The Operation

Abdominoplasties are usually performed under general anaesthetic (you are asleep). The first part of the operation involves making an incision around the tummy button so that it remains in its current position and is not altered by the remainder of the procedure. Once this is completed, a further incision is made low on the patients abdomen either within or close to the natural skin fold. Through this the skin and both layers of the fat of the abdominal wall are raised up immediately above the muscle layers. The two midline rectus abdominis muscles are sutured together in the midline. The excess skin and fatty tissue are then taken down towards the patients feet and the redundant skin and fat are removed.

Having removed the excess skin and fat, the surgeon now has good access to the waistline area, and liposuction is usually performed on each side to further enhance the narrowing of the waistline that occurs with an abdominoplasty.

Strong sutures are placed deeply within the strengthening fascia layer. The sutures take all of the tension of the closure of the wound so that there is minimal pull at the skin surface. This means that the scar is unlikely to broaden and will remain thin and pleasing. A small hole is made and the tummy button returned to the surface and stitched in place. The tissues involved in the operation tend to ooze a little fluid afterwards and, for this reason, one or two drains are placed in the wound at the time of closure to allow this fluid to drain rather than build up under the surface.

The Anaesthetic Used

Usually this surgery is performed under a general anaesthetic (you are asleep). As a routine part of the procedure, Mr Masters infiltrates a large amount of long-acting local anaesthetic both through the abdominal tissues and also around the margins of the surgical site. This long-acting local anaesthetic means that most of the stimulation due to the procedure is numbed out when you awaken. This means the anaesthetist can help you have a far smoother transition from anaesthetic to recovery. Furthermore, post-operative pain is vastly diminished with the use of this local anaesthetic.

In some American institutions, abdominoplasties are routinely performed under local anaesthetic and sedation. This is not Mr Masters usual routine; however, he will be more than happy to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of such a regime with you prior to your operation.

Where is the Surgery Performed

A tummy tuck is a significant surgical procedure, as such Mr Masters performs them in a fully equipped and appropriately expertly-staffed operating room.