Tummy Tuck

In a full tummy tuck surgery, your surgeon will place horizontal incisions to remove most of the protruding skin and fat between your belly button and pubic area. Permanent sutures will be placed to tighten the fascia—connective tissue—around your abdomen. Once that’s done, your surgeon will readjust your skin around your belly button using another, much smaller, incision. Then your incisions will be closed.

General anesthesia is usually used for tummy tuck surgery.

Tummy tuck is a common surgery with minimal risks, though there are some. If you’re a smoker, your surgeon might recommend that you stop at least during the time of your procedure because smoking can impede healing. You should also know that Hancock Regional Hospital has been rated one of the safest hospitals in America by The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit health care watchdog organization; and was named the safest hospital in Indiana on the Lown Institute Hospital Index.

Some of the possible side effects of general anesthesia include nausea and vomiting, dry mouth, sore throat, muscle aches, headache, bruising (from the IV), itching, shivering and feeling cold, difficulty urinating, and sleepiness. In older patients, memory loss and temporary confusion are possible. 

A tummy tuck is likely to reduce the protruding fat and skin in your abdominal area. 

You don’t need a referral to see a plastic surgeon.

You can always get a second or third opinion, but it isn’t required. 

Your health history will be compiled and available to the team before, during, and after surgery. If you’re a Hancock Health patient, we will be able to access your records within our system. If you aren’t, we’ll work with your doctors to get the necessary information. 

Consult the Price Transparency Tool at HancockRegionalHospital.org for an idea of how much tummy tuck surgery might cost.

Because it’s typically elective cosmetic surgery, Medicare will usually not cover a tummy tuck unless it has been deemed medically necessary.

Prior to your procedure, you may be asked to get lab tests and a medical evaluation. (Not sure where to go to get your lab tests? Check out Gateway Hancock Health, where you’ll be able to get in and out quickly and pay, on average, 70% less than you’ll pay at a hospital.) If you smoke, you’ll probably be asked to stop for several weeks or months, and you’ll also likely be instructed not to take aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, and herbal supplements because they can increase bleeding. Your surgeon will also likely tell you not to eat anything after midnight on the day of your surgeries.

You’ll arrive two hours before your surgery and be escorted to the preoperative waiting area.You’ll remove all of your clothing and jewelry, and put on a hospital gown. (Your valuables will be placed in a secure area or may be given to a family member.) You’ll sign any necessary paperwork and a preoperative nurse will take your vital signs, review your medications, and answer any questions.You’ll meet the members of your surgery team. They will mark the location of your surgery on your body. An I.V. (intravenous line) will be placed in your hand or arm, so medications—including general anesthesia—can be administered. When it’s time for your surgery, you will be wheeled into the operating suite on a stretcher.

In addition to the surgeon, you have an anesthesiologist, nurses—some of them specialize in working with patients and others assist the surgeon—and support staff, who will check you in and out, compile your records, and more. They all work together, performing their individual jobs, so your procedure is as successful as possible. 

You should bring the items you’ll need for a two-day hospital stay including your robe and slippers, toiletries, glasses, loose clothing, and something to keep you entertained—possibly reading material and your headphones. A neck pillow and portable charger for your phone can come in handy, too. If you are released to go home following your procedure, you’ll still need comfortable, loose clothing. You might also need a bottle of water, crackers, and a pillow and blanket for the ride home.

As you are anesthetized and breathing oxygen through a mask, your surgeon will make incisions in your abdomen and then remove excess fat, tissue, and skin. Your surgeon will also place permanent sutures around your connective tissue in the area and readjust the skin around your belly button using another, smaller incision. Then your incisions are closed using sutures, skin adhesives, tapes, or clips.

A tummy tuck typically takes one to five hours. 

You might be released to go home that same day or stay in the hospital for one or two days.

You’ll spend an hour or two in the recovery room as the anesthesia wears off and then you’ll either be released to go home or moved to your hospital room. 

You’ll be able to talk to your surgeon immediately after your procedure, while you’re in the recovery room.

You will receive pain medication immediately after tummy tuck surgery.

You may receive prescriptions for pain, antibiotics, and anticoagulants. You might also be prescribed a topical cream to apply around your incision site. Over-the-counter pain medication can also minimize discomfort from the procedure.

Ask someone to spend a few days after the surgery at home with you—especially if you live alone. Prepare to take it easy for a week or more—compile reading material or a list of movies or television shows you’d like to watch. You’ll be instructed to avoid straining, bending, or lifting for two to three weeks.Know that you’ll have drains under your skin for a few days. They will remove any excess blood or fluid.Prepare to be asked to wait for 48 hours after your drains are removed to shower. You may take sponge baths until then, however. (You’ll be advised not to take a bath or soak in a hot tub for about a month.)Shop for groceries before your procedure and have lots of hydrating liquids and healthy foods, full of fiber and protein, on hand. Have dark towels and clothing available. They’ll absorb any leaking fluid.Prepare to wear an abdominal binder for about six weeks following the procedure.Expect to be sore for a few weeks. Prepare to sleep on your back with your upper body slightly elevated, which will help reduce swelling. (Sleeping in a recliner or with a stack of pillows is recommended.)

You can expect to have some scarring, which will fade over time, at your surgical sites. Your drains and any sutures that aren’t dissolvable will likely be removed at your first postoperative appointment. 

Call your surgeon’s office, and, if you’re in need of immediate emergency services, go to the nearest emergency room.