Tummy Tuck Cost

Tummy Tuck is a surgical procedure through which excess fat and excess skin is removed combined with tightening of abdominal muscles, it is also known as Abdominoplasty.

Common causes are pregnancy, excessive weight loss, or weight fluctuation, hereditary or even ageing.

A good candidate is a person who is healthy, a non-smoker, and at a stable weight.  A person who is planning on losing weight, or a women intending on getting pregnant should postpone the tummy tuck. A smoker must refrain from smoking for at least two weeks prior to surgery.

The aim of a Tummy Tuck is not to lose weight or flatten the abdomen, because such results can be obtained by liposuction, which is a less invasive procedure, however with a tummy tuck abdominal muscles which have been separated or weakened due to any reason, such as child birth, will be tightened, giving a much firmer abdominal look.  Another reason to opt for a tummy tuck would be previous surgical scars in the abdomen or stretch marks, since excess skin removed could be inline with some of the stretch marks or scars.  Also you can go for a tummy tuck, if you have recently lost a lot of weight and there is a lot of skin and flab hanging down the sides and front of your body.  It is important to remember that after a tummy tuck, you must maintain your weight through a healthy diet and exercise, because although it is a permanent procedure fluctuations in weight will diminish the outcome.  Women who have had a caesarian might not get optimum results with a tummy tuck.

The technique involves sedating the patient, by general anesthetic or local anesthetic plus sedation.  A horizontal incision will be made from hipbone to hipbone just above or within the pubic area.  Excess fat, skin and tissue will be removed through this incision, in addition to repairing of the abdominal muscles.  If there is excess skin above the navel, then another incision will be made around the naval to pull down that excess skin and cut it off.  All incisions will be sutured and drain tubes will be placed under the skin to drain off extra fluids or blood. The drain and dressing will be removed within a week.

Surgery duration ranges between one and 5 hours.  The patient may need to stay at the hospital for two nights, or can leave on the same night, however must arrange for someone to drive him / her home.

Post operatively there will be pain, swelling and numbness.  The patient may not be able to stand up straight for about a week.  Strenuous activity should be avoided for at least 4 weeks, after which light activity, resuming normal activity after 8 weeks.  Walking is a must from the second day, although in a bent position, to avoid post operative complications.  Scars will take about 6 months to lighten and swelling will totally subside after about 9 months, that’s when you will able to see the true result of the operation.

Risks included are bleeding, fluid accumulation, fat necrosis, infection, wound separation, asymmetry, thrombosis, nerve damage, persistent pain, skin discoloration and recurrent looseness of skin.

If there is fever, redness, pain or swelling at the area of incision notify your plastic surgeon immediately.

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