Tummy Tuck

WHAT IS TUMMY TUCK?

An abdominoplasty, often called a “tummy tuck,” is a popular procedure used to improve the appearance and contour of the upper and lower abdomen by lifting the mons pubis area (hair line area), removing fat and skin from the lower abdomen, removing fat from the upper abdomen, and the mons pubis area, tightening the abdominal muscles, and then tightening the abdominal skin.

 Dr. Giuffre has been performing tummy tucks with excellent cosmetic results for many years. Whatever your reasons for surgery are, Dr. Giuffre personalizes the procedure according to your needs and treatment goals to obtain your natural silhouette.

AM I A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR A TUMMY TUCK?

The best candidates for a tummy tuck are in good physical condition who have excess skin, or, skin and fat over the abdomen that has not responded to weight loss and/or 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 done having children.

We also encourage patients who intend to lose a lot of weight to wait before undergoing the procedure, because skin in the abdominal area typically loosens after substantial weight loss.

Dr. Giuffre advises that the patient comes into tummy tuck surgery at a weight that is a “no brainer weight”: a weight that is stable, that the patient has maintained for months or years, based on their current life style.  There will be no extra ordinary effort for the patient to maintain this weight after surgery. The surgical result will then be maintained without changing the patient’s life style.

TUMMY TUCK CONSULTATION

Whatever your reasons for tummy tuck surgery, Dr. Giuffre personalizes the procedure according to your needs and treatment goals to enhance your natural silhouette.

Prior to your procedure, Dr. Giuffre will meet with you to discuss your goals and expectations for surgery. He will also review the details of your chosen procedure, the associated risks, and welcome any questions or concerns that you may have. This discussion is important,  helping you to communicate your vision with your surgeon in order to achieve the results you desire.  All post surgical results vary from patient to patient, as no two bodies respond to and heal from surgery identically.

TUMMY TUCK  PROCEDURE

The tummy tuck procedure lasts one to two hours and is performed with general anesthesia. The most common incision is placed in the natural crease formed where the excess skin of the pannus meets the abdominal wall in the hip area. The incision follows this natural crease, just above the hair line to the opposite hip. There is also an incision around the patient’s umbilicus (belly button).

The excess skin and fat is removed, the muscles are repaired above and below the umbilicus (belly button), the patient’s umbilicus is relocated in the new abdominal skin and the incisions are then closed with self-dissolving stitching under the skin.

Lastly, Dr. Giuffre will close the incisions and apply sterile surgical dressings over the sutured areas.

RECOVERY AFTER TUMMY TUCK

Before waking from the surgery, Dr. Giuffre will inject a long acting local anesthetic into the abdominal area to decrease any immediate abdominal discomfort from the surgery. When the freezing wears off, the patient will require postoperative analgesic medication (pain killers) for up to a week. The discomfort typically subsides after the first two to three days following the surgery. Patients taking prescription pain killers should not drive a car, operate machinery, or sign significant documents while taking this medication.

Recovery time ranges from two weeks to a few months. You should limit strenuous activity for at least six weeks, and may need to take off from work for up to a month. Dr. Giuffre will give you specific instructions for your individual recovery. 

You will have to arrange a ride and aftercare with a responsible adult. You are not permitted to leave unaccompanied or in a taxi. If your driving distance from Edmonton exceeds 90 minutes, you should make arrangements to stay overnight in Edmonton. The surgical centre does not have an overnight care facility. You will then be seen the following day for dressing removal and assessment by Dr. Giuffre and his staff.

Dr. Giuffre provides his home phone number to his cosmetic patients in case there is a patient concern.  In the rare instance that a patient requires hospitalization, Dr. Giuffre has admitting privileges to all of the major hospitals in Edmonton.

You will be seen the day following surgery by Dr.Giuffre and/or his nursing staff, if there are any future requests for an appointment, they are made directly with Dr. Giuffre's office and an expedited visit is arranged.

RISKS OF TUMMY TUCK

With any surgery there are surgical and anesthetic risks.

Aside from the rare risks of an anesthetic event, some of the general and specific surgical risks for this procedure would include:

• Scarring

• Infection

• Sensation change to the lower abdomen above the hairline at the mons pubis

• Discomfort

• Time off work and exercise

• Bleeding (hematoma)

• Seroma (fluid collection after the drain is removed)

• Excess scarring around the umbilicus

• Tissue loss above the mons pubis area in patients with previous abdominal surgery or in smokers

• Asymmetry

• Deep vein thrombosis (blood clots in the legs)

*This list is not complete.

During the consultation with the patient, Dr. Giuffre will outline and explain each of the risks in detail.

FAQS

Is tummy tuck surgery covered by AHS (Alberta Health Care) if I get a referral from by GP?

The tummy tuck procedure is considered a cosmetic procedure by AHS and is therefore not covered even with a referral from the Family Physician.

What if I have a Caesarian Section scar, or a Hysterectomy scar, that is unattractive and causes a deformity and discomfort?

The C-section scar or hysterectomy scar is removed with the tummy tuck surgery, along with the underlying scar and deformity the scar produces. 

AHS will not cover this part of the Tummy Tuck procedure.

I am a massive weight loss patient. Can I have a Tummy tuck and is it covered by AHS (Alberta Health Care)?

If the resulting Abdominal Pannus is massive causing chronic infection, hygiene difficulties and impedance of the ability to ambulate because the pannus rests on the upper thighs, AHS will cover a procedure called a Panniculectomy.