Extended Tummy Tuck
This is considered the best type of tummy tuck for patients who have lost a considerable amount of weight and are looking to refine their body contours. The surgery involves a longer incision as the scope is larger, but recovery times tend to stay the same as a traditional abdominoplasty.
The abdominal area is broken down into 2 different areas: the upper and lower region. Cosmetically, a standard, extended, mini or panniculectomy tummy tuck procedure handles the lower abdominal area. A reverse tummy tuck cosmetic procedure enhances and reshapes the upper abdominal area.
Hybrid differs from a traditional tummy tuck in that the incision is very short. It is approximately the same as for a C-section rather than a hip-to-hip incision. Hybrid Tummy Tuck® is most appropriate for women who are in excellent shape after having children but are left with a stubborn bulge on their abdomen.
A tummy tuck or abdominoplasty are different names for the same cosmetic surgery to remove excess skin, fat deposits, and muscle tissue in the abdominal area. A tummy tuck is an informal name while abdominoplasty is the scientific one.
Medicare only covers tummy tuck surgery if it is deemed as a medical necessity. Medicare does not cover elective cosmetic tummy tucks. Patients can get coverage under Medicare if it is deemed as a medical necessity by their GP.
URGENT UPDATE – The Australian Government has reinstated a Medicare Item Number for a Tummy Tuck for some post-pregnancy patients suffering from Diastasis Recti (Split Tummy Muscles) if you are eligible and meet the new criteria. This new 30175 Medicare Item Number – is effective 1st July 2022.
What Is a Modified Tummy Tuck? A modified tummy tuck is a procedure that only addresses loose skin and stubborn fat below the belly button. This procedure allows the surgeon to target the lower abdomen without the more invasive changes in the tissue and muscles above the belly button.
Expect to be at a stable weight before your tummy tuck
Most surgeons will recommend patients be between 10-15 pounds from their goal weight.
Many patients wonder if you can be too old for a tummy tuck, such as 50 or more. There's no age limit for having this procedure; it's possible to remove excess skin and fat from the abdomen in older patients.
A common sign of an undesirable tummy tuck is poor repositioning of the belly button. If you see that your navel is too high or too low, it might be that it's been misshapen, while pulling and tightening of the skin has distorted the original shape and position.
A full tummy tuck requires a horizontally-oriented incision in the area between the pubic hairline and belly button. The shape and length of the incision will be determined by the amount of excess skin. Once the abdominal skin is lifted, the underlying weakened abdominal muscles are repaired.
Abdominoplasty is “Permanent”
Once subcutaneous fat has been removed, it cannot grow back. New fat can accumulate, however. If too much new fat begins to accumulate, the skin will stretch to accommodate the increasing bulk.
Whether you're contemplating a Mommy Makeover package or just want to undergo a tummy tuck, you'll be relieved to know that any pain from this cosmetic procedure is far less than that experienced after a C-section.
Even in most normal weight and extremely fit women, the abdomen may not be completely flat following abdominoplasty. It is realistic for patients to expect improvement in the flatness of the stomach, but should not immediately assume that their abdomen will be entirely flat.
In simplest terms, during a mini tummy tuck, excess loose skin below the belly button will be removed. Underlying muscles can be tightened as well. Recovery from a mini tummy tuck is usually faster than from a full tummy tuck, because it typically involves less surgery.
Most women lose between 2 and 3 pants sizes after a tuck, but there are patients who lose even more. If you had a lot of loose skin before the procedure, for example, you could go down 4 more pants sizes.
During a tummy tuck, excess skin and fat are removed from the abdomen. The skin is then draped back over the newly repositioned contours to create a smoother and more toned look. A tummy tuck — also known as abdominoplasty — is a cosmetic surgical procedure to improve the shape and appearance of the abdomen.
There will be some discomfort after a tummy tuck, with the worst discomfort experienced within the first week. On a scale of 1 – 10, pain is often estimated at around a 6-7 for the the first few days to a week, reducing to around a 3 – 4 in the second week.
Troy Pittman, a board-certified Washington D.C.-based plastic surgeon, patients who have obesity, a lot of visceral fat (located near vital organs), underlying medical conditions or blood-clotting disorders should refrain from having tummy tucks.
Additionally, the skin, muscles, and fat of the abdomen were all repaired or altered during the procedure. These structures need time to heal and settle into their new positions. This causes inflammation, swelling, and other temporary side effects that can contribute to the look of the stomach.
Muscle repair is often performed during a tummy tuck procedure and is considered by many to be an integral part of the surgery. If the abdominal muscles are stretched out or torn, the newly tightened skin will not lay as nicely over them.
Apronectomy is the removal of any excess abdominal skin which forms the overhanging abdominal apron. In some situations where an abdominoplasty is not appropriate, an alternative procedure is an apronectomy.
Typically the cost for a tummy tuck is anywhere between $9,000 (AUD) – $29,000. With no medicare rebates or private hospital cover typically the total out of pocket cost is between $18,000 and $29,000.
The recovery time from a Tummy Tuck surgery can vary from patient to patient. It can be helpful to allow 3 months or more to feel completely recovered – although most patients are through the majority of the healing period in just a few week's time. Bruising and swelling, can take longer than 2 weeks.