Tummy tuck surgery involves excising the bulge of excess skin and fat to reveal a leaner physique. By removing loose and excess tissue from the abdomen, you achieve a smoother and more shapely body contour.

Every patient has different needs and goals for their body. Dr Richardson tailors each procedure to the patient’s body, health, and preferences in order to give patients the results they desire.

What to Expect During Your Abdominoplasty Consultation

If you are thinking about having tummy tuck surgery, a meeting with Dr Richardson will help clarify whether this is the right procedure for you and your body. During this meeting, you will be able to discuss why you are considering surgery and what you hope to gain from the procedure. We will ask you about your medical history, lifestyle, and smoking status in order to take your health into account. You should also raise any current health concerns as well as medications you are taking. This way, we will be able to make sure you are a good candidate before proceeding.

To help you attain your goals, Dr Richardson may suggest combining your surgery with another procedure, such as liposuction. This will assist you in attaining your desired outcome.

Patients should note that this procedure is not a replacement for weight loss or a healthy lifestyle. Generally, good candidates are those who have maintained a stable and healthy weight with diet and exercise. The surgery is often ideal for people seeking to remove excess skin and fat or address lax muscles. Therefore, if you are in good health and are seeking a solution to excess skin around the torso, this procedure could be an ideal option for you.

The Procedure

Your surgery will take place in a hospital with a general anaesthetic. Dr Richardson may use different techniques depending on your needs, as discussed in your first appointment. He will typically use liposuction at the front and sides of your abdomen to aid in removing fatty deposits. Since every surgery is different, the duration can depend on the specifics of the procedure. Generally, it will take two to four hours, and most patients stay in the hospital for one or two nights. There are multiple techniques for tummy tuck surgery, such as:

Standard tummy tuck:

During a standard procedure, Dr Richardson will make a full incision low in the panty line from hip to hip, in order to access the underlying tissue. He will tighten the muscles to improve their position and function. Following this, Dr Richardson will remove excess fat and skin tissue, giving the abdomen a smoother and leaner shape. The incision will be closed with sutures in order to secure the skin in a tighter position. He will also reposition the belly button to give the abdomen a smoother and natural contour.

Extended tummy tuck:

Dr Richardson may suggest this procedure if excess skin extends past the hips and round to the loin region. Again, the incision is kept low and extends to remove the excess skin folds. The procedure is otherwise similar to a standard tummy tuck.

Mini tummy tuck:

For patients with a small amount of loose skin and fat, a mini tummy tuck can be an ideal solution. It removes the excess bulge in the area above the pubic region, such as may occur after a C-section, addressing the muscles in the lower abdomen only. Due to the smaller incision, it is considered a less invasive procedure and often requires less recovery time. Your belly button will not be moved.

Reverse tummy tuck:

This procedure is ideal for patients with moderate loose skin folds and excess fat above the belly button, and good tone of the lower abdomen. Dr Richardson hides the incision in the fold under the breasts. He repairs lax stomach muscles and lifts and tightens the upper skin. This type of surgery does not reposition the belly button.

Fleur De Lis tummy tuck:

Patients with excess skin on both the upper and lower abdomen can benefit from this procedure. In addition to the incision across the lower belly, Dr Richardson makes a vertical incision up the centre of the abdomen. This allows tightening of the full length of the muscles and removes the upper central skin bulge, creating a smooth and contoured abdomen.

Corset tummy tuck:

This procedure is for patients with a large amount of excess skin on the upper and lower abdomen. Dr Richardson places incisions low above the pubic region, up centrally, and across beneath the breasts to allow full access and repair of lax muscles (rectus divarication). It also allows the removal of excess skin and fat to obtain a well contoured figure.

If a patient has excess skin and fat around the whole torso, Dr Richardson may suggest a body lift for you to obtain a contoured physique.

Cost of Tummy Tuck Surgery

Due to the personal nature of the procedure, patients may vary in their surgery fees. The overall fee will depend on several factors, which we will discuss in your initial meeting with us. For example, patients with more severe skin sagging may need a more extensive surgery which, in turn, may increase the total cost.

When outlining surgery fees, we will take into account the surgeon’s fee, hospital fee, and anaesthetist fees. As well as this, there are also medication and aftercare costs. Since many tummy tuck procedures are done for cosmetic reasons, most patients will need to pay for their own surgery. However, there may be some cases where insurance will cover a portion of the total fee. Dr Richardson will advise whether you are eligible for rebates from Medicare or a private health insurer. We can help clarify these issues and give you further guidance during your first appointment.

Aftercare

After your surgery, you will receive painkillers and can expect to have dressings on your incisions. You may also have a support garment and drainage tubes under the skin to prevent fluid build-up. Dr Richardson will advise when these can be removed. Patients may need to spend one or more nights in the hospital and should organise for a trusted friend or family member to drive them home. We advise that your support person stays with you for at least the first 48 hours after you leave the hospital.

Recovery is an important process after a tummy tuck. Patients should take the appropriate measures to ensure their bodies heal well. In order to aid your recovery, we will give you guidance on how best to care for your incisions and encourage a good result. For example, you may need to get someone to assist you with chores and daily tasks, like cooking, driving, and caring for children. We suggest you also:

• Sleep with your head propped up on extra pillows
• Reduce your movement and get plenty of rest
• Stay hydrated and eat a healthy diet
• Refrain from smoking, as this can obstruct healing
• Avoid alcoholic drinks
• Take prescribed pain medication
• Wear your support garment
• Refrain from exercise and lifting

As a guide, most patients can expect the following recovery after their surgery:

• Discomfort: one to two weeks
• Return to activity: one week. You may find it difficult at first to use your stomach muscles, and actions such as sitting up or standing up straight may feel tight
• Resume exercise: gentle walk after one week, and gym after six to eight weeks
• Return to work: two weeks
• Return to driving: one to two weeks. Patients must be fully alert, no longer taking any sedating medications, and be able to move freely without restriction
• Return to travel: six weeks
• Remove post-op support garments: six weeks

Most patients find that they have recovered by six weeks after surgery. Dr Jeremy Richardson and his team will guide you and advise you further according to your surgery and needs.

Risks and Complications

Mild side effects are common after tummy tuck surgery. For example, you may have some swelling and discomfort, as well as pain around your incisions. We can help ease this with pain medication and a tailored aftercare plan. More severe symptoms are rare but can occur. You should be aware of these before pursuing surgery in order to be fully informed and prepared. These include:

• Bleeding and infection
• Reactions to anaesthesia
• Slow or poor healing
• Stretched scars
• Fluid build-up
• Persistent pain
• Numbness
• Damage to underlying tissues
• Unwanted results
• Further surgery to correct issues

You can reduce your risks by not smoking before and after your procedure, and by closely following your aftercare instructions, as this will help your body to heal efficiently.