lungs) and dog-ears (folds of tissue at the end of a scar). The scars from this surgery can also be asymmetrical.
It is important to remember that an abdominoplasty mainly affects the front of the abdomen and whilst the waistline may improve, this isn’t guaranteed. The aim of the procedure is to remove the excess skin and fat from the lower abdomen and produce a flatter abdomen. This surgery has no effect on the flanks and hips, and in some cases, the hips may appear bigger afterwards as a result of excess fat removal from the front, as this can make the flanks and hips appear larger in comparison. It is important that you discuss your expectations with your abdominoplasty surgeon.
*Individual Results May Vary.
After abdominoplasty surgery, many patients experience some discomfort, swelling and bruising. The potential risks of the surgery include haematoma, infection, loss of skin, wide or lumpy scars, loss of sensation in lower abdomen and upper thighs, persistent pain, DVT (deep vein thrombosis – a blood clot in the veins of the leg), PE (pulmonary embolism – a blood clot in the lungs) and dog-ears (folds of tissue at the end of a scar). The scars from this surgery can also be asymmetrical.
It is important to remember that an abdominoplasty mainly affects the front of the abdomen and whilst the waistline may improve, this isn’t guaranteed. The aim of the procedure is to remove the excess skin and fat from the lower abdomen and produce a flatter abdomen. This surgery has no effect on the flanks and hips, and in some cases, the hips may appear bigger afterwards as a result of excess fat removal from the front, as this can make the flanks and hips appear larger in comparison. It is important that you discuss your expectations with your abdominoplasty surgeon.
*Individual Results May Vary.
Your well being is our priority, Aset Hospital will provide a comprehensive and personalised aftercare packagewhich isl included in your treatment.
In the unlikely event of a complication directly related to your surgery, we would provide or arrange further surgery and/or treatment at no extra cost for up to 1 year.
While tummy tucks are very popular and we regularly carry out the procedure here at ASET Hospital, it’s an important, life-altering decision and shouldn’t be made lightly.
Before surgery is carried out, we conduct thorough consultations and health checks to ensure both your health and wellbeing remain intact.
Ready to learn more about a tummy tuck Surgery? To request your consultation, fill out the form on the side of this page or call our practice at 0151 426 4777. Aset Hospital is based in Liverpool, Merseyside UK and national and international clients.
