Where a patient suffers from a lot of excess skin in the abdominal area, a full tummy tuck can be a very good option. During the operation an incision will be made in the abdomen between the hips and using liposuction, pockets of fat will also be removed and the navel detached. Next, any lax muscle tissue will be repaired and stitched. The navel may need to be reconstructed and abdominal muscles might also require to be tightened. The whole procedure should take around 2 hours.
When a patient has chosen to have abdominoplasty, their surgeon may also recommend using a liposuction procedure at the same time so that any stubborn pockets of fat can be removed from the area. In the Fleur-de-Lys abdominoplasty procedure, where horizontal and vertical incisions are made, it will not be possible to have liposuction as well.
A concern of patients is often the scarring that will be left after the procedure and with this type of tummy tuck scarring will depend largely on your general health and your skin type as well as on the procedure that you've had. However, the surgeon will always ensure they make the incisions below the bikini line so that their scars are not visible when you're wearing underwear or swimwear.
After your procedure you will normally need to stay in hospital for between one and four nights although in general most people require only one night in hospital, post operatively.
When a full tummy tuck is carried out, excess skin and fat deposits will be removed from an area that extends from the navel to the pubic bone and the procedure may be further enhanced with liposuction. There will also be tightening of the abdominal muscles below and above the navel to achieve a firmer and flatter profile.
To fully appreciate the difference between a full tummy tuck and a mini tummy tuck requires a good understanding of both procedures and realistic expectations of results. If you think that having tummy tuck surgery would be the answer to your problems then you will be able to speak to one of our consultants in an online consultation.
This tummy tuck procedure will be conducted under a general anaesthetic which means you will be completely unconscious throughout the whole operation. After the operation you will not be able to drive and it's a very good idea, even if you are returning to a hotel, to make sure that you have somebody with you. This is because your movements will be restricted for some time after the surgery and it will not be possible for you to bend and lift things up or to stretch.
The incisions for your tummy tuck procedure will be made in the pubic area between your hips to ensure that scarring is as discreet and can be concealed completely underneath underwear and swimwear.
During the operation there will be another incision made which will separate your belly button from the skin that holds it in place. That skin will then be detached from your abdominal muscles so that the surgeon can work within the abdominal wall to carry out the tightening that is required.
Although having a tummy tuck is not dependent on having liposuction, liposuction is often used to smooth out the abdomen during this procedure. Whether your surgeon decides to use liposuction or not will depend on how many pockets of abdominal fat there are. He or she will discuss what would be the best procedure for you.
Once the surgery is over, your surgeon will carefully close the incisions made and a compression garment will be applied to ensure that your skin becomes reattached to the abdominal wall. You will also see that small drainage tubes have been inserted so that any excess fluid can be drained safely from the surgical site.
You will be given comprehensive instructions about your care after surgery and how you should behave during the post operative period. To make a full recovery will take from about three to six months. Initially there will be bruising and swelling but this will fade away in time. If you take care of your scars these too will fade and eventually be thin and insignificant white lines.
You will not be able to resume all your regular activities for several weeks after the surgery. It is very important that you give yourself enough time to recover. Eating well, refraining from smoking and drinking alcohol and building up exercise gradually will all help you to attain the optimum result.
The cost of your surgery will depend on several factors such as the facility you go to, the location and the surgeon who is going to operate on you. However an average amount that you would expect to pay for a tummy tuck will be between £3000 and £5000 pounds. You will be given a much more exact estimate once you have had your consultation with one of our doctors.
During this procedure, excess fat and skin will be removed from the abdominal area and any muscle repair will be carried out where muscles have been torn or are loose. The result of this contouring will be a flatter, smoother and tauter abdomen.
An operation to remove fat an excess skin from the stomach, a full abdominoplasty, will address issues that a patient has down towards the bikini line and above the navel. Patients should not consider that this is a weight loss procedure because it isn't and they need to understand as well that it does not correct any abnormality or issue horizontally, which may be required by a patient who has extreme lax skin in the upper abdomen. Your surgeon will discuss all possible options with you and together you will arrive at the best procedure for you.
Before you have a full tummy attack you will have a detailed and comprehensive consultation with your surgeon. At that time they will talk to you about what you are hoping to achieve with the surgery and tell you what the likely outcome is going to be. If the surgeon comes to the conclusion that a full tummy tuck would be the desired option for you then that surgery will be carried out in our state-of-the-art operating theatre.
The surgeon will mark the skin according to where he wishes to make the incisions and the anaesthetist will administer general anaesthetic. Incisions will be made in the lower abdominal area, ensuring that the scar will be below the bikini line. The surgeon will then proceed to removing the excess skin and tightening the remaining skin over the area. This may also be accompanied by liposuction and tightening of the abdominal wall. The wounds made by the incisions will be closed carefully with stitches that will dissolve, and the wound will then be covered with a dressing.
No you won't because you will be under general anaesthetic.
You will normally be asked to stay one night in the hospital in one of our luxurious private rooms. You will be able to have a shower the day after your surgery because the dressings applied are waterproof. You may be asked to wear a support garment which will be supplied to you and you should lie on your back to sleep with a couple of pillows propped underneath your knees.
You can start working up with some gentle exercise after a couple of weeks have passed and if you've added abdominals wall repair then you should avoid doing any heavy lifting for a period of about three months. The medical team will be keeping an eye on you and will see you for review after a week to answer any questions you have about your recovery and to give you any advice that you need. While you are recovering in your hotel you will be able to contact us at any time if you have any concerns.
No, your belly button won't be cut off during your full tummy tuck. It will stay where it is but the skin surrounding it will be move down and will be tightened.
The scarring from your full tummy tuck will fade in time until it is an inconsequential thin silvery line. Even a few months after surgery it is quite normal for your scars to look a bit lumpy and red, but this will resolve as healing continues.
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