tummy tuck

Losing weight, or in the time after pregnancy, sometimes results in stretched skin on the tummy. These are usually indications for a Tummy Tuck. In most cases, the tummy tuck does not only involve the skin and fat but also muscle tissue underneath which needs tightening.

Planning of the operation and the decision about whether it will be a full tummy tuck or only a lower tummy tuck is done by the Surgeon just before the operation. A full tummy tuck will require that your umbilicus is moved to a different position after removing the skin.

Before the operation we use antibiotic profilactic and anti-thrombotic profilactic. The operation usually takes 2 to 3 hours and is done under general or epidural anaesthesia, and it is necessary to stay at the clinic for 4 to 5 days in total.

The incision is just above the pubic hair line in the natural crease of the skin and travels from above one hip in a curve downwards to the pubic hair line and up again to above the other hip. The scar is usually hidden by pants.

The skin is undermined from the line of incision upwards up to the rib margin. Excessive skin and fat is removed. The rectus muscle can be then tightened with sutures. The umbilicus is transfered (in full tummy tuck only). The wound is closed in layers with sutures.

The tummy tuck operation is a large operation which involves a lot of blood loss as well as injury to a lot of lymph vessels. Therefore we need to leave 2 to 3 drains which will allow us to remove the fluids which collect.

After the operation.

In the first 48 hours it is necessary to wear a pressure dressing and then a special underwear or belt for 3 to 4 weeks. The stitches are removed on the 14th day after surgery. You will be given a first lymphatic massage for free to show you how the next 10 to 20 massages should look like. The massages are very important and the final result largely depends on these massages.

IMPORTANT: Very occasionally due to a large amount of blood loss, and based on a laboratory test, you may need to require 2 units of red blood cells and 2 units of plasma serum. This is to improve your clinical state and help you to recover more quickly. We have connections with an International Blood Bank and we do not use complete blood - therefore the risk of HIV, hepatitis and other diseases is minimal.