Tummy tuck or abdominoplasty: what is it?
The standard technique referred to as full tummy tuck: It consists of removing all the damaged and sagging skin between the umbilicus and the pubis, repairing the damaged muscles like diastasis, extracting fat with liposuction and transposing the umbilicus.
Mini-abdominoplasty: this intervention involves removing the excess skin located above the pubis and the excess fat located under the umbilicus through liposuction.
Abdominoplasty without liposuction: This procedure involves removing excess skin and repairing damaged muscles, but without removing fat. It is performed on a patient who is not fat.
Abdominoplasty cost in Tunisia
Patients should take into account that the cost of abdominoplasty in Tunisia, associated with a recovery stay in a 5-star hotel, is, at least, 65% cheaper than the price of the sole procedure in the UK. The average cost of abdominoplasty in London might be around £ 6914 (prices include only anaesthesia, operating room facilities and surgeon’s fees). If we are to compare costs in London and Tunisia, we would notice that Tunisia offers up to 40 to 60 % reduction, for the surgery alone, without mentioning that the cosmetic surgery cost in Tunisia includes a recovery stay in a seaside 5-star hotel.
| Operations | Our price | UK price | Making you save |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abdominoplasty tummy tuck cost | £ 2520 | £ 6914 | 65 % |
| Mini tummy tuck | £ 2140 | £ 5100 | 60 % |
Tummy tuck surgery in Tunisia:
| Operations | Anaesthetic | Procedure Time | Hospital Stay | Stay In Tunisia | Back To Work | All Inclusive Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abdominoplasty tummy tuck | General | 2-3 hour(s) | 2 night(s) | 5 night(s) | 7-14 day(s) | 2520 € |
| Mini tummy tuck | General | 1 hour(s) | 1 night(s) | 4 night(s) | 7-10 day(s) | 2140 € |
For those who want to undergo a tummy tuck surgery in Tunisia, here are some points to remember:
- Type of anaesthesia: The abdominoplasty surgery is always performed under general anaesthesia.
- The surgery duration: The tummy tuck surgery can last between 2 to 3 hours.
- The hospitalization duration: The hospitalization is usually one night for mini-abdominoplasty and abdominoplasty without liposuction / 2 nights for full tummy tuck surgery
- After-effects: The after-effects of an abdominoplasty surgery are usually simple to moderate.
- Length of stay in Tunisia: The minimum stay for abdominoplasty in Tunisia is 4 nights (for mini-abdominoplasty and abdominoplasty without liposuction) and 5 nights for full tummy tuck surgery.
- The convalescent time before returning to work: A work break of 7 to 14 days for full tummy tuck procedure and a work break of 7 to 10 days for mini-abdominoplasty and abdominoplasty without liposuction must be scheduled after the intervention.
How is a tummy tuck performed?
Abdominoplasty surgery can last between one to four hours depending on the desired result. The surgery consists of the following steps:
- Step 1: Anaesthesia
The tummy tuck surgery is always performed under general anaesthesia.
- Step 2: The incision
The surgeon makes a horizontally-oriented incision in the area between the belly button until the middle of the pubic hairline region and performs the desired tummy tuck surgery (full tummy tuck, mini-abdominoplasty or abdominoplasty without liposuction).
- Step 3: Suturing the incisions
The surgeon closes the incisions with sutures, skin adhesives, tapes or a clip stitched and seals the skin incisions.
- Step 4: Seeing the results
Tummy tuck surgery will deliver a flatter and a firmer abdominal outline that is more proportional to the body form and weight.
Scars related to abdominoplasty
A tummy tuck surgery leaves two types of scars:
- A discreet scar around the umbilicus
- A more or less discreet scar along the upper edge of the pubic hair and then back in the folds of the groin
In the first months after the operation, the scars are red and visible, but fade over time and disappear after one or two years.
The post-operative stages of a tummy tuck surgery
After a tummy tuck surgery, the follow-up is more or less simple according to the importance of the cutaneous lesions treated. The patient must:
- Wear bandages for about two weeks
- Wear a compression sleeve for 2 to 4 weeks without taking it of day and night
- Follow, during the first days, a treatment with analgesics which will help relieve pain which is mostly moderate
- Stick to a recovery period of one to two weeks depending on the patient’s occupation
The patient may face some oedema and bruising, but these complications will disappear in a matter of 10 days. The stitches are dissolvable so they will fall on their own.
The results of a tummy tuck
You should wait about six months after the abdominoplasty surgery to be able to appreciate the first results. This is the time needed for the skin to retract and the scars to be less visible. The final abdominoplasty result, meanwhile, can be judged only after a year.
The result of a tummy tuck surgery are usually excellent, however, the quality of healing depends on the quality of the skin and its ability to retract.
Advices before and after abominoplasty:
Before a tummy tuck surgery:
Before abdominoplasty surgery, it’s advisable to try to lose weight to allow the plastic surgeon to attack the deepest fat, which will not reform later.
You should:
- Stop smoking and consuming any tobacco and nicotine products at least 15 days before the tummy tuck surgery.
- Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatories, anticoagulants, illicit and illegal substances (cocaine, marijuana …) and any drugs not prescribed by a doctor, and this, during the 15 days preceding the abdominoplasty surgery.
- Stop drinking any alcoholic beverage one week before and one week after your tummy tuck intervention.
- Stop all oral contraception (for women patients) one month before surgery to reduce the risk of thromboembolism.
- Remain fasting (do not eat, drink or smoke) 8 hours before the tummy tuck surgery.
- Do not shave the pubis before the procedure to avoid cuts and therefore a risk of infection.
- Provide loose and comfortable clothing and flat shoes.
After a tummy tuck surgery:
Ask your surgeon for as much information as possible about post-operative care, for example:
- Is there any special care during your Cosmetic stay in Tunisia and also if you will need special care once you have returned to your home country?
- How to take care of the operated areas and the resulting scars?
- What medications are to be applied or taken to promote healing and reduce the risk of infection?
- When to remove the bandages and any other dressings?
- When you can resume normal activity and your sports activities?
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