Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) Sunshine Coast

Abdominoplasty surgery, also known as a ‘tummy tuck’, is designed to address bodily changes that can occur from massive weight loss or pregnancy.

The surgery aims to reduce the amount of excess or loose tissue from around the lower torso, giving patients a smoother and leaner physique. By removing excess skin and fat, the area is tightened, lifted, and flattened. In some cases, the procedure can also restore weakened or separated muscles in order to create firmer abdominal wall muscles. The surgery is not designed to replace normal weight loss strategies such as a healthy diet and regular exercise but is an option for those patients who struggle with stubborn excess fat or skin despite a healthy lifestyle.

For some patients, a tummy tuck might be that final step in their weight loss journey. Specialist plastic surgeon Dr Fraser-Kirk has performed over 500 abdominoplasty surgeries with a high rate of patient satisfaction. Inquire to learn more about how tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) surgery can help you achieve your goals.

What can tummy tuck surgery achieve?

Our skin can stretch to accommodate weight gain and pregnancy, but the skin’s elastic quality can fade over time. This means the skin will not always snap back into place once the weight is lost. Patients who have achieved their ideal weight can still have excess skin or fat present, and if this applies to you, abdominoplasty may be a good option. Excess skin and fat tissue can be a result of various factors, such as:

• Weight gain and loss
• Pregnancy
• The natural ageing process
• Genetics
• Hormonal changes
• Trauma
• Previous Surgery

The surgery removes the excess skin and fat tissue, revealing a leaner and more toned body contour.

Patients who have abdominoplasty surgery are usually in good health and are seeking to reduce the amount of excess skin and fat around their torso. The surgery is not a replacement for weight loss, which means ideal patients should be at a healthy and stable weight. Candidates for abdominoplasty are also non-smokers and do not have conditions that could present health risks for surgery. If you want to find out if you are a good candidate for this procedure, we will examine your condition and discuss your options during a private consultation.

Surgery benefits

An abdominoplasty involves surgically removing loose or sagging skin from around the torso, particularly on the lower abdomen. Depending on the patient’s needs and goals, tummy tuck surgery can also address excess pockets of fat that are hard to remove with diet and regular exercise. As well as this, the procedure can address the muscles beneath, aiding muscle tone and repair, for enhanced results. This can be very useful for women who are seeking tummy tuck after a C section or pregnancy in general, since pregnancy can cause the muscles to stretch and separate.

Based on the patient’s needs, the surgery can:

• Improve the contour of the abdomen
• Remove loose, stretched skin after weight loss or pregnancy
• Repair abdominal hernias
• Create higher quality skin with reduced stretch marks and imperfections
• Repair separated or weakened muscles
• Remove excess fat
• Improved core stability, incontinence, and infections

By removing unwanted tissue, the procedure leaves patients with a more refined body contour and helps restore a healthy body image.

Your consultation at Dr Fraser-Kirk’s clinic

Given that every patient has different reasons for seeking tummy tuck surgery, we must tailor the procedure to the patient. This means that before your procedure, you will need to have a meeting with us to discuss your concerns and what kind of result you hope to achieve. During your consultation, Dr Fraser-Kirk will ask about your medical past and any past surgeries you have had. He will also assess your physical condition and the amount of excess skin present.

Discussing these factors will help your surgeon outline a surgical plan that best serves your intentions and goals. You will be welcome to ask any further questions about your procedure so that you can make a well-informed decision. After this meeting, you should have a good idea of what to expect from your tummy tuck surgery and recovery, as well as how you can prepare.

Tummy Tuck surgery procedure

Surgeons perform abdominoplasty with a general anaesthetic, which means you will not feel pain during the surgery. There are a number of techniques that surgeons use during tummy tuck surgery.

Abdominoplasty techniques:

Liposuction

To begin the process, Dr Fraser-Kirk uses a body sculpting technique with liposuction to tone and contour the abdomen area. The fat is first broken up and loosened, and then it is removed through thin cannulas in the skin. This removes unwanted fat deposits to aid in producing a smoother and leaner abdomen. Once this process is complete, your surgeon will apply one of several techniques in order to remove your loose skin. The exact skin removal technique will depend on the extent of skin to be removed.

Mini Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

This technique can be ideal for patients with mild skin laxity or fat bulges. Also called a partial tummy tuck, it involves a small incision above the pubic hairline. The surgeon then pulls the skin into a tighter position and trims the excess. Since this process does not involve muscle tightening, patients may have a quicker recovery time.

Full Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

A full tummy tuck is also known as a standard or complete abdominoplasty. With this technique, the surgeon makes a full incision from hip to hip above the pubic hairline. This may include another incision around the belly button. The surgeon then pulls the excess skin downwards to trim the loose tissue, giving the abdomen a smoother and leaner shape. As well as this, the surgeon carefully repairs and restores the muscles with stitches. This technique enhances muscle function and tone and helps prevent future separation.

Once the desired amount of loose skin and excess fat has been removed, Dr Fraser-Kirk will close the incisions with sutures.

Abdominoplasty recovery and aftercare

After your surgery, you can expect to have bandages on your incisions, and you may have drainage tubes to remove any excess fluid. Dr Fraser-Kirk will monitor your condition and advise when you can go home. You can also expect to have some bruising and swelling on your torso, and light bleeding may last a couple of days. It is also normal for patients to have some numbness around the belly button. However, these symptoms should subside during the healing process, provided that you take care of your body. We can give you pain relief to manage any discomfort and help you have a smooth recovery after abdominoplasty.

Like any invasive surgery, at-home care plays a large role in how well your body recovers. Before you go home, your surgeon will ensure that you have everything you need to help your body heal well. For example, your surgeon may advise you to:

• Wear a support garment
• Avoid putting pressure on your incision site
• Eat a healthy and balanced diet
• Get plenty of rest, lying on your back with your head slightly raised
• Do not put a strain on your abdominal muscles
• Refrain from heavy lifting and all strenuous movement for six weeks
• Consult your surgeon if you notice any severe or lasting side effects

For the first couple of weeks, you may find it difficult to use your stomach muscles, and daily tasks may be difficult. You may need to have someone help you with day-to-day chores and tasks such as driving, cooking, and lifting. If you feel able, you can resume driving after 10 days and light walking after a couple of weeks. After this, you will gradually be able to resume your normal routine, according to the advice of your surgeon. However, patients should remember to avoid strenuous movement for at least six weeks post-op.

You can expect to have some scarring after your abdominoplasty. Your surgeon will make sure that your scars are placed in areas where you can conceal them easily under clothing. As well as this, he will instruct you on how to help your wounds heal well and thus reduce the look of your scars. For example, you can wear micropore tape over your wounds for a few months to help prevent the scar from stretching.

How much will abdominoplasty surgery cost on the Sunshine Coast?

Due to the highly personal nature of an abdominoplasty procedure, costs can vary based on a patient’s needs. During your private meeting, Dr Fraser-Kirk will assess your health and wellbeing, as well as your desired outcomes. The extent of your excess skin and the type of procedure you require will have an impact on your overall cost.

As well as these factors, we will need to consider things such as surgeon costs, anaesthetist fees, hospital fees, and post-op care costs. Some patients may be elegible to have part of their costs covered by Medicare or a private health insurer. For example, this can include women who are seeking surgery due to severe abdominal separation after pregnancy.

Rectus Divarication (Tummy muscle separation)

This is a condition usually caused during pregnancy.  The fibrous sheath connection between the six pack muscles, expands in order to provide more room for the developing baby.  After childbirth, it is often dificult for this area to retighten.  This can lead to problems like back pain, core instabily, prolapse and a large midline abdominal bulge.  Physiotherapy can helo with the tightening process, but there is a group of patients who will need this corrected surgically.  A three centimeter rectus divarication diagnosed on ultrasound is considered severe.

For any questions regarding procedure costs, please contact us.

Risks and complications

Every surgical procedure has some risks involved. If you are thinking about having tummy tuck surgery, you should understand both the risks and benefits to make sure you are prepared. Patients should be aware of the following abdominoplasty risks:

• Infection
• Bleeding that is hard to control
• Anaesthesia reactions
• Lasting pain and swelling
• Poor scarring
• Fluid build-up
• Constrained movement
• Numbness and changes inskin sensation
• Changes in skin colour
• Slow healing

You should follow your at-home care advice, as given by Dr Fraser-Kirk. This will help lessen scarring and reduce the potential for issues to arise. Speak to us if you notice any of these symptoms, as they may require further treatment:

• A high temperature or chills
• Heavy bleeding from the incision site
• Severe pain that does not go away
• Severe redness or discharge from the incision site
• Other concerning symptoms

There are things you can do to reduce your risks. As well as following your surgeon’s care advice, you should also refrain from smoking. Smoking can be very harmful to the healing process and can increase your risk of infection and other issues. You should also avoid certain medications. If you run out of prescribed pain relief, you can seek relief with Panadol or Ibuprofen. However, you should stay away from medicine that thins your blood such as Aspirin.

How to choose the best abdominoplasty surgeon on the Sunshine Coast

Having any surgery requires a great amount of thought and planning. If you are a good candidate, the procedure could help you achieve your body goals, whether after pregnancy, weight loss, or natural ageing. When thinking about having tummy tuck surgery, it is important to choose a qualified surgeon to perform your procedure, as this will give you the best chance at achieving a good outcome.

Dr Fraser-Kirk is a specialist plastic surgeon who will assess your condition, understand your concerns, and tailor the process to your needs. At our clinic, we take a patient-focused approach to surgery, guiding you through every step of your journey and helping you attain patient centered results. Inquire today to find out how Dr Fraser-Kirk can help you achieve your body goals.

Abdominoplasty FAQ