Abdominoplasty ("Tummy
Tuck")
 At Brisbane Aesthetic & Plastic Surgery Centre, abdominoplasty & liposuction are performed by Dr Cheng, a qualified plastic surgeon with a special interest in both cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. He performs cosmetic surgery such as abdominoplasty, liposuction, breast augmentation, breast reduction and breast lift, for patients desiring to enhance their appearance.
Abdominoplasty, often called a "tummy tuck", is a popular procedure used to flatten and shape the abdomen by removing excess fat and skin and tightening muscles.
Who Is A Good Candidate For A Tummy Tuck?
The best candidates for a tummy tuck are in good physical condition with pockets of fat or loose skin that haven't responded well to traditional diet and exercise. Tummy tucks can also be useful for women with stretched skin and muscles from pregnancy. Results from the tummy tuck procedure will likely diminish if women continue to bear children, so we advise patients who plan to become pregnant to consider postponing this procedure until they are finished having children.
We also encourage patients who intend to lose a lot of weight to delay surgery until they reach their goal weight, since skin in the abdominal area typically loosens after substantial weight loss.
Customised Treatment For Optimal Cosmetic Results
Dr Cheng takes the time during every pre-operative consultation to learn what patients want to achieve from a tummy tuck both for their bodies and for their self-confidence. By listening to what patients have to say and closely examining them rather than performing a one-size-fits-all procedure on every person, Dr Cheng provides patients with a completely customized treatment that takes into account their specific goals.
The Tummy Tuck Procedure
Tummy tucks take approximately 2-3 hours and are performed under general anesthesia. This procedure is usually performed on an in-patient basis, where you will generally stay 3-7 nights in hospital.
Dr. Cheng will make two incisions: one from hipbone to hipbone close to the pubic area, and another around the navel. He will separate the skin from the abdominal muscles, which are then pulled together and stitched into place for a firmer abdomen and narrower waist. The skin flap is then stretched down and over the newly tightened muscles, excess skin and fat are removed, and the navel is reattached in a natural position. Finally, Dr. Cheng will close the incisions and apply sterile surgical dressings over the
sutured areas.
Recovery After Tummy Tuck
After surgery, compression garments are worn and two surgical drainage tubes are inserted under the skin to drain excess fluid from the surgical site. Drains are usually removed after 3-7 days. Recovery time ranges from two weeks to a few months. You should limit strenuous activities for at least six weeks, and may need to take time off from work for up to a month depending on the nature of your work. Dr. Cheng will give you specific instructions for your individual recovery. Following these instructions can help speed up your recovery and reduce the risk of any post-surgery complications.
Risks Of A Tummy Tuck
Though rare, post-operative complications from any surgical procedure are possible. They may include infection, blood clots, scarring and poor healing, which may require further surgery.
Will My Insurance Cover the Tummy Tuck Surgery?
Tummy tuck surgery may be partially covered by medical insurance, however this will depend on your individual insurance policy and health fund.
Partial Abdominoplasty (MINI TUMMY TUCK)
Partial abdominoplasty, or "mini tummy tuck", is similar to the regular tummy tuck procedure, except it involves a shorter incision and the skin is only lifted to the navel. In this procedure the navel does not have to be repositioned. This procedure is ideal for patients who need just a little improvement in order to reach their desired result. You can discuss the differences between these procedures, as well as weigh up their benefits and risks with Dr. Cheng in order to decide which procedure is best for you.
Liposuction
 Liposuction is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure used to remove localised areas of fat from the body through a small thin tube called a cannula. The fat from the targeted area is suctioned from the body through this tube to help patients achieve a slim and balanced appearance.
Candidates For Liposuction
The ideal candidate for liposuction is someone who is in good overall health and maintains a healthy lifestyle, but has one or more problem areas with unresponsive fat deposits. It is also important for
patients to have realistic expectations, and remember that liposuction cannot be used as a means for major weight loss. It is instead used to remove localized areas of stubborn fat after the patient has attempted other natural weight loss methods.
Liposuction Procedure
Liposuction is performed in a day surgery hospital facility under general anesthesia. Dr. Cheng will make several tiny incisions and inject a local anesthetic into the area to help expand and firm the fat, making it easier to remove. The cannula is then inserted through the incisions to suction out the fat.
Liposuction Recovery And Results
After the liposuction procedure, patients may experience mild swelling, bruising and discomfort in the treated area. Compression garments or elastic bandages may be used to help reduce these symptoms while the area heals. Patients can return to work and other regular activities as soon as they feel comfortable, which is usually after a few days. Exercise and other strenuous activities should be avoided for a few weeks.
Dr. Cheng will give you special instructions on how to care for your treated area and reduce any complications after the procedure. The results of the liposuction procedure may not be visible until after swelling and bruising subside. This may take several months, and results will appear gradually throughout this time.
The results of liposuction can be permanent, as long as patients maintain a healthy and active life. If substantial weight is gained after this procedure, the results may be altered.
Risks Of Liposuction
Although liposuction is considered safe, there are certain risks associated with any type of procedure. Some of these risks may include infection, scarring, allergic reactions, haematoma or unsatisfactory results.
Body Lift (belt
lipectomy)
The body lift is performed
to remove loose, excess skin from the torso and upper legs. It offers an
improvement in appearance for patients who have lost significant amounts of
weight due to childbearing, diet, exercise or bariatric surgery. The procedure
is often combined with others such as breast lifts and arm lifts to retain a
proper body proportion.
Arm Lift
(Brachioplasty)
After substantial weight
loss, weight gain or simply from the effects of ageing, skin on the upper arms
can become inelastic, loose and flabby. Arm lifts, also known as brachioplasty,
remove that excess skin and fat. Patients who have significant amounts of fat
may want to consider combining the procedure with liposuction.
Thigh Lift
 A thigh lift is
performed to remove excess skin and fat from the upper legs. Candidates
typically suffer from loose, inelastic skin after extreme weight loss due to
diet, exercise or bariatric surgery. Because of this, the procedure is often
combined with others such as breast lifts, facelifts and arm lifts to retain an
attractive body proportion.
In a medial thigh lift
(inner thigh lift), the surgical incision is made in the inner thigh along the
line where the leg meets the groin. In a lateral thigh lift (outer thigh lift),
the incision is made from the groin around the back of the body, so that the
buttocks are lifted along with the thigh.
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