Tummy Tuck for Patients from Auckland

No, weight loss is not what it does. Its purpose is to remove excess stretched skin and the fat apron and to restore the abdominal muscle wall. We operate at a stable weight; if your weight is still changing, start with a dietitian or endocrinologist.

Yes, a scar is the unavoidable price of removing excess skin. In a classic tummy tuck it runs across the lower abdomen from hip to hip, below the underwear or swimsuit line; in a mini tummy tuck the incision is much shorter. With time, the scar fades and becomes thin.

Removing sagging skin and the fat apron is exactly what this surgery does: they are removed completely, and stretch marks below the navel go with them. The surgeon pulls the upper abdominal skin down, so the tummy ends up smooth without an extra lift.

No, nothing hurts during the procedure, since a tummy tuck is performed under general anaesthesia. Tightness and soreness come in the first days and are relieved with painkillers prescribed by the doctor; the discomfort noticeably eases by the end of the first week.

After a tummy tuck everyone has the same restrictions. No physical exertion, heavy lifting or sudden movements for the first 2–3 weeks. At least a month without sauna, steam bath, pool, tanning beds, alcohol or smoking. Sport comes back gradually, only once the surgeon approves. Compression garments stay on for another 4–8 weeks.

The minimum age is 18, and only if there are no contraindications. There is no upper limit at all: our clinic considers each case individually after an examination and health assessment.

The difference is the extent of surgery. A mini tummy tuck is performed for a small excess of skin below the navel, with a shorter incision, the navel not moved and faster recovery. A classic tummy tuck removes the whole-abdomen skin-and-fat apron, includes moving the navel and allows full-length diastasis repair of the muscles.

Recovery comes in three milestones: 2–3 weeks until office work is possible, 1.5–2 months until swelling and tightness pass, and 6–12 months until the final result and scar are assessed, once the tissues fully adapt.

No regrowth of removed skin: that part of the result is permanent. The abdomen can stretch again only with significant weight gain, so a stable weight matters. Pregnancy after a tummy tuck is possible, although it stretches the repaired muscles; that's why surgery is planned once your family is complete.

Yes, you have to prepare. 7–10 days before the tummy tuck, stop smoking, alcohol and any medicines affecting blood clotting. A pre-surgery check-up is needed: blood tests, ECG, ultrasound of the leg veins, GP and anaesthetist consultations. Do it well in advance, not the day before.

The answer is identical for all: first changes can be seen 2 weeks after surgery, when the main swelling subsides. There are then two checkpoints — interim result at 1.5–2 months and final contours at 3–6 months.

Yes, it is needed: a classic tummy tuck requires 1–2 days in hospital under medical supervision, while one day is usually enough after a mini tummy tuck. You recover further at home, and the surgeon monitors progress at scheduled check-ups.

Before a tummy tuck everyone follows the same list: blood and urine tests, coagulation panel, biochemistry, infection tests, ECG, chest X-ray, leg vein ultrasound and a GP's report. The surgeon gives the exact list at the consultation; tests are generally valid for 10–14 days.

No, a repair is not always needed; it is performed only when the rectus abdominis muscles really are separated. The surgeon detects diastasis at the examination, and ultrasound confirms it if in doubt. Separated muscles are joined during the same surgery — no separate procedure.

Pregnancy after a tummy tuck is not forbidden, but the order matters: childbirth first, then surgery. Otherwise skin and muscles stretch again and part of the result is lost. Surgeons give one piece of advice: if you plan a child, wait at least a year after the procedure.

Yes, it's required — the garment supports tissues and reduces swelling, and without it recovery is worse. The first 3–4 weeks it is worn around the clock, after that during the day for about another month. The operating surgeon will tell you the exact period.