Dr. Dirk Lazarus
Plastic Surgeon

Tel: 021 424 1112
Fax: 021 424 1118

86 New Church St
Tamboerskloof
Cape Town, 8001
South Africa

ABDOMINOPLASTY or tummy tuck is a group of operations performed to improve the shape or contour of your tummy. The procedure removes excess skin and fat and can tighten the stomach muscles.

The classic or full tummy tuck is a procedure more suited to older patients and in particular women who have completed their families. This procedure requires an incision from hip to hip and around the belly button. I tend to perform more mini tummy tucks these days as this allows me to perform more liposuction and avoids an incision around the belly button.

Younger women and patients in whom the major problem is excess fat, may be more suitable for a mini tummy tuck which avoids the incision around the belly button. A mini tuck involves more liposuction and less cutting.

Mini tummy tuck can be done as day case surgery under a light general anaesthetic with supplementary local anaesthesia. Epidural or spinal anaesthesia may also be used. Full tummy tuck requires hospital admission. Mini tummy tuck usually takes about 2 hours, full tummy tuck about 3 hours. Bruising and swelling usually resolve after about 2-3 weeks. Overseas patients can return home approximately 2 weeks after mini-tuck, but should allow 3 weeks for full tummy tuck.

Risks and complications include bleeding, infection, delayed healing, dog ears, fluid collections, lung problems, leg clots, etc. The effect of tummy tuck is long lasting and provided you maintain your weight, continue to exercise and live a healthy lifestyle you should be satisfied with the results. The scar takes about a year to mature and to form an inconspicuous and pale line.

> For a more detailed description of this procedure, click here.
> Read my newsletter on tummy tucks: is less more?
> Testimonials from patients who have had tummy surgery.