Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) Surgery Cost and Information

What can a tummy tuck achieve?

A tummy tuck aims to create a smoother abdomen. The surgeon will remove stubborn fat and loose skin that cannot be lost through exercise and diet alone.
Patients should be aware, however, that a tummy tuck is not a weight-loss procedure. It is most suitable for patients who have excess skin from major weight loss or pregnancy. Patients should, therefore, aim to reach their optimal weight before considering having a tummy tuck.
A tummy tuck procedure can:

• Remove loose skin after major weight loss
• Remove excess skin or fat after a pregnancy
• Tighten weak stomach muscles
• Repair stomach muscles that have separated.

The surgeon may also choose to include liposuction with the abdominoplasty. This is because liposuction can help contour the body more precisely and help achieve a more shapely figure. Some surgeons include liposuction in all of their abdominoplasty procedures, and some do not. It is worth asking the surgeon if they will include liposuction with the tummy tuck.
In addition to the changes made to the figure, patients may also see improvements with unwanted:

• Scars
• Stretch marks.

But this is not the main goal of the surgery.

How much does tummy tuck surgery cost?

The price of tummy tuck surgery can vary between £3000 to £9000 in the UK. Patients can expect to pay around £7000 for tummy tuck surgery. Various factors could contribute to price fluctuations, such as

• Hospital fees
• Anaesthetist expertise
• Surgeon experience
• The complexity of the procedure for an individual's case
• Amount of hours required in surgery for each patient's case
• Additional combined procedure requirements, for example, the addition of liposuction

To get a tailored price adapted to an individual's needs, patients will need to be examined by a surgeon during the consultation to ascertain what is possible for the patient's body and expectations. A patient's personalised price is all-inclusive and shall take into account all of the patient's requirements. The tailored abdominoplasty price will cover:

• Highly rated CQC hospital cost
• Surgeon's experience (BAAPS/BAPRAS)
• Anaesthetist time and expertise
• Any overnight stays that are required
• Follow-up appointments and aftercare

Tummy tuck consultations, like all plastic surgery consultations, are free with no obligation. An abdominoplasty consultation will allow patients to ask all their questions, get to know the surgeon better and for the surgeon to be able to assess them and make the patient aware of the possible outcomes of their tummy tuck surgery.

Why have a tummy tuck?

It is important to be aware that a tummy tuck is not a type of weight loss surgery. It is therefore not an appropriate procedure for patients if they are seeking to lose more weight. The ideal tummy tuck candidates include patients who have a stable weight and are looking to remove stubborn fat and excess skin that they cannot remove through exercise and diet alone.
Ideal tummy tuck candidates include those who:

• Are not happy with the look of their abdomen
• Want to remove excess skin or fat from their abdomen
• Have loose or weak abdominal muscles that need tightening
• Are not currently pregnant or planning a future pregnancy.

Before considering having an abdominoplasty, patients are advised to make sure that they are:

• Physically and emotionally fit for surgery
• Not smoking or using nicotine products for at least 6 weeks before the operation
• Willing to adopt a healthy diet and do regular exercise to maintain results after surgery
• Expecting realistic goals from the operation.
• Reached a stable weight for at least 3 months

Who is not suitable for a tummy tuck?

Weight loss

As tummy tuck surgery is not a procedure that aids weight loss, surgeons only recommend this operation for patients who have stubborn fat or excess skin that cannot be removed through exercise or diet alone. Patients should be aware that major weight loss or weight gain after the operation may affect the results of the procedure. It is, therefore, recommended that patients reach an optimal and stable weight before having a tummy tuck procedure.

Pregnancy

If patients are planning on becoming pregnant, tummy tuck surgery may not be suitable until after completing their family. Tummy tuck surgery may involve tightening of the abdominal muscles, the same muscles which stretch during pregnancy. Therefore having a pregnancy after an abdominoplasty will stretch the muscles back to their pre-surgery state.

Medical conditions

Hypothyroidism

A common condition that affects patients’ weight is hypothyroidism. When left untreated, it can very easily lead to weight gain. Patients with hypothyroidism do not produce enough thyroid hormone, which is involved in how fast a patient’s metabolism is. It can be diagnosed by a blood test from a doctor and is often treated with thyroxine tablets to replace the low levels of hormone being produced. When patients’ thyroid levels are more stable, they find it easier to lose weight and once at a stable weight, the tummy tuck procedure can remove the symptoms from the weight fluctuation.

Scar removal

Many patients have undergone abdominal surgery in the past and find the scarring from such operations unsightly. Hysterectomies, laparoscopies and C-sections are common procedures patients feel unhappy with the scarring left. Depending on the tummy tuck performed and how much excess skin the patient has, plastic surgeons may be able to remove such scars leaving smaller, neater scars.

Diastasis recti

Pregnancy can take a toll on patients’ bodies, and for some, the abdominal muscles can become separated due to the womb pushing them out. This muscle separation is called diastasis recti. The muscles will, in most cases, return to their normal state about eight weeks after giving birth, but for some patients, the muscles remain protruded despite abdomen tightening exercises. During tummy tuck surgery, the surgeon can usually re-tighten the abdominal muscles. But in some cases, the separation of muscles might be more severe, in which case an abdominal surgeon may be called upon.

How is a tummy tuck procedure performed?

A tummy tuck procedure often lasts between 2 to 4 hours. Before patients have the procedure, they must follow the advice given for eating, drinking and taking medications the night before.
The procedure involves the following steps:

Consent form

Before or on the day of surgery, patients will be given a consent form to sign by their surgeon and anaesthetist. After giving consent, the surgeon will draw lines on the abdomen and discuss the goals of the tummy tuck.

Anaesthesia

Before the surgeon starts performing the tummy tuck surgery, the anaesthetist will give an anaesthetic. This is usually a general anaesthetic but may also be a local anaesthetic with IV (intravenous) sedation.

Incisions

There are several tummy tuck techniques that the surgeon may use. The surgeon will choose which technique is most appropriate for each patient. The incisions made depend on the type of tummy requested.
Four different procedures are currently used for tummy tuck surgery:

• Full abdominoplasty
• Mini (modified) abdominoplasty
• Endoscopic abdominoplasty
• Fleur-de-Lis abdominoplasty

Full abdominoplasty 

A full tummy tuck procedure involves making two different incisions:

1. The first one is made around the belly button.
2. The second one is made along the bikini line, from one hip to the other.

This is the ‘classic’ tummy tuck technique that targets both the upper and lower abdomen. The surgeon will sometimes tighten the abdominal muscles and remove excess skin and fat. It is most suitable for patients who have recently lost a great deal of weight or women who have excess, stubborn fat and weak muscles after pregnancy.

A full tummy tuck is not suitable for patients who are planning a future pregnancy because the pregnancy will re-stretch the muscles and reverse the results of surgery. Although a full abdominoplasty causes a large amount of scarring, it allows for a greater improvement in shape than a mini or endoscopic tummy tuck.

Mini (modified) abdominoplasty 

A mini tummy tuck mainly targets the lower abdomen. The surgeon will make a single incision line across the bikini line (smaller than in a full tummy tuck). There is no scar around the belly button as this is not moved in a mini tummy tuck.
Surgeons use this technique when only a small amount of excess skin and fat needs removal. The surgeon may or may not tighten the muscles, depending on necessity. While not ideal, it is a more suitable option for patients planning a future pregnancy, but as pregnancy will stretch abdominal muscles, patients may need revision surgery if they give birth after the procedure.
A mini tummy tuck causes less scarring than a full tummy tuck. However, the final results are not as effective.

Endoscopic abdominoplasty 

For an endoscopic tummy tuck, the surgeon will make several small incisions in the following areas:

1. Around the pubic line and
2. Around the base of the belly button.

The surgeon then uses a small camera called an ‘endoscope’ with small surgical instruments attached to perform the procedure.
This technique is the least invasive and is most suitable for patients with a protruding abdomen and a small amount of excess skin.  It is the best option in patients for whom muscle tightening is the main goal.
This technique causes minimal scarring, which can easily be concealed.

Fleur-de-Lis abdominoplasty 

The three incisions made in a Fleur-de-Lys tummy tuck include:

1. Around the belly button
2. Across the bikini line, from one hip to the other
3. Vertically down the middle of the stomach.

This technique is the most extreme type of tummy tuck and is not often used. It is most suitable for patients who have lost a large amount of weight, resulting in large amounts of excess skin. This can be a result of having weight loss surgery such as a gastric bypass.
This type of tummy tuck causes a large amount of scarring but allows for the greatest improvement. This approach helps deal with skin laxity both above and below the belly button.

Closure of incisions

After the surgeon removes the excess skin and fat and tightens the muscles, they then close the incisions. They will apply some tape and strapping to the stomach. They may also insert some drains to help reduce swelling and bruising.  

Return to the ward

Finally, patients are taken back to the ward to recover from the anaesthetic. Patients should be able to go home after spending 1 to 3 nights in the hospital. It may take 6 to 8 weeks for the swelling and bruising to go down before they can appreciate the full cosmetic results of your procedure.  Some surgeons will advise post-operative manual lymphatic massage, which can help with the post-operative swelling often encountered.

It can be difficult for patients to determine which kind of tummy tuck procedure is right for them. The surgeon will discuss which procedure will achieve the best results possible.

What to expect from the consultation?

Patients will meet their surgeon for a tummy tuck consultation which will usually last 15 minutes to an hour. During this consultation, the surgeon will discuss all aspects of the surgery and answer any questions patients may have. 
When assessing which tummy tuck technique is most suitable for the patient's body, the surgeon will consider the following:

• The amount of excess skin and fat
• Skin’s elasticity
• The tone and strength of the stomach muscles
• All past and current medical conditions
• Plans to become pregnant in the future.

After the surgeon has taken a medical history, they will also take some photographs of the abdomen. They will then discuss the following:

• Goals for the procedure
• The risks and complications of a tummy tuck
• The likely outcome of surgery
• Current use of medications (including prescribed, over-the-counter and herbal drugs)
• Smoking, alcohol and recreational drug use
• Any previous surgeries

Questions to ask during a tummy tuck consultation

The consultation time is the best opportunity for patients to be as honest as possible with the surgeon. Patients should be candid about what they would like to achieve from surgery. This will allow the surgeon to explore if this is possible or not.
Some important questions patients may want to ask their surgeon include:

• Am I a good candidate for a tummy tuck?
• What can I do to get the best results?
• How will results change over time?
• To see before and after pictures from previous tummy tuck procedures

High-quality surgeons will want to help all patients achieve the best possible results from the tummy tuck. Being honest during the consultation will help them to do this.

What are the main tummy tuck risks?

It is important for patients to educate themselves on the potential tummy tuck risks and complications. This will make sure that they make a fully informed decision before having surgery. The following tummy tuck risks and complications include:

General surgical & anaesthetic complications

All surgeries carry some common risks. These include (but are not limited to): blood clot formation, vomiting and nausea, blood loss, infection and problems with anaesthesia. Patients will be made aware of all the possible risks before they have surgery, and every effort will be made to prevent any complications from occurring.

Seroma

A seroma is a pocket of fluid that builds up under the skin. This usually develops under or around the incision site. To reduce the risk of a seroma developing, the surgeon may place drains in the abdomen to drain excess fluid build-up. If the surgeon keeps these in place after the surgery, they will give the patient-specific instructions on how best to take care of them.

Bleeding, bruising & haematomas

Patients should expect to experience some minor bruising and bleeding after the surgery. In some cases, patients may experience more excessive bleeding. Any major bleeding usually happens during the procedure, and the surgeon resolves it right away. However, it can occasionally occur a few weeks later. If this does happen, patients may need to have further surgery. With time, things should settle down, and it is unlikely to affect the results of the surgery.

Tissue, skin or fat necrosis

During a tummy tuck procedure, there may be some disruption to the blood supply in certain areas. This can result in a loss of blood supply to the skin, fat and tissues in and around your stomach. If the disruption is large enough, it may result in ‘necrosis’, which is the death and loss of tissue, skin or fat.
Depending on the amount of tissue affected, the damage may resolve itself within a few weeks, or patients may need to have further minor surgery to remove the dead tissue. 
Smoking increases the risk of necrosis occurring. For this reason, it is strongly recommended that patients stop smoking at least 6 weeks before and after surgery.

Infection

Patients must take infections seriously if they occur. They are often mild wound infections that the surgeon can treat with a short course of antibiotics. Rarely, the infection can spread and become more severe. If this occurs, patients may need to go back into the hospital for treatment.

Aesthetic

There is always a risk that patients may be unhappy with the aesthetic results of their surgery. It is, therefore, advised patients choose their surgeon carefully and make sure they fully understand all expectations.

Changes in skin sensation (nerve damage)

There may be some damage to the nerve supply in the abdominal area during a tummy tuck. This may cause patients to feel an increase or decrease in sensation in certain parts of their stomach or (rarely) upper thighs. Patients may also feel strange sensations such as tingling or burning. These changes are often temporary and should resolve a few months after the procedure. They can, however, become permanent. 

Scarring

Scarring is an inevitable outcome of all types of tummy tuck procedures. Where possible, the surgeon will place incision lines in less visible areas. Some patients may experience more severe scarring, such as keloid or hypertrophic scars. These patients, however, are often aware of this before surgery.
The surgeon will offer tailored advice on how patients can reduce the appearance of scars. It is worth noting that scars can take up to 18 months to settle fully.

Choosing a highly experienced and skilled BAAPS/BAPRAS surgeon will reduce the risk of developing any of the above complications. This is one of the reasons why it is important to choose a surgeon carefully. Patients must follow the surgeon’s pre and postoperative advice to reduce the risk of complications further.

What can I expect after a tummy tuck?

Surgeons will give you details regarding what to expect after patients have a tummy tuck procedure. It is very important that patients follow their specific tummy tuck aftercare advice.

What happens after a tummy tuck?

Patients will need to spend 1 to 3 nights in the hospital for close monitoring. Before patients go home, the surgeon will arrange an appointment so patients can return within a few weeks to have stitches removed (if they are not dissolvable). Patients may not be able to drive for 5 days to 2 weeks after surgery, depending on the surgeon’s advice. Patients must, therefore, arrange a chaperone to help with transport home.

General care

It is very important that patients follow the tummy tuck aftercare instructions given by the surgeon, including specific advice on how to take care of any drains patients are sent home with. To reduce the risk of blood clots developing, patients should start light walking as soon as possible. Surgeons also recommend that for the first few days after surgery, patients remain flexed at the hips and avoid straightening their torso. This will prevent patients from placing extra strain on their surgical incision sites.

Showering & bathing

The surgeon will give patients specific advice on when they will be able to shower and bathe after surgery. Some surgeons may allow patients to shower right away; other patients will be asked to wait up to 48 hours after surgery.
After washing, it is recommended to dry stitch lines carefully with a towel. Patients should also avoid hot tubs and saunas for at least 4 weeks.

Scar care

The surgeon may recommend a number of techniques that can aid the healing of scars. These include:

1. Massaging scars – if the surgeon recommends this, patients should start only after incisions fully heal and any scabs disappear on their own.
2. Silicone sheets, gels or creams – use this on the scar for 6 months to 1 year once it has fully healed. 
3. Keep the scars out of the sun and use a high factor sunscreen. This helps to avoid skin colour differences and protect the damaged skin.

Lymphatic massage

The surgeon may suggest a Lymphatic massage after your surgery. This can be started from as early as day 3 post-operation. It is not always indicated for every patient. It can help with post-operative swelling. This form of treatment will incur an additional cost to the overall price of surgery.

Going back to work

If patients have a desk job, surgeons often advise that they take at least 2 weeks off work. If the job includes physical activity, e.g. wait staff, the usual advice is to take at least 3 to 4 weeks off work.
In any case, patients should avoid even light duties for at least 2 to 4 weeks.

Sports & exercise

The surgeon will inform patients when they can expect to resume regular sports and exercise again. However, in general, it is recommended the following:

Recovery Timeline

Weeks 1 to 2

• It is recommended that no exercise is done during this period as even minor aerobic activities may cause swelling. Patients should, however, take light walks to prevent blood clots from forming. It's advised that patients avoid sexual activity for at least 2 weeks as this can also increase swelling and bruising.
  Be sure that patients do not raise arms above the shoulders, push anything or lay on the stomach.

Weeks 2 to 4

• After 2 weeks, patients should be able to resume very light cardio activity such as walking on a treadmill.

Weeks 4 to 8

• After 4 weeks, patients may resume more vigorous activities such as cycling, but nothing involving heavy lifting or contact sports.

After 8 weeks

• 8 weeks after having the tummy tuck procedure, patients should be able to resume all sports and activities.

Post-operative garment

An important part of the tummy tuck aftercare involves wearing a post-operative compression garment. This is a tight corset that must be worn around the abdomen to help reduce swelling after surgery. The surgeon will give you specific advice regarding how long to wear your garment, but most surgeons require patients to wear it day and night for 4 to 6 weeks, only removing it to bathe.

Final results

It will take some time before patients can see the final results of the surgery. Patients will have bruising and swelling around the abdomen for the first 6 to 8 weeks. Once all the swelling and bruising settles, patients can begin to see the full, permanent results of the tummy tuck. However, patients should be aware that it can take 6 to 9 months before everything completely settles.
To preserve the results of the tummy tuck surgery for as long as possible, it is important that patients try to maintain a stable weight through regular exercise and a healthy diet.

Your surgeon is the best person to advise you on whether you are more suitable for a tummy tuck or liposuction. If you have loose skin that has lost its elasticity due to pregnancy, ageing or weight loss, a tummy tuck may be a more appropriate procedure for you. If you are a younger patient who has a low BMI, healthy, elastic skin and you simply want to enhance your figure and smooth the contour of your body, liposuction may be more suitable for you.

The two procedures can also be combined to further contour the abdomen following excess skin removal and re-tightening of the abdominal muscles.

It varies very much from patient to patient, so it's important to discuss your needs and expectations with your Patient Care Adviser who will be able to explain in more depth, but ultimately your body will decide what procedure is right for you, rather than you selecting a particular procedure.

The use of liposuction during a tummy tuck can help contour the shape of the abdomen. Some surgeons choose to include liposuction in their procedures and some choose not to. This choice will depend on your personal needs and on the surgeon’s regular practice. It is worth asking your surgeon if they will include liposuction.

The main aim of the tummy tuck procedure is to remove excess skin and tighten the abdominal muscles that often separate following pregnancy or massive weight loss. If there are stretch marks on the skin removed, then, of course, they will no longer be present on the tummy. However, the surgery will not seek to remove all stretch marks on the abdomen. Do talk to your surgeon regarding your expectations and they will be able to know what will be possible for you.

A tummy tuck procedure is a major surgery and it will, therefore, take some time before you fully recover. It's sensible to think about your tummy tuck preparation before you go in for your procedure. You should allow yourself enough time to rest and heal after your surgery.

Below you can find some tips for your tummy tuck preparation:

Household chores

It may be useful to get household chores such as doing the washing and taking the bins out of the way before you have your operation. You may want to place hard to reach cupboard items such as mugs and plates on the kitchen counter so that you do not strain your incisions by trying to reach for them.

As you will not be able to do any heavy lifting straight after the operation, you may want to do a big food shop beforehand and prepare some meals for the freezer.

Children & pets

As you will need to rest well after surgery, you should ask friends and family to help look after children and pets during your recovery period. You may find you cannot lift infants for several weeks after surgery. In addition, dogs pulling on a lead could be painful and negatively impact your wounds healing. You're probably not going to be leaping out of bed to do the school run either, so asking a friend, partner or neighbour to take over these roles is necessary.

Diet

Maintaining a healthy diet will help you during your recovery. Try to eat high-protein, low-sodium foods including lots of vegetables and fruits. Hydrate your body well by drinking lots of water and avoiding drinks with caffeine.

Clothing

Wear comfortable, easy to wear clothing during your recovery. Choose shirts that fasten easily from the front or the back, easy to pull on trousers and slip-on shoes. You will have to wear a compression garment after your tummy tuck procedure. The instructions for this including how long to wear it for will be given to you by your surgeon.

Sleep

You will need to get plenty of rest after your operation. It will be necessary for you to sleep propped up for the first weeks after surgery, so make sure to have plenty of extra pillows on your bed! Try to rest and sleep on your back in an inclined position for 1 to 2 weeks after your operation. It is also important that you do not sleep on your stomach for the first 6 weeks after your tummy tuck.

Travel arrangments

As you will not be able to drive straight after your surgery, you should arrange for a family member or friend to take you home after the operation. You should also have adult supervision for the first 24 hours after being discharged as your cognitive and motor skills may be affected by the anaesthetic.

Your surgeon will give you specific advice regarding how best to prepare for a tummy tuck. If you have any further questions do speak to your Patient Care Adviser

You do not need a referral from your GP to have a tummy tuck. Your surgeon may however, contact your GP so that they can get your full medical history from them.

However, it's important to note that some medical conditions may need to be signed off by your GP prior to have the tummy tuck procedure. But your Patient Care Adviser will be able to let you know if this applies for you.

In every case, you will keep your original belly button (naval) following a tummy tuck. However, particularly when having a full abdominoplasty, it will be necessary to create a new window at a higher part of the torso skin. This may result in your belly button going in a higher position than before.

Surgeons usually recommend that you wait at least six months after pregnancy before having an abdominoplasty. This is because it can take around 6 months for the stretched abdominal muscles to recover after childbirth. It's also worth noting that during tummy tuck recovery you will not be able to lift infants so you may want to consider that when planning your procedure.

As we grow older our bodies continue to change and our skin continues to lose its elasticity. Despite this, the results of a tummy tuck should last many years. The results will last longer if you avoid pregnancy and major weight changes.
Your BAAPS/BAPRAS surgeon will do their best to achieve the best, most long-lasting results possible.

The aim of a tummy tuck is to remove excess skin and tighten the abdominal muscles that you cannot do through exercise and diet alone. It is not a procedure to aid weight loss and you must therefore reach your optimal weight before having surgery. Excessive weight loss after the operation will produce excess loose skin which can negatively affect the results of surgery.

Similarly, excessive weight gain after a tummy tuck will stretch the abdominal skin and muscles. This will result in loss of the muscle tone and firmness that was achieved with surgery, thereby affecting the long-term aesthetic results of the procedure. The effect this has depends on the amount of weight that you lose or gain, but minor changes should not affect the results. Talk to your surgeon if you have concerns.

All of the information found on our website is sourced from highly reputable experts, government-approved authorities and is widely used by healthcare professionals.

• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cosmetic-procedures/tummy-tuck/ NHS
• https://baaps.org.uk/patients/procedures/3/tummy_tuck_abdominoplasty British Association Of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons
• https://www.bapras.org.uk/public/patient-information/surgery-guides/abdominoplasty British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons
• Understand.com Understand
• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/support-and-services/your-post-pregnancy NHS

Our content is written by our Medical Quality Managers and Patient Care Advisers, all of who have medical backgrounds and training. Prior to publishing, all the information is reviewed by a surgeon specialised within the relevant field.