Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) in Queensland – South East, Bundaberg, Wide Bay, Gladstone and Capricorn
For most adults, the abdomen is the first place that excess body fat accumulates. Unfortunately, even disciplined diet and exercise often cannot completely solve the problem of excess body fat once it is present. Worse yet, even after losing weight, extra skin will remain that cannot be satisfactorily addressed through normal means. Dr. James Gaffield of Pacific Plastic Surgery can perform abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, to remove excess skin and fat for a more toned appearance. Contact our Bundaberg, Queensland facilities to learn more about this popular procedure.
Tummy Tuck / Abdominoplasty
Abdominoplasty, commonly known as tummy tuck, is designed to address fat and skin on the abdomen and hips and to tighten abdominal muscles that may have been stretched. The tummy tuck procedure can be customized to fit a wide spectrum of needs. Abdominoplasty is appropriate for:
- Patients who have lost significant weight and are undergoing body lift surgery
- Women who have recently finished pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Male plastic surgery patients seeking a more sculpted abdomen
Abdominoplasty Procedure
To perform a tummy tuck, Dr. Gaffield makes an incision across the abdomen, located below the waistline. This incision varies in length depending on the amount of tissue to be removed: in less severe cases the incision may run only across the front of the abdomen, while in more severe cases it may extend around the hips. He makes a secondary incision around the navel to separate the navel from the abdominal skin.
At the point of the main abdominoplasty incision, Dr. Gaffield separates the skin from the tissue beneath. He may use liposuction to remove some fatty tissue if appropriate. Dr. Gaffield will then tighten the abdominal muscles with sutures to correct any stretching that may have occurred over time (often the result of pregnancy). Finally, he will stretch the abdominal skin downward, creating a new opening for the navel and removing the excess skin before suturing the remaining skin in place for healing. Abdominoplasty generally takes about three – four hours to perform under general anaesthesia.
Abdominoplasty Recovery
The amount of time required for healing from a tummy tuck varies, but most of our abdominoplasty patients from Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Gladstone, and other Queensland communities should plan to miss about four – six weeks of employment. Normally, tummy tuck patients spend the first three nights after surgery in the hospital under medical supervision. After returning home, it is a good idea to plan for a few days of bed rest as your body recovers.
Within a week, recovering tummy tuck patients return to our office to have their wounds observed and some dressings removed or refreshed. From this point on, patients are instructed to wear a compression garment to help reduce post-surgical swelling. Some light walking is advisable as soon as it is comfortable; mild exercise will speed the tummy tuck healing process and prevent complications such as blood clots. However, patients should avoid all strenuous exercise, heavy lifting, and similar activities for at least six weeks.
Contact Dr Gaffield
Excess fat and sagging skin in the midsection that simply won’t respond to rigorous exercise and a healthy diet can be improved with a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) from our Bundaberg plastic surgeon. For more information on this popular body contouring procedure, or to schedule a consultation, please contact Pacific Plastic Surgery.
