Tummy Tuck / Abdominoplasty
Tummy Tuck Surgery in Edinburgh: Addressing Both Function and Appearance
Tummy tuck surgery (abdominoplasty) addresses both functional and cosmetic concerns related to the abdominal area. This procedure removes excess skin and fat while tightening the underlying muscles to create a firmer, flatter abdomen.
Many people develop loose skin and stretched muscles after pregnancy, significant weight loss, or simply due to ageing. These changes can cause physical discomfort and affect body confidence. At Quaba Plastic Surgery in Edinburgh, our experienced surgeons provide personalised tummy tuck procedures to help restore both function and appearance.
I had a full tummy tuck and muscle repair in March 2024 after having my baby in 2023. The difference this has made to my body has been life-changing, particularly the muscle repair (7cm wide) that Mr Quaba performed.
I no longer have back pain, and I no longer have the loose excess skin that used to hang over my previous c-section scars. I can exercise more freely, and this has made a difference in my ability to run again after having a baby. My journey to this point has been tough, and my tummy tuck meant more to me than how I looked on the inside. A few years ago, I lost my son during labour. Somehow, I felt that my procedure formed an important part of my journey through grief. I’m struggling to find the words to explain, but the reason I mention this is that Mr Quaba knew how much my procedure meant to me, and he responded with care and empathy.
The level of care and service I received while in hospital was amazing. The nurses took good care of me and did what they could to make me feel comfortable. They were lovely to talk to and made me feel at ease in a hospital setting. I’m so glad I decided to have my procedure done by Mr Quaba. I researched where I should go and if I should consider going abroad. After my operation I was healing as hoped, however I just had a major operation and in my view it is not worth the risk travelling overseas. There is something to be said about having easier access to medical attention following a major operation. A few times I was paranoid about my recovery (all in my head) and I was able to drive over and get check out by a nurse. Also, if there had been any serious complications, Mr Quaba would be there to support. I have since learned that many people travel all over to have their procedure carried out by Mr Quaba, and now I see why.
Thank you for everything. You have changed the quality of my life. I will be forever grateful.
Elaine
Contents
Tummy tuck overview
TYPE OF ANAESTHETIC
- General
LENGTH OF SURGERY
- 2 hours
NIGHTS IN HOSPITAL
- Mini – day surgery, Full – 1 night
RECOVERY
- 2-3 weeks off work, 6 weeks before strenuous exercise
Understanding Tummy Tuck Surgery
A tummy tuck is more than just a cosmetic procedure. It addresses several physical concerns while providing psychological benefits:
Physical Benefits
• Repairs separated abdominal muscles (diastasis recti), which can improve core strength and reduce back pain
• Removes excess skin that can cause irritation, rashes or hygiene difficulties
• Eliminates the “apron” of skin that may hang over caesarean section or other surgical scars
• Can improve certain types of hernias when combined with muscle repair
Functional Improvements
Research in the British Journal of Plastic Surgery has shown that tummy tuck procedures with muscle repair can help improve:
• Posture and core stability
• Exercise tolerance and physical activity levels
• Stress urinary incontinence in some women after childbirth
• Back pain related to core muscle weakness
At Quaba, we consider both the physical improvements and aesthetic outcomes when planning your tummy tuck procedure.
Procedures
Tummy tuck surgery is tailored to your individual needs and concerns. During your consultation, we’ll discuss which approach would be most appropriate for you
Standard (Full) Abdominoplasty
Standard (Full) Abdominoplasty
This comprehensive procedure addresses issues from the pubic area up to and around the belly button. It involves:
• Removing excess skin and fat between your pubic area and belly button
• Preserving your belly button in its natural position
• Pulling down the remaining upper abdominal skin to create a tighter contour
• Repositioning your belly button through a new opening in the repositioned skin
• Repairing weakened or separated abdominal muscles (rectus diastasis)
• Creating a horizontal scar along the lower abdomen, typically positioned to be concealed by underwear or swimwear
This approach is ideal for those with significant skin laxity, muscle separation after pregnancy, or substantial weight loss.
Mini Tummy Tuck
Mini Tummy Tuck
This less extensive procedure is suitable for patients with concerns limited to the lower abdomen (below the belly button). It involves:
• Removing a smaller amount of excess skin and fat from the lower abdomen only
• A shorter horizontal scar along the lower abdomen
• Sometimes including limited muscle tightening
• No repositioning of the belly button
Recovery is typically quicker than with a full abdominoplasty, and this option works well for those with minimal to moderate skin laxity confined to the lower abdomen.
Extended Abdominoplasty
Extended Abdominoplasty
For patients with excess skin and tissue that extends around to the flanks or lower back, this enhanced approach provides more comprehensive contouring by:
• Extending the incision beyond a standard tummy tuck to address the sides of the abdomen
• Removing additional skin and fat from the flank areas
• Providing more extensive muscle repair when needed
• Creating a longer scar that may extend to the back of the hips
This approach is particularly helpful for patients who have experienced massive weight loss or have significant skin laxity extending beyond the front of the abdomen.
Frequently asked questions
What specific concerns can a tummy tuck address?
What specific concerns can a tummy tuck address?
A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, removes excess skin and fat from the abdominal area and tightens weakened or separated abdominal muscles. This procedure is particularly effective for patients with loose skin after weight loss or pregnancy, enhancing abdominal contour and muscle tone. However, it is not a weight-loss procedure and may be combined with other treatments if additional fat reduction is desired.
How long does it take to recover from a tummy tuck?
How long does it take to recover from a tummy tuck?
Recovery time varies, but generally, most patients can return to light activities within two weeks. Full recovery, allowing for strenuous activities and exercise, typically takes 4-6 weeks. Patients should follow a structured aftercare plan and attend follow-up appointments to monitor healing.
Will a tummy tuck remove stretch marks?
Will a tummy tuck remove stretch marks?
A tummy tuck may remove some stretch marks if they are located on the excess skin that is excised, typically between the pubic area and the navel. However, stretch marks outside the surgical area will likely remain.
Is liposuction combined with abdominoplasty?
Is liposuction combined with abdominoplasty?
Yes, liposuction can often be combined with abdominoplasty to enhance the abdominal contour further. This combination removes stubborn fat deposits around the abdomen and waistline, providing a more sculpted result. Your surgeon will discuss whether this combined approach is suitable for your goals and body type.
Can I have liposuction alone instead of an abdominoplasty?
Can I have liposuction alone instead of an abdominoplasty?
Sometimes, liposuction alone may be an option for patients with good skin elasticity and no need for muscle repair or excess skin removal. However, this approach is only suitable for a small number of patients. An abdominoplasty is usually the more appropriate option for those with loose skin or muscle separation. Your surgeon will carefully assess your needs to determine the best procedure.
What if I get pregnant after a tummy tuck?
What if I get pregnant after a tummy tuck?
While it is safe to become pregnant after a tummy tuck, pregnancy may stretch the abdominal skin and muscles, potentially affecting the results of your surgery. For this reason, it’s usually recommended to wait until you are finished with family planning before undergoing a tummy tuck. If pregnancy does occur, a follow-up consultation can help assess any impact on your surgical results.
Are there any long-term impacts on abdominal muscles after a tummy tuck?
Are there any long-term impacts on abdominal muscles after a tummy tuck?
During a tummy tuck, separated abdominal muscles (diastasis recti) are often repaired, which can improve core stability and strength. However, maintaining these results over the long term requires core-strengthening exercises and a stable weight. Patients should discuss lifestyle considerations with their surgeon to maintain the outcomes.
How visible are tummy tuck scars?
How visible are tummy tuck scars?
Tummy tuck scars vary depending on the procedure and individual healing factors. Generally, scars are positioned low on the abdomen, making them easily concealed under clothing. Over time, scars can fade significantly, and certain treatments (such as silicone sheets or laser therapy) may help reduce their visibility.
Are the results of a tummy tuck permanent?
Are the results of a tummy tuck permanent?
A tummy tuck offers long-lasting results, especially when combined with a healthy lifestyle and stable weight. However, significant weight fluctuations or pregnancy after surgery can alter the results, so it is recommended to wait until family planning and weight goals are stable.
When will I see the final results of my tummy tuck?
When will I see the final results of my tummy tuck?
Most patients see initial improvements soon after surgery, but swelling can take several weeks to subside fully. The final results may take 3-6 months to become apparent as tissues heal and adjust to their new contours.
Benefits of tummy tuck surgery
Tummy tuck surgery offers numerous benefits that extend beyond aesthetics:
Core Strength Improvement
The repair of separated abdominal muscles restores the functional integrity of your core, which can improve posture, stability, and even certain types of back pain. Many patients report feeling stronger and more supported after their muscle repair has healed.
Relief from Physical Discomfort
Removing excess skin eliminates the friction, rashes, and hygiene challenges that can occur with overhanging abdominal tissue. This can make daily activities more comfortable and reduce skin irritation problems.
Enhanced Exercise Capacity
Many patients report feeling more comfortable participating in physical activities after their abdominal muscles have been repaired and excess tissue removed. While heavy exercise involving abdominal muscles should be avoided for up to 6 months after muscle repair, most patients ultimately enjoy improved exercise tolerance.
Improved Clothing Fit
The flatter, more proportionate abdominal profile allows for greater comfort and confidence in clothing that may have been difficult to wear previously. Many patients appreciate no longer having to accommodate excess tissue or bulges.
Long-lasting Results
Unlike non-surgical treatments, a tummy tuck creates permanent changes to your abdominal structure that can be maintained with a healthy lifestyle. The removed skin and fat will not return, though future weight fluctuations can affect your results.
Psychological Wellbeing
Research shows that body contouring procedures like tummy tucks can significantly improve body image, self-esteem, and quality of life, particularly for those who have experienced major weight loss or pregnancy-related changes.
What are the risks?
A tummy tuck is a major surgical procedure. Fortunately, most patients have few problems, but some serious complications can occur.
Possible general complications include an unexpected reaction to the anaesthetic, chest infection or developing a blood clot, usually in a vein in the leg (deep vein thrombosis, DVT). A DVT can be a serious condition; if the clot spreads to the lungs (pulmonary embolus), the outcome can be fatal. Fortunately, pulmonary embolism is uncommon after abdominoplasty (under 1 in 100 patients). You would have a risk assessment during your pre-assessment, and we take precautions to reduce the risks of DVT. These include stockings, mechanical pumps that keep the circulation going in your legs, and blood thinning injections where appropriate.
The risk of severe complications during a general anaesthetic is approximately 1 in 100,000.
Complications specific to tummy tuck include:
Infection
Infection
This might require treatment with antibiotics. Rarely, the infection can be severe, resulting in you becoming unwell and needing an operation to wash out the abdomen. In extreme cases, this can cause loss of skin or the inability to close the wounds.
Bleeding
Bleeding
This might require a return to the theatre to stop the bleeding and drain the area (risk less than 5 in 100).
Delayed healing
Delayed healing
Particularly in the tighter central part of the wound. Sometimes dressings are needed for a few weeks, which is more common in overweight patients and smokers.
Seroma
Seroma
Is a persistent collection of serous fluid under your skin. The fluid can be drained with a needle during your post-operative visits. Such drainage generally stops eventually (but may last more than a month) and rarely affects the final cosmetic outcome. The incidence of seroma has been reported as affecting 7-10 out of every 100 patients.
Poor scarring
Poor scarring
Scars are permanent and can remain red, thickened, and itchy (hypertrophic scars). These can take several months to settle down. The scars may stretch with time.
Numbness
Numbness
This is usually temporary but can be permanent.
Change in shape of the belly button (umbilicus)
Change in shape of the belly button (umbilicus)
Your belly button will be brought out through the skin once the skin has been pulled down. This will result in a different shape and a scar around the umbilicus.
Asymmetry
Asymmetry
Perfect symmetry does not exist before or after abdominoplasty surgery. Scars will never be identical from side to side, and the umbilicus may not be exactly in the midline.
Revision surgery
Revision surgery
Occasionally, revision surgery may be required if the outcome is unsatisfactory. Better results are usually achieved when patients are at their ideal body weight.
Our Award-Winning No-Drain Tummy Tuck
At Quaba Plastic Surgery, we’ve pioneered a no-drain tummy tuck technique that has received significant recognition:
• Awarded ‘best presentation’ at the Scottish Meeting of Plastic Surgeons in 2013
• Published in the world’s leading plastic surgery journal – Plastic Reconstructive Surgery in 2015
• Featured presentation by Awf Quaba at the annual meeting of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) in 2018
Standard tummy tuck
Standard tummy tuck
Many surgeons in the UK use drains during a tummy tuck procedure, and these can remain in place for anything from 1 day to 5 days. The logic behind using drains is to reduce the risk of blood and fluid collecting under the skin. Drains can be uncomfortable for patients and limit mobility. They can delay the time a patient must stay in the hospital. There is little evidence for their use in the published literature.
Our results
Our results
We looked at 271 patients over a ten year period who had a tummy tuck in our practice. None of the patients had drains as we use a modified technique that we believe limits the risk of bleeding and seroma (fluid collection within the abdomen that is one of the most common side effects of a tummy tuck).
These were some of our findings:
The average age of a patient having a tummy tuck in our practice: 45 years old (range from 20 years to over 60 years)
Average number of previous pregnancies: 2.4 pregnancies
60% of patients had scars on their abdomens from pasts surgery (mostly caesarian sections or hysterectomies)
61% of patients had liposuction of their bellies combined with a tummy tuck
47% of patients had other cosmetic procedures at the same time as their tummy tuck (the most frequent other operation was a breast augmentation/ or breast lift)
Our complication rates
Our complication rates
Bleeding
1.8% of patients had bleeding after surgery which required them to go back to the theatre to stop the bleeding. This outcome compares very favourably with other studies which used drains. Their bleeding rates that needed a return to the theatre were 0.9%, 3%, 2%, 3.8% and 6.8%.
Seroma
Our seroma rate (which required draining using a needle in the outpatient department) was 7.7%. Again this compares very favourably with other published studies which used drains. The published seroma rates in these studies ranged from 4.5% to 19.2% with most having higher percentages than ourselves.
Wound infection
Our wound infection rate (infections which required treatment with antibiotics) was 4.5%. Again this compares favourably with other studies.
Our revision rates:
Our revision rate (patients needing a second procedure due to dissatisfaction with the first procedure) was 8.9%. This revision rate was lower than any other published series (range 11% to 34.4%). An extensive series published in the UK looked at the revision rates of a group of cosmetic surgeons in London and reported a revision rate of 24%.
Our inpatient stay:
On average our patients were in the hospital for 1.7 days. Again this was lower than most other published series bearing in mind that 47% of our patients had other cosmetic procedures carried out at the same time.
What is different about our technique?
What is different about our technique?
Our tummy tuck is no different to a standard tummy tuck in its aim to remove excess skin and fat from the abdomen. The scars are the same (hip to hip), and the abdominal muscles are tightened in the same way when required. The difference is that we leave behind a thin layer of fat (subscarpa fat) over the abdominal wall. This layer of fat is thought to be rich in lymph draining channels that may be important in reducing seroma formation. The thin layer of fat left behind also reduces the amount of space (dead space) when the wounds are closed. Reducing dead space may be helpful in promoting healing and limiting the amount of fluid that can collect.
Our study has shown that tummy tucks can be carried out safely and with low complication rates if drains are not used. Not using drains means less discomfort for patients and earlier discharge from the hospital. We have demonstrated that patients leave the hospital within two days of having surgery (on average) and that our revision rate is low (8.9%)
Publication of our work
Publication of our work
The no-drain, no-quilt abdominoplasty: a single-surgeon series of 271 patients
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 135(3):p 751-760, March 2015
What to expect and tummy tuck aftercare
First Week
First Week
• You’ll receive pain medication before discharge, typically including strong painkillers like dihydrocodeine
• You’ll need to rest while also starting gentle walking around your home to promote circulation
• You’ll walk bent over initially as everything feels tight – this gradually improves by week’s end
• A small amount of blood staining on dressings is normal
• You can shower, but avoid soaking your dressings
• Keep your new belly button clean with soap, water and a cotton bud
• You’ll attend a follow-up appointment with our nurses at week’s end to remove outer dressings
Second Week
Second Week
Discomfort typically reduces; many patients no longer need strong pain medication
• You’ll gradually walk more upright as tightness eases
• Paper tape (steri-strips) or glue tape should be removed by the end of week 2-3
• Many patients with desk jobs can return to work
• Driving may be possible if you’re no longer taking strong painkillers
• Your tummy will still feel swollen and may vary throughout the day
Weeks 3-4
Weeks 3-4
Most patients feel more like themselves, though swelling continues
• You can moisturise healed incisions with a plain moisturiser or bio-oil
• Bruising should be largely resolved
• If your job is physical, you may return to work during this period
Weeks 5-6
Weeks 5-6
• You can begin scar care with micropore tape (using our recommended tape/moisturise cycle)
• Most swelling begins to significantly subside
• Preparation for return to gentle exercise begins
Beyond 6 Weeks
Beyond 6 Weeks
• Gentle exercise can resume at 6 weeks
• If your muscles were tightened, heavy abdominal exercises should be avoided for 6 months
• The final 10% of swelling resolves gradually over 6 months
• Scars continue to fade but may remain red for 6+ months
Important Notes
Important Notes
• Unlike some practices, we do NOT require compression garments, as there’s no evidence they improve outcomes
• Our no-drain technique eliminates the need for uncomfortable drains during recovery
• We provide detailed scar care instructions to optimise your long-term results
For comprehensive aftercare guidelines specific to your procedure, please visit our dedicated tummy tuck aftercare page.
Based on our experience with hundreds of patients, here’s what you can typically expect during your recovery:
Author
Dr Omar Quaba, MBBChir, FRCS (Plast), GMC 4586300, is a Consultant Plastic Surgeon on the GMC Specialist Register with over 20 years of experience in plastic surgery. Educated at Cambridge University and trained in Aberdeen and Glasgow, with a fellowship in Australia, he transitioned to full-time private practice in 2020. As Hospital Director of Waterfront Private Hospital and a full member of BAPRAS, BAAPS, and ISAPS, he combines extensive expertise with a commitment to excellence in patient care.