What is a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty?

Tummy tuck is a surgical procedure which aims to reduce excess skin and fat and repairs the gap between the abdominal muscles. There are various types of tummy tuck and each one has specific indications and addresses specific issues

The type of tummy tuck offered to you will be a bespoke one, specifically designed to address your wishes and needs.

Who is a suitable candidate for an abdominoplasty?

1. Patients who have lost significant weight either through diet or medical intervention
2. Women post-pregnancy
3. Anyone with generalised tissue laxity and excess of skin and fat in the abdominal area

What are the different types of abdominoplasty?

1. Liposuction tummy tuck only removes fat. It is mainly reserved for patients who have minimal excess of skin or no excess at all but have accumulation of fat under their skin. The procedure is carried out under general anaesthetic with small stab incisions and fine water-assisted liposuctions cannulas.

Pink area is the liposucted area and small red lines are the stab incisions for access

2. When skin excess is the main issue and depending on the condition of the recti abdominis muscles, a mini or a full tummy tuck is required.

2a. The mini tummy tuck involves a smaller suprapubic incision and less extensive tissue mobilisation mainly below the tummy button which is not re-sited. There is no scar around the tummy button. It is usually accompanied by liposuction to the area above the tummy button. Muscle repair if required can only take place in the lower abdominal area and finally any excess skin is removed.

Mini tummy tuck: Green represents the area mobilised and pink the skin removed. Muscle repair in red takes place below the tummy button and the suprapubic scar is less extensive

2b. The full tummy tuck involves a longer suprapubic incision usually from hip to hip and extensive tissue mobilisation below and above the tummy button which is re-sited to a new position. Muscle repair if required takes place in the upper and lower abdomen across the total length of the abdominal wall and any excess skin is removed.

Full tummy tuck: Green represents the area mobilised and pink the area resected. Muscle repair in red takes place across the full length of the abdominal wall and the suprapubic scar is more extensive usually from hip to hip

Recti muscles come apart especially after pregnancies and they are restored during the abdominoplasty

3. Fleur de Lys tummy tuck is indicated in very severe cases mainly after massive weight loss when a significant skin excess exists in both horizontal and vertical abdominal planes. Basically, it is the procedure of the full tummy tuck with the addition of a vertical midline scar

Fleur the Lys excision pattern. Involves 2 scars, one vertical and one horizontal.

4. Lipo-abdominoplasty is the addition of flank liposuction to any type of abdominoplasty.

Your bespoke abdominoplasty transformation overview

Consultation and Planning: 45-60 minutes
Surgical procedure: 3 hours on average
Hospital stay: 2-3 nights
Follow up appointments: Every week until healing is complete, then 3 months and 12 months.
Time off work: 10-14 days
No Driving: 10 days
Exercise and Gym: 4-6 weeks

Consultation and Planning

Once you book your appointment with me, I will see you at your chosen time in my clinic. Your consultation will last 45-60 minutes. During this time, I will listen to your wishes, examine you, access any medical conditions you may have and focus on your specific issues of concern. Your tissues will be assessed and eventually a bespoke plan will be presented to you.
The consultation process is the first step, but in my opinion the most important, as it is the corner stone of your journey.

Surgical Procedure

Your bespoke procedure will take on average 3 hours and is under general anaesthetic. When you wake up in recovery you will have been fitted with an abdominal garment and you will have 2 drains.
You will stay in the hospital for 2-3 nights where you will be helped with physiotherapy.

Aftercare and follow up:

Weekly until you heal completely and then at 3 months and at 12 months

Risks

Overall, the abdominoplasty is a safe procedure. However, it is major surgery and sometimes complete recovery takes longer.

1. Early: Bleeding, infection
2. Intermediate: Seroma, delayed healing,
3. Late: Fat necrosis, scarring, asymmetry
4. Generalised complications like DVT

Seroma is fluid build-up and may require drainage by aspiration in the clinic. Scarring will be in the bikini line and very low within the hair-bearing area of the pubis. It aims to produce elevation of the mons pubis at the same time as the abdominoplasty for better results.

PHOTO GALLERY

Full Lipo-abdominoplasty and muscle repair before and 3 months after

Full abdominoplasty and muscle plication before and 3 months after

 

Fleur de Lys abdominoplasty hernia repair divarication recti repair and musculofascial plication. Patient had a very large gap in the middle of her abdomen secondary to multiple pregnancies. Before and 4 months after

Combined procedure full abdominoplasty and mastopexy before and 6 months after. The horizontal tummy tuck scar is under the bikini strap. In this case a small vertical scar was necessary to achieve such a youthful abdominal contour because the abdomen had little excess skin vertically. Mastopexy scar almost invisible.

 

TESTIMONIALS

Written by a private patient
26th May 2023

iWantGreatCare 5star review

After having my 5 children I was left with an awful mummy tum that I could not get rid of through exercise so I decided it’s best to seek professional advice and help.. After looking at a few surgeons I chose Dr Spyrou and I’m so glad I did . From the first consultation he was just lovely he told me exactly what he could do to help get my body back in shape n help me feel good about my self again… I had a two night stay for a minor tummy tuck and liposuction the staff there were amazing my whole stay was faultless .. I’m so pleased I chose Dr Spyrou and my results are amazing I am so so happy x thankyou again x

 

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