Tummy tuck
After pregnancy or major weight loss, excess skin and fat can remain on your tummy, sometimes with separated abdominal muscles. In a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), I remove the skin and repair the muscles if needed.
Where:Velthuis Kliniek Rozendaal
At a glance
- Duration
- 2 to 3 hours
- Anaesthesia
- General anaesthetic
- Hospital stay
- Often 1 night
- Back to work
- After 2 to 4 weeks
- Exercise
- After about 6 weeks, abdominal exercises after 3 months
Who is it for?
- You have a fold of skin on your tummy that does not go away with exercise
- Your abdominal muscles have separated after pregnancy
- Your weight is stable and you do not plan to have more children
The procedure
The operation is done under general anaesthetic. The scar runs low across the tummy, from hip to hip, so it is hidden by your underwear.
I remove excess skin and fat, stitch the abdominal muscles together if needed and reposition the belly button.
Recovery, step by step
First week
You walk slightly bent forward and wear an abdominal binder.
Weeks 2 to 3
You can walk upright again. The wound is checked.
Week 6
Light exercise. No heavy lifting until the muscles have healed.
After 12 months
The scar becomes pale and flat.
This is a general guide. We will discuss your own recovery time in the consultation.
Risks and complications
Care matters in every surgical treatment. Complications cannot always be prevented, but we do everything we can to keep the risks as small as possible.
In the consultation I take the time to explain what you can expect from the treatment and which risks may be involved. That way you can make a well-informed, confident choice that is right for you.
- Bleeding after the operation or bruising
- Wound infection
- Slow wound healing
- Scars that stay thick or red
- Fluid build-up under the skin (seroma)
- Thrombosis (a blood clot)
- Numb skin below the belly button
Insurance cover
A tummy tuck is only covered under strict criteria, for example a large fold of skin causing complaints after major weight loss. Approval is needed in advance.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still get pregnant afterwards?
Yes, but a new pregnancy can undo the result. That is why I recommend this operation once you have completed your family.
A good conversation is the first step.
In the consultation I take the time to answer your questions. You go home with honest advice and no obligation.