Abdominoplasty

With a abdominal wall correction, a slacked belly is corrected. Due to slimming, pregnancy or aging, your abdominal wall can relax so seriously that a “hanging belly” is created. This can be corrected by removing the skin surplus, removing an excess of fat and possibly attracting muscles. Our plastic surgeons are happy to help you in a personal consultation where they answer all your questions and together with you to see which treatment options are best for you.

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The treatment process

What is the treatment process for a tummy tuck?

General information
Consult
Treatment
Recovery
Risks and complications

Anesthesia

General anesthesia

Operation duration

120 – 180 minutes

Recovery time

7 – 14 days

Tijdens het eerste consult bespreekt u met de plastische chirurg uw wensen en verwachtingen. De chirurg vertelt u welke opties er zijn (zoals een mini-buikwandcorrectie of grote buikwandcorrectie, of liposuctie) en welk resultaat u kunt verwachten. De behandelend plastisch chirurg zal uitleggen hoe een buikwandcorrectie in zijn werk gaat. Het gehele behandeltraject wordt besproken en u wordt uitgebreid geïnformeerd over de verschillende opties, de voor- en nadelen van de buikwandcorrectie, de nazorg, risico’s van en eventuele complicaties na de operatie. Daarnaast wordt besproken of uw persoonlijke wensen passen bij uw uitgangssituatie.

In this conversation, you can also ask you all your questions about tummy tuck.

Wij vinden het belangrijk om u tijdens het consult goed te informeren over het te behalen resultaat, de risico’s en mogelijke complicaties, zodat u een weloverwogen beslissing kunt nemen. Uiteindelijk staan uw wensen en tevredenheid over het resultaat van de behandeling bij ons voorop.

A consultation is subject to a €100 consultation fee. These will be deducted from the final price of the treatment.

An abdominoplasty is always performed under general anesthesia. The entire operation takes 2 to 3 hours. During the procedure, the attending plastic surgeon makes a horizontal incision just above the pubic area and just below the bikini line. From that spot, the skin and fat are loosened up to the rib arch. In a major abdominoplasty, the plastic surgeon also relocates the navel. When the abdominal muscles are stretched to the side (a diastasis), the plastic surgeon brings them back together in their original place and they are sutured (reefing). Excess skin and fat are removed. After surgery, fluid may drip from the wound. To drain the wound fluid properly, two thin tubes (drains) are inserted. When hardly any fluid drips from the wound, the tubes are removed.

To ensure that we can intervene immediately in case of any complications and to relieve you in the first important hours after the procedure, we recommend staying in the hospital overnight in most cases. The first day after the tummy tuck, it is important that you take bed rest and do not exert yourself. You should wear compression garments, a tight corset or pants for six weeks to support the abdominal wall during recovery. After two weeks, you will come for a check-up and the surgeon will remove all sutures. For six weeks after treatment, you should not do any heavy lifting or intense exercise. The total recovery period for a tummy tuck is 4 to 6 weeks. After that, you can resume all activities.

De eerste zes weken zijn de littekens gezwollen en rood. Daarna neemt dit geleidelijk af. Het volledige genezingsproces van littekens duurt één tot anderhalf jaar. Om dit proces te bevorderen raden we u aan een goede littekencrème te gebruiken en uw littekens zoveel weinig mogelijk aan UV-straling bloot te stellen. Om het wondgenezingsproces te bevorderen adviseren wij u zes weken voor en zes weken na de operatie niet te roken. U verkleint hiermee de kans op nabloedingen en andere complicaties. Daarnaast adviseren we 1 week voor tot 1 week na de ingreep geen alcohol te nuttigen.

The risks of a tummy tuck are minimal, but with any surgery, there is always a chance of complications. As with any surgery, there is a small chance of complications. Common risks are: The general risks are:

post-bleeding
infections
swelling
delayed wound healing
allergic reactions

Specific complications that exceptionally occur with abdominoplasty are:

numb spot in the abdomen
fat accumulation at the hips (“dog ears”)

Any numbness disappears after a while. Fat accumulation at the hips becomes visible at a later stage and, in most cases, recedes over time. Should this not happen, it can be removed under local anesthesia.

What does a tummy tuck cost?

Treatment	Price	Anesthesia	Overnight
Abdominoplasty small	€ 5.230,-	General anesthesia	Yes
Abdominoplasty extended	€ 7.630,-	General anesthesia	Yes
Abdominoplasty Fleur de Lis	€ 8.780,-	General anesthesia	Yes
Extra night, per night	€ 1.000,-
Reven rectus diastasis in abdominoplasty	€ 1.250,-

Results abdominoplasty

“Expert abdominoplasty with grandiose results. I am still stunned by this. It has exceeded all my expectations. Proper care, explanation and attention was given with good aftercare. A 10 with a pin for Drs. W.J. van der Pot and his team.”

Before and after photos abdominoplasty

Frequently Asked Questions

An abdominoplasty is a cosmetic surgery and is therefore generally not covered by the health insurance fund or private health insurance company. Thus, you usually have to pay for the operation yourself.

Basically, a tummy tuck is suitable for anyone who has a sagging or drooping abdominal wall. This may be due to significant weight loss, pregnancy or aging. Together with your doctor, we will determine whether you need an extensive or a minor tummy tuck. If you are overweight, a tummy tuck is not the solution. The risk of complications is many times greater, so we recommend that you lose weight before undergoing a tummy tuck.

It depends on the type of abdominoplasty how long the surgery takes. This can vary from about two to four hours. If you undergo the minor tummy tuck, the procedure will take about two hours. A large tummy tuck will take about three to four hours. A tummy tuck is not a minor procedure, which is why you will stay overnight in the hospital. As a rule, you will be allowed to go home during the next morning.

A tummy tuck is done under general anesthesia and therefore is not painful in the moment. When the anesthesia wears off, however, the wounds can feel painful. However, the pain can be managed well by taking the appropriate medication. You will be advised about the best pain management by your attending physician. See the page on complete aftercare for the best recovery.

For the first six weeks after surgery, you will be required to wear a corset to keep everything in place. Of course, it also depends on the type of work you do as to when you can return to work. Most people who have had a tummy tuck can return to work after two weeks. It is important that you avoid physical activity for the first six weeks after the procedure. During the recovery period, some movements will not yet be fully performed.

Pregnancy is quite possible after a tummy tuck. Keep in mind, however, that this will stretch the skin again, which can cause the result of the correction to disappear. If you intend to become pregnant in the future, you would do well to postpone the tummy tuck until after that time.

The scars from the tummy tuck fall below the bikini line if possible, and therefore you can cover them well with underwear. The scar that the plastic surgeon makes around the navel is neatly concealed so that after a few months they are hardly visible. Sometimes it cannot be avoided that the scar will be a little higher.

The results of a tummy tuck are long-lasting. You will maintain a tight abdomen for the longest time through good eating habits and exercise. If you gain weight again after the tummy tuck, chances are you will regain a saggy and droopy belly.