Abdominoplasty surgery, also known as (tummy tuck) surgery is a surgical procedure that focuses on the abdomen region. During abdominoplasty surgery, Gold Coast Specialist Plastic Surgeon Dr Doyle removes excess and loose skin, addresses stubborn fat pockets and repairs abdominal muscles, generally resulting in a firmer abdomen. By removing surplus tissue and repairing muscle structure, abdominoplasty not only aims to alter the physical aspects of the abdomen but also endeavours to repair the functional integrity of the abdominal muscles. If abdominal muscle separation and loose skin persist, you may wish to consider abdominoplasty surgery, as a solution to achieving a functional abdomen.
Disclaimer: All information on the Gold Coast Plastic Surgery website is general in nature and is not intended to be medical advice, nor does it constitute a doctor-patient relationship. Results can vary significantly and depend on individual patient circumstances. Please be aware that the outcomes shown are specific to those patients and may not necessarily reflect the results others may experience. Individual results can vary due to many factors, including genetics, diet, and exercise. All images on this website, unless specified as real patient images, are graphics used for illustrative purposes only. Surgery risks and complications will be covered in detail during a consultation with your surgeon. Book a consult for details regarding your cosmetic surgery procedure.
Throughout this page, you will gain educational surgery insights into various facets of abdominoplasty, including candidacy criteria, procedural details, the recovery process, and related considerations. This information will equip you with a comprehensive understanding, facilitating informed decisions on the surgery.
Abdominoplasty, at a glance
Target area: Excess fat and loose skin on the abdomen
Time off work: 1 – 2 weeks
Total recovery: 6 weeks
Compression garment: 2 weeks full time wear, 6 weeks total
Scar position: Generally below the bikini line, extending hip to hip from where the skin falls.
What is Abdominoplasty Surgery?
Removing excess skin from the lower abdominoplasty and repairing muscle separation can improve a patients abdomen functionality.”
– Gold Coast Specialist Plastic Surgeon Dr Mark Doyle
Abdominoplasty Surgery
During abdominoplasty surgery, your surgeon will remove loose, excess skin and tighten the remaining abdomen skin, this can alleviate hygiene issues, which may be caused by the folding of loose skin. Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) surgery can also include muscle separation repair, where weakened or separated muscles are repaired for optimal functionality. Furthermore, this may also improve posture, bladder function and the overall function of the abdomen region.
The procedure takes between 2 – 3 hours under general anaesthetic and usually involves an overnight stay at John Flynn Private Hospital on the southern Gold Coast.
Dr Mark Doyle is a senior Specialist Plastic Surgeon located in Queensland and offers abdominoplasty surgery to patients from the Gold Coast, Townsville, Gladstone, Rockhampton, Whitsundays, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Byron Bay and the further northern NSW region.
During your surgery consultation, Specialist Plastic Surgeon Dr Doyle will conduct a comprehensive examination to determine which technique would be most suitable for you. During this consultation, he will also review your medical history and discuss any concerns or questions you may have regarding the surgery. Once he understands your surgery expectations, he will recommend the best, most suitable options for your anatomy and surgery plan.
Quick Facts
Male Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) Surgery
A male abdominoplasty is a surgery procedure specific to the male anatomy, tailored to men, who have excess skin. This procedure offers patients a way to remove excess skin from the abdominal region, following weight loss. Similar to women, men also experience excess, loose abdomen skin. The male abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) surgery offers abdominal surgery techniques that can remove excess skin and stubborn fat pockets. This may lead to an improvement in the functionality of the abdomen, including core strength and improved skin elasticity. Please note, that male abdominoplasty surgery differs slightly from female abdominoplasty surgery, as male abdominoplasty addresses the unique male anatomy.
Who is a Suitable Candidate?
Generally, you are considered a good candidate if you are:
- Physically healthy
- At a stable weight
- Non-smoker
- Have realistic expectations
For patients with excess fat tissue on their stomach and no significant excess skin, liposuction may also be recommended. If excess, loose skin is the only concern, the recommended procedure is generally abdominoplasty or mini abdominoplasty surgery. Dr Doyle routinely uses liposuction within abdominoplasty procedures.
While abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) surgery focuses on the reduction of excess, loose abdomen skin and tissue, it is recommended that women should only consider this surgery once they are no longer nursing or breastfeeding. Further pregnancies may stretch the skin and further separate the abdominal muscles. Therefore, to achieve optimal post-surgery results, women should wait until after pregnancy and breastfeeding has ceased. Please note, that this procedure may also be subject to Medicare rebates.
Want more assistance? Take our quiz or book a consultation to find out if you’re a suitable candidate for surgery!
Different Types of Abdominoplasty Surgery
Full Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) Surgery
A full abdominoplasty surgery targets the entire front abdominal area and involves removing excess skin and tightening abdominal muscles. The procedure results in a firmer abdomen. The surgery generally begins with an incision at the navel and finishes with a second incision above the navel. The surgeon then removes excess, loose skin and excess fat from the abdomen region and if required, repairs separated abdominal muscles.
Extended Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) Surgery
An extended abdominoplasty surgery is a variation of the full abdominoplasty which extends to the hips, flanks, and sometimes the lateral thigh. In this procedure, the lateral incision is extended to reach further around the body, rather than just the central “tummy” area. This targets the hips and flanks as well as the stomach, resulting in a firmer frontal and back abdomen region.
If the flanks, also known as ‘latus’ have excess fat pockets, rather than excess, loose skin, liposuction may be used in conjunction with other surgical techniques to remove excess fat pockets.
Mini Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) Surgery
A mini abdominoplasty surgery is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin from the lower abdomen. This procedure requires smaller incisions, generally placed just above the pubic bone. The skin leading up to the belly button is generally separated from the muscles and pulled firm, with the excess skin then removed. This procedure is sometimes recommended for those who have excess skin on their stomach or excess skin above their cesarean section scar.
Abdominoplasty Surgery Scar
When looking at abdominoplasty surgery photo galleries, please take note what the patients’ scars look like, particularly their size and location. Abdominoplasty surgery scars are typically visible across the top of the pelvic area but can extend from hip bone to hip bone. Abdominoplasty surgery scars can generally be concealed with clothing.
During abdominoplasty surgery recovery, collagen fibres will begin to form at the wound site. As collagen fibres form, your body’s blood supply should increase. As a result, your abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) surgery scars should become thicker and darker. It will take 3 – 6 months for abdominoplasty surgery scars to mature.
Abdominoplasty Surgery Scars Locations
Lower Abdomen
Most abdominoplasty surgery procedures leave a scar running horizontally across the lower abdomen. However, depending on where the excess skin starts, the scar can go from one hip bone to the other hip bone.
Around Belly Button
A traditional abdominoplasty surgery requires an incision be made around the belly button, to ensure that the navel is centrally positioned when the excess skin is reduced. Standard abdominoplasty surgeries involve one long excision, generally along the bikini line, and one around the belly button. Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) surgery scars can be visible at first, although, generally most patients find that the scar fades into the abdomen and becomes less noticeable over time.
Vertical Scars
Vertical scars may also be required if you wish to target excess redundant skin above the belly button. This procedure is also called a vertical abdominoplasty. It is most commonly used for major weight loss patients, who have very excess amounts of tissue on their abdomen.
Incisions
Incisions for a mini abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) surgery are shorter, and as such, mini abdominoplasty surgery scars are also less visible when compared to a full abdominoplasty surgery. The incision is generally low on the abdomen, above the pubic bone. This allows the surgeon to access the underlying connective tissue and fat. During this surgery, Gold Coast Specialist Plastic Surgeon Dr Doyle makes the incisions, tightens the tissue, removes excess skin and closes the incision.
Abdominoplasty Surgery Before and After Photos
There are many abdominoplasty surgeries before and after photos on the internet. Although, what is the most important information to consider? The best way to determine if abdominoplasty surgery is suitable for you is to ensure you do sufficient research and view abdominoplasty surgery before and after photos, before booking your surgery. You can also read education blogs and schedule a consultation with Dr Doyle to learn more.
Disclaimer: All information on the Gold Coast Plastic Surgery website is general in nature and is not intended to be medical advice, nor does it constitute a doctor-patient relationship. Results can vary significantly and depend on individual patient circumstances. Please be aware that the outcomes shown are specific to those patients and may not necessarily reflect the results others may experience. Individual results can vary due to many factors, including genetics, diet, and exercise. All images on this website, unless specified as real patient images, are graphics used for illustrative purposes only. Surgery risks and complications will be covered in detail during a consultation with your surgeon. Book a consult for details regarding your cosmetic surgery procedure.
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Download our Free Abdominoplasty Surgery Procedure Guide
Recovery After Abdominoplasty Surgery
For abdominoplasty recovery, you’ll likely need 2 – 4 weeks off work post-abdominoplasty surgery, to ensure a quality recovery and optimal healing. Gold Coast Specialist Plastic Surgeon Dr Doyle provides all patients with post-operative care instructions, which should be followed precisely to ensure you are not straining your wounds.
You should also follow Dr Doyle’s best practice cosmetic surgery recovery tips, which include an adequate wound-healing diet and more information about the use of supplements. It’s important to do your research before undergoing surgery, to ensure that you know what’s normal and what’s not when it comes to your surgery recovery. You should know when to get in contact with Dr Doyle, should a question or concern arise.
Abdominoplasty Surgery Cost
When considering an abdominoplasty surgery, understanding the cost factors and potential insurance coverage is important. Here’s a breakdown of the key aspects to consider:
Abdominoplasty Surgery Medicare Rebate
There is a specific medical criteria to meet, when it comes to abdominoplasty surgery, as in some cases it can be considered a cosmetic procedure. Therefore, Medicare rebate for abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) surgery may not be applicable. However, there may be certain circumstances where Medicare provides coverage if there are underlying medical issues such as muscle separation, diastasis recti or hernias that require repair during the abdominoplasty surgery. It is recommended to contact your surgeon or Medicare directly to enquire about the eligibility criteria and any potential rebates for specific medical conditions.
Private Health Insurance Coverage
Similar to Medicare, abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) surgery private health insurance may not cover abdominoplasty surgery, as it can be considered an elective cosmetic procedure. However, there may be certain exceptions or circumstances where coverage is provided. For example, if there are documented medical conditions such as diastasis recti, excessive skin rashes, or infections resulting from excess abdominal skin, some private health insurance policies may offer partial coverage. It is crucial to review your policy and consult with your health fund, to understand the extent of the coverage they can offer for abdominoplasty surgery, and whether diastasis recti is a qualifying condition.
Abdominoplasty Price Considerations
Specific abdominoplasty pricing information may vary, and it is important to consult with Dr Doyle for an accurate surgery estimate. However, as a general reference, it is worth mentioning that the starting point for a standard abdominoplasty surgery is from $22,000. Keep in mind that this figure is subject to change and may depend on various factors, including:
- Surgeon’s Experience: Experienced, senior specialist plastic surgeons may charge higher fees.
- Hospital Fees: These fees cover the use of the operating theatre, nursing staff, recovery staff and related services.
- Anesthesia Fees: The cost of anesthesia services provided by a registered anaesthetist.
- Additional Services or Tests: Any required pre-operative tests, post-operative garments, or follow-up consultations.
To receive an accurate cost estimate for your abdominoplasty surgery, it is advisable to schedule a consultation with a specialist plastic surgeon. During the consultation at Gold Coast Plastic Surgery, the surgeon will assess your unique case and provide a personalised cost breakdown, based on your specific anatomy and the recommended procedures.
FAQs
How Long Does It Take To Fully Recover From an Abdominoplasty Surgery?
Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) surgery recovery time depends on the type of surgery. A Full Abdominoplasty requires a minimum of 6 weeks of recovery time. A mini abdominoplasty surgery requires a minimum of 4 weeks of recovery time.
What are the risks?
Like any surgical procedure, abdominoplasty surgery carries certain risks and potential complications. By following all pre-operative and post-operative instructions provided by your surgeon and closely monitoring your recovery, you can minimise your risk of complications.
Some risks may include:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Scarring
- Delayed healing
- Fluid accumulation (Seroma)
- Numbness or changes in sensation
- Blood clots
- Anesthesia risks
Do you Stay Overnight After Abdominoplasty Surgery?
You may be required to stay in hospital overnight following full abdominoplasty surgery, although, it’s not always necessary for a mini abdominoplasty surgery.
Book a Consultation
Specialist Plastic Surgeon Dr Doyle offers abdominoplasty surgery to patients in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast. His consultations are held in the clinic at Gold Coast Plastic Surgery on the Gold Coast. Secure a consultation today and discuss your surgery questions with him.
During your consultation, Dr Doyle will evaluate your medical history, expectations, anatomy and surgical goals. You will be given general surgery information, information about preparation for surgery, the risks and recovery.
About Dr Mark Doyle FRACS (Plas) – Queensland Plastic Surgeon
Servicing patients in Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Cairns and New South Wales NSW – Northern Rivers, Byron Bay, Ballina, Lismore and more.
Dr Mark Doyle is a fully qualified Specialist Plastic Surgeon with over 30 years of experience performing breast, body, face and nose surgery. He has completed all required training and only carries out approved surgical practices. There are NO undertrained doctors or cosmetic doctors acting as surgeons at Gold Coast Plastic Surgery.
