Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty)
Potential complications and risks
Smoking affects your skin blood vessels and makes both bleeding after the operation and the risk of skin dying more likely. You must stop six weeks before surgery.
During the operation, we lift all the skin of the tummy off the underlying muscle. In consequence the skin of the lower part of the tummy just above the scar is initially quite numb. This recovers over subsequent months, but an area above the scar may remain permanently numb. In addition, the pubic hair is pulled a little higher.
Sometimes the scars can become infected, in which case the infection will need to be treated.
There is a small risk of developing a blood clot underneath the skin, which may have to be drained, or of a persistent collection of fluid which may have to be drained on several occasions over several weeks, or a small plastic tube drain inserted under local anaesthetic.
In very exceptional circumstances infection can set in, which can lead to the loss of some of the skin of the abdominal wall. To prevent this, you will be given antibiotics during the operation.
The skin of the lower part of the tummy just above the scar is initially quite numb. This recovers over subsequent months.
Please bear in mind that once you have had a tummy tuck, it is no longer possible to have what is called a TRAM or DIEP breast reconstruction performed if you ever need to have a mastectomy as part of breast cancer treatment.
All patients are advised not to take drugs containing aspirin, ibuprofen or gingko biloba for at least a week before their operation as these can cause bleeding. Smoking affects your skin blood vessels and makes both bleeding after the operation and the risk of skin dying more likely. You must stop six weeks before surgery.
While we do our utmost to try to achieve the best possible result for you, this cannot be guaranteed. If subsequent revision procedures are required, there may be additional fees.