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Your Melbourne Tummy Tuck Surgeon (Abdominoplasty)

Tummy tuck surgery can help you shift the stubborn skin and fat on the abdomen.

Additionally, it helps to tighten the stomach muscles to firm and flatten the front of your stomach and help recreate a waistline.

Who comes for a tummy tuck?

Late in the pregnancy, the skin is stretched beyond its ability to shrink back to its previous shape, and the six-pack muscles are separated in the middle. Once the post-pregnancy weight is lost, a tummy tuck will repair the separation in the stomach muscles and remove the stretched skin that will never shrink, no matter how much exercise you do.

The other group of people who come for a tummy tuck are those who have lost significant amounts of weight. Removing the stretched skin and fat and repairing the stomach muscles goes a long way to alleviating problems of skin rashes, inability to exercise and fit clothing.

Can I have liposuction instead to avoid the scar?

Liposuction only removes fat, not skin, so it is impossible for lipo alone to fix the looseness of the skin and/or muscle separation. The biggest problem with using liposuction inappropriately is leaving excess skin; creating the appearance of a deflated balloon. Liposuction however is frequently used at the time of an abdominoplasty to improve the ‘love-handle’ area and waistline.

How long is recovery?

The hospital stay is one to two nights. You will be able to take care of yourself when you leave the hospital but full recovery is six weeks. The muscle repair needs some time to heal, so you must not lift anything heavier than a kettle of water for this time. So that means no washing baskets, shopping bags or kids! Depending on what sort of work you do you may need anywhere from three weeks (for an office job) to six weeks off (for a job that requires lifting).

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Melbourne Tummy Tuck Surgeon

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT TUMMY TUCK (ABDOMINOPLASTY)

What is the recovery process like?

The recovery process after an abdominoplasty takes a total of about six weeks. After you leave hospital the first week of recovery is all about taking it easy. Your dressings are all waterproof so you can shower over them. You will be provided with a compression garment to wear which helps to reduce swelling and provide support. You should avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise for six weeks but you may be able to return to work, drive and resume light exercise by about the third or fourth week depending on your job. It is important to follow your surgeon’s instructions and attend follow-up appointments for tailored instructions to ensure a successful recovery.

What are the risks and complications associated with my procedure?

Like all surgery, an abdominoplasty has potential risks and complications. These complications can be thought of as general or specific. General complications include bleeding, infection, poor wound healing, blood clots in the legs (DVT) and rarely pulmonary embolism. Specific complications include seroma and numbness of the skin below the umbilicus. It’s important to discuss these risks with your surgeon and follow their instructions during recovery to minimise the risk of complications.

How soon after pregnancy can you get an abdominoplasty?

Typically, surgeons advise waiting six months to a year after pregnancy before undergoing a abdominoplasty. This waiting period permits your body to heal fully and enables you to attain your pre-pregnancy weight.