Tummy Tuck surgery, also known as Abdominoplasty, is a cosmetic plastic surgery procedure that reshapes the abdomen by removing excess fat, loose skin, and stretch marks while tightening lax and stretched abdominal muscles.
It is suitable for both men and women. Dr Safvat often combines a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) with liposuction of the abdomen and flanks to achieve the best results.
This procedure works best for women post-pregnancy who don’t want to have any more children – often as a part of a “mummy makeover” – or for people who have lost weight and are close to their ideal body weight but still have a large fat deposit or loose abdominal skin that will not respond to dieting or exercise. However, a tummy tuck is not a substitute for weight loss.
The tummy tuck procedure is completed under a general anaesthetic in an accredited hospital here in Sydney. Dr Safvat only works with highly trained anaesthetists accredited with the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists. The procedure takes around three to four hours and the patient is required to stay in hospital for three to seven days. Drainage tubes are usually placed under the skin to help prevent any fluid build-up.
The procedure ranges from a mini to a full tummy tuck depending on individual requirements.
A full tummy tuck operation is designed to reshape the entire span of the abdomen. It works for people with significant amount of loose skin, subcutaneous fat, and stretch marks. It also tightens the abdominal musculature (that often stretches and separates after pregnancy) to flatten the contour, reduce any bulges, and give an hour-glass appearance to the waist.
The belly button is also reshaped and placed in a more cosmetically desirable location. The scar in a full abdominoplasty is usually from hip to hip in the lower abdomen.
Dr Safvat often combines this procedure with liposuction of the upper abdomen and flanks to yield optimal results. A mini tummy tuck is a lighter procedure and suits people with a smaller amount of fat and excess skin in the lower abdomen only. The incision for a mini tummy tuck is smaller and is located just above the pubic area.
A mini tummy tuck has less down time and also requires less time in hospital – usually only one night. In some cases it can be done as a day only procedure.
Immediately post-operatively and for six weeks afterwards, patients need to wear a medical garment (abdominal binder). While patients may not be able to stand fully upright just after their surgery, they are actively encouraged to walk for short periods and to do deep breathing exercises post-operatively to prevent complications. Exertion and heavy lifting are not allowed for four to six weeks.
Dr Safvat advises his patients to take about three to four weeks off work (depending on the type of work you do) to rest at home and optimise the healing process. It’s also highly recommended that you have someone to assist you for the first week after surgery. You will need as much rest as possible and your range of movement will be limited for a time. This means that seemingly easy tasks such as cooking and caring for children can become slightly more challenging.
In terms of the final results of your surgery, most patients will need to wait up to 6 months before seeing the final outcome. This is different for everyone though. The best thing you can do is to follow Dr Safvat’s specific aftercare instructions to ensure a positive outcome.
In some cases, abdominoplasty surgery has an item number and patients will receive a rebate from Medicare and their health fund. If the patient qualifies for the item number, the hospital costs are generally covered by their private health fund. However, it does depend on the patient’s level and type of cover. There are stringent guidelines from Medicare as to whether a patient qualifies for an item number or not. This will be discussed with you during your consultation with Dr Safvat. Hospital, surgeon and anaesthetist fees will all be included in the final cost of your procedure.
Any surgical procedure can be associated with some general risks and complications. Having your procedure done in an accredited hospital minimises these risks. Although uncommon, these include collection of blood (haematoma) or other fluids (seroma), mild to severe infection, clots (DVT), and risks associated with general anaesthetics. There may also be problems with wound healing and scarring if the necessary aftercare instructions are not followed. If at any point during your recovery your incision site becomes red and inflamed, please get in touch with us as soon as you can. All potential risks and complications are discussed during your consultation.
Smoking and being overweight have been shown to cause more complications after your tummy tuck procedure. Dr Safvat will insist that patients stop smoking at least 3 weeks before their surgery and lose as much weight as they’re able to, within healthy limits, before their operation. In addition, if you are planning on future pregnancies, it is advisable to delay your tummy tuck. Certain supplements and medications will also need to be avoided prior to surgery to decrease the risk of bleeding.
The truth is that scarring is an inevitable side effect of every type of surgery, including a tummy tuck. Every step is taken during surgery to keep scarring to a minimum. Strategic placement of the incisions make it possible to hide any scarring underneath clothing or swimwear. We will also show you how to care for your wound in order to reduce the appearance of scarring. Dr Safvat will give you thorough information on his scar management protocol at your post-operative appointment. What’s more, scars do mature and fade over time, so they won’t be overly visible forever.
Yes, it is very common for a tummy tuck to be combined with additional procedures. It is also very often combined with liposuction in order to reduce excess pockets of stubborn fat. If Dr Safvat does feel you would benefit from additional procedures based on your goals, a custom surgical plan will be developed. It should be noted that not all procedures can be performed at the same time. Some surgery combinations need to be undertaken in stages to give the body enough time to heal.
If the abdominal muscles have not been weakened by injury, pregnancy or age, there’s no reason to include muscle repair. Many patients only undergo abdominoplasty to address loose excess skin and sometimes fat too. The specific details of your tummy tuck are discussed during your consultation with Dr Safvat following a physical examination and a discussion about your desired outcome.
In most instances, patients can drop several clothing sizes following abdominoplasty. Once the stomach and waist are slimmer, clothing fits better in every way.