Tummy Tuck

- Free, no-obligation consultation
- GMC-registered surgeons
- Care Quality Commission registered
- Comprehensive aftercare

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What is a tummy tuck?

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What are the benefits of a tummy tuck?

Are there any risks?

Is it right for me?

Cost

What is a tummy tuck?

A confident you comes from the inside and out. It’s the feeling of being who you want to be and looking how you want to look. If there are changes you’d like to make, we’re here to help you achieve the body you want to have.

If pregnancy or weight loss has left you with excess, sagging skin in the stomach area, or ‘tummy bulges’ that are resistant to diet and exercise, tummy tuck surgery could reshape your abdomen to give you a flatter, smoother profile. It can also provide muscle placation or muscle tightening to stretch abdominal muscles so that your firmer shape can be maintained after.

Tummy tuck surgery, also called abdominoplasty, is designed to remove surplus skin and fat deposits to help tighten the stomach area. One of the leading cosmetic surgeons we work with can advise whether the surgery is suitable for the result you want to achieve.

Say yes to a new look. Get in touch and start your journey to a new you today.

What are the benefits of a tummy tuck?

Following an abdominoplasty, your overall silhouette is improved and your stomach is completely reshaped. The procedure can be used to remove loose and sagging skin as a result of significant weight loss. The pouch of fat that many women are left with after pregnancy can also be removed to re-tighten the area.

The surgery may also involve repairing and retightening weak stomach muscles. The results will be a flatter, tighter stomach overall, which allows you to wear fitted clothing more confidently. Many people say that their overall self-esteem has increased after having abdominoplasty surgery.

Are there any risks?

All surgical procedures pose a potential risk, and it is important know what these are before you go ahead so that you can weigh them up against the benefits your procedure could bring. During your consultations you will talk through these potential complications and you can ask any questions that you have about them.

For a tummy tuck, you will be left with a scar running across your lower abdomen and, if you require a full abdominoplasty, a scar around your belly button. Scarring will be red and raised post-surgery but can be expected to start fading after around six weeks. After the procedure, you may have the sensation that your tummy is being pulled when you stand up, but this will improve after time. Pain and bruising are to be expected after the surgery, but there is also a risk of bleeding, numbness and infection.

Is it right for me?

A tummy tuck can be the right option for many people, but should not be seen as a weight loss procedure and is not a substitute for diet and exercise.

The surgery is best to be performed if you are at a healthy, manageable weight, so that it is easier for you to maintain the results achieved after surgery.

Cost

The Hospital Group is a responsible provider of cosmetic surgery, so we understand that each procedure is different and tailored to your requirements and individual needs. At your free consultation, your surgeon assistant will be able to discuss the surgery with you and let you know the cost.

Surgery Time: 1 - 5 hours

Time Off Work: 2 - 3 weeks

Hospital Stay: Up to 2 nights

Full Recovery: From 12 weeks

Pressure Garment: Wear for 6 weeks

Exercise: After 6 weeks

Scarring: Minimal across lower abdomen

Final Results: 2 - 3 weeks

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Patient Stories

Nicola Gaffey

Having lost quite a lot of weight a few years earlier, she decided that if she managed to keep it off, she would have surgery to remove all the excess skin that the weight loss had left.

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Patient Stories

Katie Ryder

After Katie lost an incredible 12 stone with the aid of a gastric band in 2013, she had an amazing new body weight. But having excess skin and a reduced breast size because of the weight she’d lost meant that she still didn’t quite have the shape she’d dreamed of.

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Patient Stories

Tammie Atkin

I went to the consultation with a long list of questions and she gave me as much time as I needed. Then I went back to see the surgeon, also with a massive list

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Before and after

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After

Before

After

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FAQ

Tummy Tuck FAQs

More FAQs

Is a tummy tuck right for me?

Tummy tuck surgery is suitable for patients who want to eliminate excess skin as a result of pregnancy or weight loss, along with muscle tightening in the stomach area. The surgery is not in itself a means of losing weight – diet and exercise are the best way to remove unwanted fat. If diet and exercise has not enabled you to reach your target weight, and you have a BMI over 30, bariatric surgery may be a suitable procedure for you. Your surgeon will advise you which form of surgery is most suitable for you.

How long does tummy tuck surgery take?

Tummy tuck surgery usually takes 2-3 hours under general anaesthetic.

How long will I have to stay in hospital?

Following the procedure, patients usually need to stay in hospital for two nights.

Will I have scars following a tummy tuck?

Yes. An incision is generally made from one hip to the other along the bikini line, which could later be covered by underwear. The scar can stretch from one side of the lower abdomen to the other depending on the size of the stomach. All scars take time to soften and fade, and this can take up to a year.

What is a compression garment?

You’ll need to wear an appropriate post-surgical compression garment to aid healing. The specialist 3-panel abdominal binder can be purchased at Dolan Park Hospital, where your surgery will take place, or at selected clinics. The three panels of the binder apply the correct pressure to the abdominal area, which stops fluid building up, prevents swelling and reduces bleeding. The binder is fastened with Velcro to allow easy adjustment. Abdominoplasty patients need to wear this binder for six weeks. You will be discharged in one of these post-surgery, however due to the length of time the garment needs to be worn patients often feel that it is better to replace the garment.

Next steps

Your journey step by step

Your first appointment

Your journey with The Hospital Group begins with a free telephone consultation with our friendly surgeon assistants. During this conversation you can talk through why you are interested in surgery, how much it costs, how much recovery time you will need, and potential surgery dates. Whenever you decide to book a surgery date, you can secure it for a minimum refundable deposit of £500.

If you would like to proceed, we will book your surgical consultation.

Your surgical consultation

During this consultation you will talk about your goals for surgery and go through your medical history to ascertain whether you are a suitable candidate for this procedure. You will also discuss the results you might expect, as well as the possible risks and complications of surgery. Our specialist surgeons are extremely knowledgeable, so they can answer any questions you might have.

If you feel you would like to go ahead, you will then be referred to a clinic nurse for pre-operative assessments and tests.

The surgery

You will see your surgeon on the day of your surgery so that you can talk through any final questions and read through the consent form. The whole surgical team will be introduced to you before heading into theatre for the procedure.

The specifics of the surgery will be discussed prior to the day – you will find out how long it will take, the types of anaesthetics used, and they will talk you through the procedure itself.

Recovery

The surgeon will let you know whether you will need to stay in the hospital overnight. You might feel swollen and tender for a while, but this is completely normal and should settle fairly quickly. We’ll provide any pain relief you need whilst you’re in hospital.

Your nurse will call you once you get home to make sure you feel okay and book you in for your post-operative review in the clinic when needed. We’ll also give you our 24/7 patient helpline number so that you can speak to a member of the clinical team at any time.

Aftercare

At The Hospital Group, we offer a full package of aftercare support with all our cosmetic surgery procedures to give you complete peace of mind. You’ll benefit from the following aftercare: unlimited post-op appointments with a member of our clinical team whenever you need them, surgical cover for 2 years – revision surgery where clinically indicated, additional days’ stay in hospital when needed, additional medication and dressings at no extra cost, and emergency telephone support which you can use at any time.