Who it suits
Loose skin that wraps round from the front to the hips and the sides of the back, usually after major weight loss through diet, medication or bariatric surgery, once the weight has been stable for some months.
A tummy tuck isn't for you yet if:
- your weight is still going down or up
- you plan more pregnancies: a pregnancy can undo the result
- you smoke and won't stop well before surgery (some surgeons won't operate on smokers at all)
- the problem is fat with firm skin, when liposuction may be enough
How it differs
The scar runs further round the body, the operation takes longer and the recovery is a little slower than a full tummy tuck. Skin that goes all the way round the back may need a body lift instead.
Recovery
Expect about four to six weeks off work and exercise, and several weeks before you can drive. With the longer scar, sitting and lying are sore at first and the garment matters more. Walk from the first day to lower the risk of clots.
Risks
The common and the less common:
- wound healing problems at the ends of a long scar, more likely after major weight loss
- a long scar across the lower tummy (and around the belly button after a full tummy tuck), red at first and fading over 12 to 18 months
- numbness of the lower tummy skin for months, sometimes years
- a pocket of fluid above the scar (a seroma), which may need draining
- a collection of blood under the skin (a haematoma)
- wounds that are slow to heal, more likely if you smoke
- thick or obvious scars, or 'dog ears' of extra skin at the ends of the scar
- a blood clot in a leg vein, which can travel to the lungs
- infection, or a reaction to the anaesthetic
Your surgeon should tell you how likely each one is for you, and what they'd do about it.
Cost
There's no standard price: surgeons quote an extended tummy tuck after examining you, and it costs more than a full tummy tuck (€8,000 to €12,000).
Every doctor practising in Ireland must be registered with the Medical Council, and only a doctor with specialist registration can practise independently as a specialist. For a tummy tuck, check that the surgeon is on the Specialist Division in Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, using the Medical Council's online register.
Questions people ask
How long is the scar?
Hip to hip and beyond, round towards the back. Surgeons place it low so most underwear covers it.
How long should my weight be stable?
Surgeons usually want it steady for some months; many look for around six. Ask yours.