Tummy tuck or abdominoplasty involves removing excess lower abdominal skin and fat as well as tightening the rectus abdominis muscles (the six-pack).
Patients that are good candidates for this surgery are those that have been pregnant and/or lost a lot of weight.
Stretching of the abdominal wall can cause the rectus abdominis muscles to spread apart. The rectus abdominis is a the muscle that is responsible for the six-pack appearance of a well toned abdomen and it can be brought back together at the same time as a tummy tuck.
More information about the different types and modifications/variations of the tummy tuck is below:
Full Tummy Tuck
The remaining skin from the belly-button to the rib cage is then stretched down to close the defect. At the beginning of the operation, the belly button is freed up from the surrrounding skin and at the end of the operation, it is replaced in its natural position.
This leaves a scar around the belly-button as well as a long scar in the lower abdomen usually from one hip to the other, although this can be hidden when wearing a bikini. Not all patients are candidates for a full tummy tuck as there needs to be a significant amount of skin laxity to be able to bring the skin from the belly-button down to the pubis.
Patients with only a modest amount of skin excess in the lower abdomen may be best suited to a mini tummy tuck.
Mini Tummy Tuck
This skin excess is usually resistant to all forms of exercise or dieting. It can be very frustrating to have lost the weight and to still have a lower abdominal fullness, or paunch, no matter how much exercise you do.
The main problem is excess skin rather than fat. It loses its elastic recoil and no amount of dieting or exercise will cause it to shrink back. Surgery, in the form of a mini tummy tuck, will remove the excess skin but it will leave a scar.
The scar is shorter than in a full tummy tuck and will be hidden in a bikini.
There is no scar around the belly button following mini tummy tuck but the belly button may be pulled down a bit.
Fleur de Lis Tummy Tuck
It has the advantage of removing tissue in a vertical as well as a horizontal direction but it has the disadvantage of extra scarring and potential wound healing problems.
A full tummy tuck or mini tummy tuck removes tissue in a horizontal direction leaving a transverse scar in the bikini line.
In order to remove tissue in a vertical direction, then a vertical scar is needed, which goes straight up the middle of the abdomen and meets the transverse scar to make an inverted T shape. This vertical scar cannot be hidden in a bikini and it can bring with it more wound healing problems, particularly where the two scars meet.
For these reasons, it is usually reserved for patients who have had massive weight loss either through dieting or bariatric surgery (gastric banding or bypass procedures).
Reverse Tummy Tuck
It is usually reserved for people with a significant amount of redundant skin on the abdomen and is performed following a standard tummy tuck procedure. The two procedures cannot be performed at the same time and a minimum of six months is needed before considering a reverse tummy tuck following full tummy tuck.
Any excess skin in the upper abdomen is usually pulled down during a full tummy tuck and so a reverse tummy tuck is only rarely required.
We offer a variety of calls or in person consultations with the surgeons.
A tummy tuck is a relatively major undertaking and should not be considered lightly. You will need to consider all of the potential pitfalls and downsides and weigh these against the benefits before making a decision. You should consider the inevitable scarring, the downtime and recovery period, the risk of complications and the cost. It is not for everyone, but in the right patient, it can be life-changing. Read more commonly asked questions below and further information on the tummy tuck surgery.
How to know a tummy tuck is right for you?
If you have had children or lost weight and you feel that you have loose skin around your tummy, then a tummy tuck may help.
Having cosmetic surgery is always going to be a very personal decision and ultimately only one that you can make. Here at The Staiano Clinic, we are doctors first and we will advise you whether you would be a good candidate for surgery and explain the limitations and complications that are associated with the procedure.
There is never any pressure and we encourage patients to come back for a second consultation to go over things and ensure that you get your questions answered. We will help and guide you at every step of the way and regardless of your decision, we will support you and help you to make the right decision for you.
Am I suitable for a full tummy tuck?
In a full tummy tuck, all of the skin from your belly button down to your pubic area, is removed. In order to be suitable for this, you need to have enough skin laxity that will allow us to stretch the skin you have from your belly button to your rib cage, all the way down to your pubic area. This will need to be assessed in the clinic.
Certain medical conditions may increase your risks of anaesthesia and surgery, such as diabetes, heart problems, high blood pressure, immunosuppression, sickle cell disease, skin conditions affecting your abdominal skin and medication such as blood thinners and steroids.
We would usually liaise with the doctor treating your medical condition to assess your suitability for surgery. If you have any questions about this procedure then get in touch today on 0121 454 3680 or email [email protected].
Is a tummy tuck necessary?
It is often said that cosmetic surgery is not necessary and to a certain degree that is true. Having said that, it depends on what you mean by necessary. There are many operations that could be considered unnecessary in that they will have no effect on your life expectancies, such as hip replacements and cataract surgery. While they will not help you live any longer, they can have a dramatic effect on your quality of life, and tummy tuck very much falls into this category.
In fact, it is more effective than hip replacements and cataracts because it is usually performed for a younger age group and so they have more time to enjoy the benefits. The two reasons that most people ‘need’ a tummy tuck are following childbirth and weight loss because both these process have the same effect.
The skin is stretched during pregnancy or when you put on weight. Then the stretching force is removed by losing weight or delivering the baby. It is the redundant skin that is the problem and this creates an overhang that can be uncomfortable, unsightly and make it difficult to find clothes.
It is important to be stable and comfortable with your weight prior to a tummy tuck but weight loss in itself will not improve your situation, in fact it can make things worse by creating more redundant skin. Ultimately the skin needs to be tightened and this is most effectively done with a tummy tuck.
Where will the incision be made on a full tummy tuck?
The incision for a full tummy tuck is made in the crease of your lower abdomen. If you have a scar from a Caesarean Section, then it is placed just below this so that the Caesarean scar is taken out with the surgery. The scar extends to the sides gently curving up towards your hip.
We aim for the scar to be hidden in your underwear or bikini but you may need to wear a wider band. There is also a scar around the belly button that may be visible. A mini tummy tuck has a scar in a similar position to a full tummy tuck, but it is shorter (usually just a little bit longer than a Caesarean scar) and there is no scar around the belly button.
A fleur-de-lys tummy tuck has a scar similar to a full tummy tuck with a vertical extension in the midline extending above the belly button. A circumferential tummy tuck has a scar similar to a full tummy tuck but it extends all the way around your back to encircle your body.
Who will perform my tummy tuck surgery?
The surgeons at The Staiano Clinic are all fully trained plastic surgeons who hold or have held substantive NHS Consultant posts. This means that they have the highest level of training in Plastic Surgery.
While we all work together, when you see a Consultant in the clinic, that will be your Consultant for the duration of your treatment.
Your Consultant will personally perform your surgery and will see you for all of you clinic appointments except your dressing clinic appointments which will be with the clinic nurse. We do not have any students or junior doctors at the clinic, so your care will be directly provided by your Consultant. Book a consultation today, call us at 0121 454 3680, or email [email protected].
This shows a full tummy tuck at 15 months after surgery.
This shows a full tummy tuck involving removal of 2312gms of tissue at 1 year after surgery.
This shows a full tummy tuck with liposuction to the hips and flanks at 3 years after surgery.
This shows a full tummy tuck involving removing 700gms of tissue. The tattoo demonstrates the amount of skin that has been removed.
This lady is shown following tummy tuck. Note that she has a midline scar prior to surgery, which is removed during the tummy tuck operation.
This lady is shown following a full tummy tuck with liposuction to the flanks.
This lady is shown following a full tummy tuck at 7 weeks after surgery.
This man has had significant weight loss and is shown following a full tummy tuck removing 829gms of tissue at 11 months after surgery.
This lady has had significant weight loss and is shown following a fleur-de-lis tummy tuck at 1 year after surgery.
This lady is shown following a fleur-de-lis tummy tuck before and after 3 months.
This lady is shown with a mini tummy tuck before and after 6 weeks.
This lady is shown with a mini tummy tuck before and after 9 months.
A tummy tuck should be a considered operation and it is important to ensure that you are fully prepared.
Having an in-person consultation with a plastic surgeon is advised when preparing for a tummy tuck. They will be able to examine you and assess the quality of your tissues and give you an idea of what might be achieved with surgery.
It is good practice to spend time after your consultation weighing up the pros and cons and we encourage patients to have a period of consideration before coming back for a second consultation to go over everything and answer questions.
We offer our ‘clinic passport’ for those who wish to come back for multiple consultations to be sure they are fully prepared for the surgery. The clinic passport means once you have paid for the initial consultation, you will be welcome back to the clinic to go over things as often as you need, for no charge.
A tummy tuck should be planned for a time that is right for you. You need to think about your work and perhaps plan it around a quiet time, when you may be able to work from home in the early postoperative period.
You will need to wear a supportive abdominal binder for the first month after surgery and may want to consider the time of year you have your operation. For example, it might be uncomfortable to wear the binder throughout the summer.
You should avoid having surgery if you are going through a major life event. It is not uncommon for patients going through a divorce to decide that now is the time for a tummy tuck, however, this should be avoided. The recovery period can be stressful so ideally be in a stable emotional state before embarking on this surgery.
It is common for patients to seek a tummy tuck shortly after giving birth. This is understandable because you will be able to see how your skin has been stretched and you are likely to be on maternity leave. We offer other post-childbrith surgery proceedures such as the mummy makeover that may be more suitable.
It is not uncommon to put on weight during pregnancy and it can take some time to lose this weight. It is important to lose weight prior to your tummy tuck because weight loss after surgery could leave redundant hanging skin that could have been tightened if you had lost weight first.
Your body will have gone through a lot during the pregnancy and birth and you will be in a naturally hypercoagulable state where your blood will have an increased tendency to clot. This means that you will be at an increased risk of DVT and PE which are serious complications that can be associated with tummy tucks.
You should ideally avoid future pregnancies after a tummy tuck as your skin will stretch again. It may not be the best time to decide whether you want to have more children in the immediate post partum period.
You will need to carry and lift your baby in the first year until they will be able to start walking. This might be difficult and uncomfortable if you have a tummy tuck within this time.
Your stomach muscles and skin will naturally recoil and tighten in the first few weeks and months after delivery and you should let this process take place before deciding on whether you need surgery.
You will be in charge of a newborn baby and will have enough to do without having to worry about having surgery.
You will be invited for a consultation with one of our fully trained surgeons, where we will endeavor to answer any questions you may have.
A quote is then given for the surgery as well as information about the hospital where the surgery is performed.
We will look for a suitable date in the diary and you will be able to secure this date with a £500 deposit.
If the date is scheduled months in advance, we encourage you to come back to the clinic closer to the time. Your clinic passport means that you will have access to the clinic for any questions or concerns you may have.
The week before your surgery date, you will have a preadmission appointment with the clinic nurse who will go over everything with you and make sure you are prepared for surgery.
The hospital will then contact you with your admission time and advice about when you can eat and drink before the surgery.
On the day of your surgery, you will be asked to come to the hospital an hour or two prior to your theatre slot time.
You will be shown to your private room and you will see your surgeon and anaesthetist prior to your operation to make sure you are comfortable with everything.
You will have preoperative photographs taken if they have not been taken before and your surgeon will make their preoperative markings on you before you go down to theatre.
After some final checks, you will be taken down to the operating theatre and you will have your surgery.
You will wake up from your surgery in the recovery room. You will be sitting up and your knees will be bent to take the tension off your abdomen. They will make sure that you are comfortable in the recovery area before bringing you back to your private room where you will be able to rest.
Your surgeon will see you to ensure you are comfortable and you will be looked after by the nursing team.
There is normally an overnight stay in the hospital and you will be reviewed again in the morning to ensure you are fit to be discharged home. You will have been given a postoperative instruction sheet with advice and emergency contact numbers.
You will be followed up by the clinic nurse who will make an appointment for you to come back to have your dressings removed usually around a week after your operation date.
You will be put into a supportive binder in the operating theatre and this will stay on for the first month to help with the swelling.
You will be walking hunched over and feel uncomfortable for the first week or two. After two weeks, you will start to feel more comfortable and increase your activities.
If you have a desk-based job, you should be able to go back to work after 2-3 weeks.
You will be able to resume normal activities after 6 weeks, although you should start slowly and build up.
Things usually start to settle by around 3 months and it can take 6,12 or even 18 months for everything to fully settle.
We feel that your aftercare is as important as your surgery, so we have measures in place to ensure that you have access to help and support throughout your postoperative period and beyond. Our clinic nurse will be in touch with you by phone to ensure that you have got home safely and are comfortable and will answer any questions.
Your dressing clinic appointment is normally held at a week, but we will be on hand to see you at any time if you have a concern about your surgery. We will also give you a 24 hour number to call if you have any urgent concerns after hours.
We will keep in touch with you in whatever way you prefer. Some patients like to rest quietly at home, and prefer not to have any contact. Others like to keep in touch by text or WhatsApp, while some prefer to email. You can also keep in touch through our social media channels and our director, JJ Staiano, does a live Q&A every Tuesday at 7pm on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.
We offer a comprehensive follow-up schedule for our patients so that you can be sure that we will stay by you to make sure that you get the best result possible. As well as your routine follow-up schedule, we will keep in touch with you by phone, video calls or in-person visits to the clinic for as long as you need to ensure that you feel looked after.
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