Operationer

Tummy Tuck

Enhance your waistline and achieve a smoother abdomen. Pregnancy and overweight can lead to excess skin that must be surgically removed. A tummy tuck is a procedure that can improve both the aesthetic and functional results depending on your circumstances. We have extensive expertise in this area and are happy to help you rediscover yourself.

Through a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), the shape of the abdomen can be sculpted and restored.

A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is a procedure suitable for both men and women, and while the process is the same, there are different considerations depending on the desired aesthetic result.

The abdominal wall consists of muscles and tendons, which can stretch to the point where they no longer contract back. The typical outcome is that the abdominal wall bulges in the middle, and it feels like the straight abdominal muscles are no longer next to each other but have separated. It is possible to stitch the abdominal wall together in the middle so that the muscles are close to each other again, which often results in a much flatter stomach

Boka tid för konsultation

Reasons for a Tummy Tuck

Often, this improves the body’s ability to function better in terms of core stability. Many women report that their abdomen functions much better, they become stronger, and they experience fewer back problems.

If the abdominal wall is generally slack, stitching the abdominal wall will not help, and some bulging will remain. We will review your conditions before the operation so that you have as clear an understanding as possible of what to expect.

Different types of Tummy Tuck

Mini Tummy Tuck: For those who only have excess skin at the bottom of the abdomen, removing this skin can significantly improve both aesthetics and function, avoiding folds and sores. It also provides an opportunity to stitch the abdominal wall below the navel if there are issues with a bulging abdominal wall.

Full Tummy Tuck: In a full Tummy Tuck, skin and fat are detached from the abdominal wall all the way up to the sternum to stitch and stabilize the abdominal wall from top to bottom. Then, all the skin and fat below the navel are usually removed to tighten the skin. In this procedure, the navel is detached from the skin in its original place and a natural opening is created as much as possible.

Before Tummy Tuck

After Tummy Tuck

Before Tummy Tuck

After Tummy Tuck

How does a Tummy Tuck work?

Consultation Surgery day Follow-up

A consultation with one of our plastic surgeons is scheduled for 30 minutes. During this time, we will review your health and discuss any specific considerations regarding anesthesia and surgery. The most important goal is for you to gain a clear understanding of your options for surgery and what you can expect.

It is a good idea to prepare by knowing the results you desire, and feel free to bring photos so we can discuss them.

Usually, one visit before the surgery is sufficient, but if you feel uncertain about anything, you are welcome to return as many times as needed to feel confident before the procedure. We also stay in contact before and after the surgery, so you can ask questions directly to your plastic surgeon or get assistance from our dedicated staff.

On the day of your surgery, you will arrive at the clinic, take a shower before the procedure, then dress in the clinic’s robe and rest in a freshly made bed. We do everything to minimize the risk of complications, and this includes maintaining strict hygiene.

You will be given calming, relaxing, and pain-relieving medication to ensure you are as comfortable as possible during and after the surgery.

We recommend that you stay overnight after a tummy tuck to ensure the best possible results and safety. This is included in the cost of the surgery, as well as pain-relieving medication for the initial recovery period after the operation.

After the procedure, your skin will be very tight, and you will not be able to fully stretch. You also need to be very careful with lifting and movements initially, as you use your abdomen in many daily activities without realizing it. The pain following a tummy tuck is usually not very severe, but it varies significantly from person to person. You will receive monitoring and the pain relief treatment you need while at the clinic, and you will also be given medication to take home for the initial recovery period.

After any surgery, the body needs time to recover, and it is normal to feel tired and weak for a couple of weeks. It is important to plan your time after the operation so that you can recover peacefully. You should not stay completely still but start moving around early after the surgery to use the bathroom, shower, and get accustomed to the new situation.

You will meet your plastic surgeon or nurse for a follow-up 1-2 weeks after the procedure, depending on the surgery. After this, we maintain contact to provide advice on how to best take care of yourself. You will schedule an appointment approximately 3 months after the surgery so we can evaluate the results and see an early final outcome. It takes about a year before it can be considered more complete in terms of scars and for your body to fully adapt to the changes.

Combining procedures

A tummy tuck can be combined with other procedures, the most common being liposuction. This can greatly enhance the results if you have excess fat on your abdomen or hips. This is part of an individual assessment where we discuss your preferences.

Complications and poor results

Bleeding, infection, and wound healing problems are the most common surgical complications. The risk is minimal, but for those affected, it can be very stressful. We do everything possible to avoid and prevent complications, and it is also important for the patient to take necessary precautions.

Smoking doubles the risk of all types of complications. To ensure optimal healing, it is necessary to avoid smoking completely for four weeks. Alcohol also increases the risk of healing problems, so it is important to be very moderate about two weeks before the operation.

To maintain the best possible results, it is important to keep your body weight stable. Significant weight gain or pregnancy will stretch the skin and abdominal wall again. It is entirely possible to undergo a pregnancy after a tummy tuck, but the results will look different.

Bleeding

The wound area is large on the inside, and many blood vessels are severed during the operation. There is a risk that a blood vessel may open after the surgery, causing significant bleeding. This risk is highest after significant weight loss where large blood vessels previously supplied the skin with blood. The risk is greatest during the first few hours after the operation, so it is important to have good monitoring during this time.

Blood clot

After major procedures, the body’s balance between blood flow and clotting is disrupted, increasing the risk of blood pooling in the veins of the legs and forming clots that can travel to the lungs. For each operation, we assess the risk of blood clots and the benefits and risks of medications that prevent clots. Since there are significant individual differences among patients and risks with the treatment, we discuss this with you and choose the best possible treatment.

Scar formation

A tummy tuck requires long incisions to remove excess skin and avoid irregularities at the ends of the scars, known as ”dog ears,” which occur when there is too much tissue left. The appearance of scars largely depends on the body’s ability to heal, and our goal is to achieve the best possible result with thin, pale scars. Some people tend to form a lot of scar tissue, and it takes a long time for scars to mature. If undesirable results occur, they can be corrected as much as possible, often easily done under local anesthesia at no cost.

Reduced sensation

When the skin and fat are detached from the abdominal wall, nerve branches are severed, causing the skin to feel numb. Sensation gradually returns over the first few months, but it may remain permanently reduced, especially in the lower middle part of the abdomen near the scar.

Fluid accumulation

The space between the abdominal wall and skin is a wound surface that leaks fluid until the body ”glues” it together. This happens in a balance where the body also absorbs the fluid. By taking it easy initially and wearing a bandage, you can help the body minimize the tendency to accumulate free fluid. If a significant amount of free fluid accumulates between the abdominal wall and skin, it can be drained during a clinic visit. Removing the fluid is beneficial for uncomplicated healing, but it is not a sign of a serious problem.

Kvalitetskontroll

Reformkliniken follows up and evaluates the results of surgeries and has a systematic quality assurance process to detect potential problems.