Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) Brisbane

Why consider an Abdominoplasty? | Abdominoplasty surgery consultation | Abdominoplasty surgery | Recovery period | Book Consultation

What is an Abdominoplasty?

An abdominoplasty – sometimes referred to colloquially as a “tummy tuck", is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat to create a flatter, tighter, abdominal area. A tummy tuck may also restore separated abdominal muscles, which can often occur after pregnancy or weight fluctuation.

What are the Benefits of an Abdominoplasty?

Individuals undergoing an abdominoplasty procedure will have differing goals, but an abdominoplasty can assist with the following:

• Creating a flatter, tighter abdominal area. For women, this may also include creating a more desirable hip and flank area
• Creating a shapelier and more toned appearance in clothing by removing excess skin
• Improvement in posture, core strength and back pain
• Reduction in the occurrence of skin infections and hygiene issues, which can occur when individuals have aprons of excess fat and skin

Am I Eligible for an Abdominoplasty?

During your initial consultation, one of our experienced surgeons will determine if you are eligible for an abdominoplasty.

Individuals who are concerned about a disproportionate or protruding abdominal area, which hasn’t responded well to diet and exercise, may be eligible for an abdominoplasty procedure.

Women who have experienced muscle separation and stretched skin after their pregnancy may also find abdominoplasty to be an effective procedure.

Abdominoplasty work best when a patient’s weight is optimal, has remained stable for three months, and they are in good physical condition.

Your surgeon will assess the amount of excess skin and fat you have, the extent of your muscle separation and any previous abdominal scarring, before advising on the outcomes you can expect to achieve. Depending on your level of excess skin and fat, your surgeon may recommend liposuction as an additional procedure.

Abdominoplasty Consultation

Our surgeons discuss with each patient their expectations for the procedure, the results they wish to achieve, and the risks involved in the procedure.

Your surgeon will take you through any potential limitations to your procedure and outline additional surgical options you may have.

This is also an excellent opportunity for you to discuss any questions or concerns about the abdominoplasty, particularly if you are anxious about certain aspects of the procedure, such as the anaesthetic, medication or recovery process.

At this consultation, it is very important for you to share your full medical history with the surgeon. This includes:

• Any previous surgeries
• History of scarring
• Tendency for easy bruising and excessive bleeding
• History of deep venous clots in the legs
• Medications, including non-prescription medication
• Allergies
• History of smoking
• Mental health history

Full disclosure of your medical history ensures that your surgeon has a good understanding of your general level of fitness for anaesthesia, potential surgical risks and whether your medication needs modifying before surgery.

Costs

In line with the Australian Medical Board’s guidelines for advertising regulated health services, we do not provide exact costs of our procedures on our website. Your surgeon can discuss the cost of your procedure during your initial consultation or you can contact our clinic before your first appointment to discuss approximate costs and out-of-pocket expenses. Please call us on 07 3180 3400 , or submit an online enquiry to find out more.

There is a cost for an initial consultation at our Brisbane clinic, with the potential to receive a portion of this back via Medicare where eligible for rebate, provided you have a referral from your GP.

Pre-operative Management

The pre-operative process is designed to help you prepare for surgery and the recovery period.

The surgeon will go through with you in detail which medications (both prescription and non-prescription) must be stopped and/or adjusted in the lead-up to surgery and whether you require any blood tests. If you are a smoker, you will be required to stop smoking six weeks prior and six weeks following surgery.

How Does the Abdominoplasty Procedure Work?

Abdominoplasty is performed under general anaesthetic in an accredited hospital by one of NorthEast Plastic Surgery’s experienced surgeons, Mr Patrick Tansley or Dr Sugitha Seneviratne.

The procedure is performed through an incision which passes from hip to hip along the bikini line. The extent of scarring and the amount of skin and fatty tissue removed will be discussed with you before the surgery.

Once the incision has been made, the surgeon re-attaches the separated and/or stretched abdominal muscles to create a tighter, flatter abdominal area. Excess skin and fat is also removed.

The incisions are then closed with dissolving stitches and sterile surgical dressings applied, which are removed in the weeks after surgery. Suction drains will also be applied to the site to drain tissue fluid and blood and are removed three to five days later.

Recovering After Surgery

It is important that access to medical attention is available by telephone once you have been discharged. Issues about which your surgeon needs to be made aware urgently include pain uncontrolled by medication, bleeding to the extent that the dressings soak through with blood, temperatures exceeding 38 degrees Celsius, redness of the skin or any concerns related to the surgery.

Typically, patients stay in hospital for two to three days following their surgery or can be treated as day surgery cases. Once all the excess fluid and blood has been drained away, the suction tubes are removed and you’ll be given a compressive garment that assists in reducing swelling and bruising. This is to be worn for a number of weeks following the surgery.

Before leaving hospital, you’ll be given advice on how to move around so as not to put strain on the surgical site, which also encourages the wounds to heal.

You will have a series of post-operative appointments, when your dressings will be changed and your wounds will be assessed.

At this time, you may notice that swelling and/or bruising increasing over the first three to five days after surgery. This is completely normal, and in many cases, it will subside within weeks.

You’ll be given various restrictions following your abdominoplasty, including no driving for approximately two weeks, and avoiding heavy lifting and vigorous exercise for around six to eight weeks. Many patients find they can resume work within three weeks after their surgery, once wounds have healed.

You will need to notify your surgeon immediately if you experience excessive bleeding, high temperature over 38 degrees or severe discomfort not addressed by pain medication provided after surgery.

Risks

Post-operative complications are rare, but it is important for patients to be aware of them before consenting to surgery.

Possible complications arising from an abdominoplasty include:

• Excessive bleeding
• Infection
• Scarring which doesn’t settle over the coming months post-surgery
• Tissue fluid collection

A small percentage of patients (approximately 5 per cent) who experience post-operative complications require revisional surgery.

Second Opinion

Mr Patrick Tansley MD FRCS (Plast) and Dr Sugitha Seneviratne FRACS (Plast) provide second opinion to patients seeking to address previous cosmetic plastic surgery problems and revisions for already ‘botched’ surgery. If you would like a second opinion on previously undertaken surgery, book a consultation to discuss this with one or both of our surgeons.