Tummy tuck before and after: what to expect from the first days to the first year

A tummy tuck removes excess fat and skin and, in most cases, restores weakened or separated muscles, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). The NHS says it can also remove stretch marks that lie on the skin being removed. The ASPS lists aging, heredity, pregnancy, previous surgery and big changes in weight as common reasons for a protruding or sagging abdomen.

Tummy Tuck Birmingham, Tummy Tuck Edinburgh — price and consultation.

Surgery takes 2 to 5 hours according to the NHS, and MedlinePlus gives 2 to 6 hours. It is done under general anaesthetic. The NHS says most people stay in hospital for a few nights, and MedlinePlus gives one to three days. You leave with dressings and a pressure garment, and MedlinePlus adds that small drains may be placed under the skin and removed later.

More on this topic: Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), Full Tummy Tuck, Mini Tummy Tuck, Tummy Tuck for Patients from Accra, Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) in Dublin.

The NHS says you will not be able to drive for a few weeks, and recommends 4 to 6 weeks off work and from exercise. MedlinePlus gives a shorter estimate for returning to work, 2 to 4 weeks, and says to avoid strenuous activity and straining for 4 to 6 weeks. The differences show that recovery depends on the technique and on your health, so follow your own surgeon's schedule.

The NHS says the typical early recovery takes about 6 weeks, after which most people can stop wearing the corset and resume most usual activities. This is not the same as the final result. Swelling continues to go down more slowly, and sensation can change. The NHS says numbness in the tummy can last from a few months to years, and that a temporary fluid-filled swelling may appear above the scar.

The scar is the price of the operation, and it is worth understanding before you decide. The NHS explains that a scar runs across the lower tummy and that a full tummy tuck also leaves a scar around the belly button. MedlinePlus notes that the cut is made just above the pubic area. Ask your surgeon:

• how long the scar is likely to be in your case;
• where it will lie in relation to your underwear and swimwear;
• how to care for it and protect it from the sun;

The ASPS says results are technically permanent, but significant weight fluctuations can greatly diminish the positive outcome. It advises people who plan substantial weight loss, or women who may consider future pregnancies, to postpone a tummy tuck. These are important questions to raise at the consultation, because they affect the timing of the operation.

Plan the operation at a time when you can rest. Arrange help at home for the first days, check the rules for flying after surgery (the NHS gives 7 to 10 days after a tummy tuck) and keep the follow-up schedule with your surgeon. If you are interested in the procedure itself, read about our tummy tuck service before the consultation.

City Medical Centre works with international patients. The first consultation is free and can be held online. Send photos of your abdomen from the front and side, and tell the surgeon about pregnancies, weight changes and previous surgery by Telegram. The price is given after the consultation and fixed in the contract, and a personal coordinator stays with you from the first message to the end of recovery. Learn more on the tummy tuck page.