Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)

What is an abdominoplasty?

An abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck, is a surgical procedure our Specialist Plastic Surgeons perform in Perth to remove excess skin and fat from the lower abdomen and/or to tighten the abdominal muscles.

This procedure can be performed for aesthetic (cosmetic) purposes or for medical/functional reasons, the latter being dependent on strict Medicare eligibility criteria.

What factors may influence the decision to have an abdominoplasty?

You may wish to have an abdominoplasty if your abdomen is affected by mild obesity, skin laxity following weight loss, muscle repair following pregnancy, or scars from previous surgery or trauma.

Abdominoplasty should not be considered as a replacement for weight loss or a suitable exercise regimen. It is important to note that although the procedure’s results are technically long-lasting, significant fluctuations in weight can significantly reduce the positive outcome. Therefore, if you are planning to become pregnant, you may wish to consider delaying the surgery, as the results may be compromised or lost as a result.

Is an abdominoplasty right for me?

A consultation with your Specialist Plastic Surgeon is the first step in considering an abdominoplasty. You should frankly discuss your goals and expectations, and your plastic surgeon will explain to you whether this operation is right for you. Suction lipectomy may be advised in addition to (or instead of) an abdominoplasty.

How is abdominoplasty surgery performed?

There are currently several techniques for abdominoplasty surgery. They all aim to remove excess tissue, fat and skin from the lower abdomen. The procedure may also include the tightening and repair of abdominal muscles following pregnancy. In some patients, the navel is repositioned. Your Specialist Plastic Surgeon will take your physical condition and requirements into consideration, and will determine which technique would be best for you.

The procedure is performed in Perth in a fully-accredited hospital under general anaesthesia. Although in some cases an abdominoplasty can be performed as a day procedure, in most situations you will require a few days convalescence in hospital. Your hospital stay will depend on your general health, the extent of the procedure, and your surgeon’s advice.

Are there any risks and complications of abdominoplasty surgery?

All plastic, cosmetic and reconstructive surgical procedures come with risks and potential complications. To ensure successful surgery, it is crucial to understand and minimise these risks. Whilst all measures are taken to mitigate risks, some risks are unavoidable.

All information on this page is general in nature – your Specialist Plastic Surgeon will discuss the specific risks and complications pertinent to your individual surgical procedure during your consultation. General risks for surgery are listed here.

Specific risks related to abdominoplasty surgery include, but are not limited to:

Will an abdominoplasty procedure leave any scars?

Although scars are the inevitable results of any surgery, your surgeon will make every effort to make the scars as inconspicuous as possible. In some circumstances the scars can be hidden inside the bikini line where they may be easy to conceal. However, scarring is an individual characteristic and can vary from patient to patient. Some patients have a tendency to develop keloid or hypertrophic scars and you should advise your surgeon if you are aware of this tendency in yourself.

What results can I expect from an abdominoplasty?

The best results are obtained in patients whose weight is near their recommended Body Mass Index (BMI) and who have some laxity of the abdominal skin or a slight excess of fat, or bulging of the abdominal muscles. The result is usually permanent although excessive weight changes or future pregnancies may undo some of the benefits of the surgery. Your surgeon is the best person to determine whether your expectations are surgically possible.

When can I resume normal activities following an abdominoplasty?

Returning to your normal activities is an individual matter, but most people return to work within two to four weeks, and to more vigorous exercise after six weeks. Your surgeon may advise the use of a supporting girdle to ensure optimal healing and contour. You will have to wear post-surgical compression garments for up to six weeks to reduce swelling and assist with the healing process.

It is important to note however, that each patient requires adequate time, support, and proper postoperative care to facilitate their recovery process. Due to individual variations in healing abilities and pain tolerance, the duration of recovery and ability to engage in various activities may differ among patients.

How much does this procedure cost?

An initial consultation with your Specialist Plastic Surgeon will cost approximately $300-$360, which is payable in full at the time of booking your consultation. Your consultation will take approximately 30-60 minutes. If a Medicare item applies to your potential procedure then you will be entitled to a rebate from Medicare of approximately $90, providing you have a written referral from your GP or specialist. GP referrals are valid for 12 months and specialist referrals for 3 months.

Your Specialist Plastic Surgeon will provide an indication of the likely costs, such as your surgeon’s fee, anaesthetist’s fees and hospital and theatre fees. Your surgeon’s fee includes all post-operative care and nurse dressings. Pricing will vary from case to case, but an indicative range of your surgeon’s fee is $8,500 to $16,000 excluding GST. Anaesthetist, hospital and theatre fees are additional.

There may be Medicare and private health insurance rebates available for certain types of tummy tuck procedures in Perth (e.g. following weight loss or muscle repair after pregnancy) depending on strict Medicare eligibility criteria. Your surgeon can provide you with more information, but you would then need to talk to your private health insurer to determine exactly how much cover they will provide and confirm what your final out-of-pocket costs will be.

Weight loss patients

To be eligible for Medicare item number 30177 for weight loss patients, you must fulfill the following criteria:

• there is intertrigo (common inflammatory skin condition that is caused by skin-to-skin friction) or another skin condition that risks loss of skin integrity and has failed 3 months of conventional (or non-surgical) treatment; and
• the redundant skin and fat interferes with the activities of daily living; and
• the weight has been stable for at least 6 months following significant weight loss, as defined as at least five BMI points or more (on average 15kg or more) unrelated to pregnancy, prior to the procedure.

Your GP referral to us should contain documented symptoms of pain and discomfort, along with evidence of non-responsive outcomes to non-surgical conservative treatment.

Muscle repair after pregnancy patients

To be eligible for Medicare item number 30175 for patients with muscle separation (diastasis) after pregnancy that is causing pain and require muscle repair, you must fulfill the following criteria:

• it is more than 12 months after the end of a pregnancy; and
• you have a diastasis (muscle gap) of at least 3cm measured by diagnostic imaging; and
• have documented symptoms of at least moderate severity of pain or discomfort at the site of the diastasis in the abdominal wall during functional use and/or low back pain or urinary symptoms likely due to rectus diastasis; and
• have failed to respond to non-surgical conservative treatment including physiotherapy (acceptable examples of conservative non-surgical treatment include symptomatic management with pain medication, lower back braces, lifestyle changes, physiotherapy and/or exercise).

Please be aware that the 30175 item number is applicable only once per lifetime. Make sure your GP referral includes diagnostic imaging, documented symptoms of pain and discomfort, as well as evidence of unresponsiveness to non-surgical conservative treatment.

Please contact us online or call us on (08) 9380 0333 and one of our medical secretaries can provide you with more information.

Where can I find more information?

The Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) website is a helpful and reliable source of information online. Their website is an excellent place to research a range of surgical procedures and non-surgical treatments, and view video animations.