If endless sit-ups and crunches are not giving you the taut tummy you are striving for or you have a little too much flab or excess skin around your abdomen that won’t diminish with diet or exercise, you may want to consider an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck).
Popularly referred to as a tummy tuck, this procedure flattens your abdomen by removing extra fat and skin, and tightening muscles of the abdominal wall. Whilst not an alternative to a healthy weight-loss plan, abdominoplasty can help in tidying up an out of shape mid-section for both men and women and is subject to Medicare rebates.
The difference between abdominoplasty and liposuction
At your consultation with Dr Doyle, the difference between abdominoplasty and liposuction will be explained in full as the two are often confused. That being said, Dr Doyle will use liposuction during the abdominoplasty procedure to help with final contouring.
At Gold Coast Plastic Surgery we find that in particular women post-pregnancy (and who are not planning future pregnancies) and men and women who have experienced significant weight-loss all can have abdominoplasty.
Tummy tuck procedure
An abdominoplasty begins with an incision made low on the abdomen, at about the same level as the pubic area. This incision usually extends from hip bone to hip bone. The skin and muscle are then manipulated and contoured to create the best result. The procedure takes between 2 and 3 hours under general anaesthetic and usually involves an overnight stay in hospital.
The exact recovery time for your procedure will be determined post-operatively.
Recovery after surgery
For a few days after treatment you will most likely feel uncomfortable. Often clients can return to work 2-3 weeks after surgery depending on the type of work done. Strenuous exercise and heavy lifting should be avoided for 6 weeks.
Tummy Tuck Before and Afters
Abdominoplasty is best done when at your ideal weight
Abdominoplasty is not a weight loss solution. The ideal candidate for this surgery is someone who is close to their ideal body weight—and for mums; we don’t recommend you have this procedure until you have finished having children.
Can tummy tuck be combined with liposuction?
Depending on your weight, and the state of your health, it is possible to combine these treatments. In some cases you can have the liposuction performed during a tummy tuck, to find out if you’re eligible for this dual procedure you should book a consultation with Dr Doyle at Gold Coast Plastic Surgery.
When will I notice Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) results?
You should see results immediately. However, because this is surgery your body will need time to recover, so we advise that you give your body some time to heal before judging the results. How quickly you see results will also depend on the extent of the procedure you undergo.
Tummy tuck on the Gold Coast
If you are interested in changing the appearance of your abdomen, Dr Doyle offers abdominoplasty from his surgery on the Gold Coast. To learn more about abdominoplasty, please contact our practice today.
