Full Tummy Tuck

Recommended For Full Tummy Tuck

Full tummy tuck surgery or full abdominoplasty is recommended for: 
• Women with one or multiple births that have stretch marks that affect the skin and abdominal muscles
• Patients who have lost a lot of weight - it is well known that weight loss or bariatric surgery is one of the main causes of stretch marks and excess and loose skin tissue 
• Older, slightly overweight women that have lost their tonus 
• Adults who are not happy with the appearance of their abdomen or with the results of diet and exercise plans

Not Recommended For Full Tummy Tuck

Full tummy tuck procedureis not recommended for: 
• Women who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant 
• Patients with serious medical conditions which may affect the whole process in a negative wayons.

Number Of Trips Abroad

1

Discharge From Hospital

1 day

Duration Of Operation

1 to 5 hours

Minimum Stay

1 day

Overview

Full abdominoplasty, also known as full tummy tuck surgery, is a kind of complex cosmetic surgery performed in the abdomen area with the aim of making it look more firm, toned or thinner. There are many benefits of a full tummy tuck such as much flatter and smoother abdomen and reduced appearance of stretch marks.

Full tummy tuck surgery is popular among patients that had one or several pregnancies, or have excess sagging skin due to the aging process or a major weight loss. A complete abdominoplasty or full tummy tuck surgery often involves liposuction in order to improve the final results. 

Preparation

Before opting for a full tummy tuck surgery or a complete abdominoplasty, it is recommended that patients inform themselves over the risks and complications of the procedure. Patients should have good general health, apply a healthy diet and stop smoking at least one month before and after the operation.

How It Is Performed

A full abdominoplasty or traditional tummy tuck surgery is usually performed under general anesthesia, and it takes between two to five hours. 
The surgeon makes a horizontally-oriented incision in the area between the pubic hairline and belly button. A full tummy tuck surgery involves a second vertical incision in order to change the position of the navel and to create a more appealing result.The shape and length of the incisions will be determined by the amount of excess skin patients have. During the surgery, surgeons can tighten the muscles by pulling them closer together and stitching them to give a more toned look and to create a smaller waistline.This is the muscle repair stage of the surgery. Sometimes liposuction might be used to improve the results by removing the undesired fat tissue, and the excess skin is also removed.

After the full abdominoplasty is complete, the incisions are closed using surgical stitches and the full tummy tuck recovery period can begin

Recovery

Depending on the scope of the procedure and the patient's condition, the average full tummy tuck surgery recovery may last from one to four weeks. During this process, patients should avoid heavy lifting and are advised to take at least a few weeks off from work. Patients should wear a compression garment that can reduce swelling and bruising. This garment helps the skin conform to the new body shape. Also, smoking should be avoided for several weeks after the procedure.

Risks

Possible full tummy tuck risks and complications include: 
• Bleeding 
• Anesthesia complications 
• Fat necrosis 
• Asymmetry 
• Pulmonary embolism

• Delayed healing
• Thrombosis 
• Infection 
• Possibility of revision surgery 
• Skin discoloration 
• Suture rupture 
• Fluid accumulation

• Visible Scars

Side Effects

A full abdominoplasty can have several side effects, including: 
• Swelling 
• Bruising 

• Soreness or tenderness
• Post-surgical tummy tuck scars 
• Temporary discomfort

• Low back pain

Success Rates

The procedure has a 95% success rate according to patients’ reviews

Before And After

If patients follow their doctor's instructions carefully, they will be more satisfied with the results. If patients adopt a healthy lifestyle and maintain their weight in a stable and healthy range, the results of the surgery may last for years.

 

The benefits of the full tummy tuck operation are: 
• Improved self-confidence

• Improved appearance and body proportion

• Tighter abdominal muscles

• Tight and flat abdominal skin

Faq

Full Tummy Tuck Vs. Mini Tummy Tuck
Complete abdominoplasty is more complex and involves two incisions and sutures while affecting a larger area of the abdomen. While a mini tummy tuck needs only a small incision, the skin shaped on the lower abdomen will be more limited in size.

Are There Any Alternatives to A Full Abdominoplasty Or Full Tummy Tuck?
Cosmetics can be used to tighten the skin but they do not remove the excess skin and they are not as effective as full tummy tuck surgery. Also, some non-surgical alternatives like coolsculpting, lasers, and thermage can be chosen but only for minor changes. 

What’s the Difference Between A Liposuction And Full Tummy Tuck?
With a full tummy tuck, both excess fat and skin are removed while with liposuction, only the excess fat is removed.

Back To Work

3 to 6 weeks

Back To Sports

3 to 6 weeks

Extra Content

This content is written and reviewed by our medical content team in June, 2019.