Tummy tuck in Harrogate

No. As abdominoplasty is classified as a cosmetic surgical procedure, it is unlikely that a private medical insurer such as BUPA, AXA, aviva or wpa will pay for your treatment.

Only occasionally. And only in cases where there is a clearly identifiable medical reason for the operation (for example, severe skin infection caused by loose skin hanging from your abdomen due to extreme weight loss). Cosmetic reasons are not a valid basis for funding abdominoplasty through the NHS.

If you meet these criteria, you should qualify for an abdominoplasty;

• You have completed your family
• Your weight has remained stable for at least six months
• Your BMI is under 28-30
• You do not smoke

We consider all factors related to your medical history during your initial consultation before confirming whether or not you qualify.

Generally speaking, most of our patients who undergo an abdominoplasty fall into the BMI category below 28 - 30. Being in a lower BMI category provides you with better long term outcomes and reduces the risk of complications during your surgery. If you have a higher BMI than 30, we can discuss alternative treatment options for you at your consultation.

At the bare minimum, you should wait a minimum of 6 months after delivering a child before undergoing an abdominoplasty. It’s also recommended to wait a minimum of 6 months after stopping breastfeeding. You must ensure that you have reached a point of stability in terms of your weight and allow time for your body to recover from pregnancy before considering an abdominoplasty.

Yes. Although male abdominoplasties are relatively rare compared to female abdominoplasties, they are very effective in improving the appearance of loose skin on the abdomen, particularly in individuals who have undergone significant weight loss and cannot improve their body shape using resistance exercises.

Typically, you will return to work requiring minimal physical activity within 2-3 weeks post surgery. Patients whose job requires manual labour will take approximately 4-6 weeks to return to their duties. Generally, light exercise can begin again within 6-8 weeks post surgery, whereas heavy exercise should be delayed until you receive clearance from your surgeon, which typically occurs around 12-16 weeks post surgery.

You can start showering again 48 hours post surgery. Most patients can resume driving safely after 2-3 weeks post surgery too. However, this depends entirely upon how quickly you are able to discontinue use of pain medication and demonstrate the ability to make an emergency stop. Light exercise can begin again at 6 weeks after surgery and heavy exercise around 12-16 weeks.

In general, patients wear a compression garment day and night for the 4 weeks after surgery and then only during the day for another 4-8 weeks. Ultimately, your surgeon will advise you specifically regarding the length of time needed to wear the compression garment in relation to your individual recovery.

The primary scar from an abdominoplasty is located along the base of your bikini line. Due to its location, it will be concealed by either your undergarments or swimsuits. In addition, there will be a second scar near the belly button area. Initially scars tend to appear pinkish-red and raised but they gradually fade and become flat over a period of approximately one year and eighteen months post-surgery. They will never completely disappear.

Yes. Diastasis recti refers to the separation of the abdominal muscles. During an abdominoplasty, the abdominal muscles are sutured back together thereby correcting diastasis recti. This internal muscle repair allows for a flatter midsection.

As long as you remain at a healthy weight and are not having additional children, you can expect to maintain the benefits from your tummy tuck for a decade or longer. Once you've had a tummy tuck, the skin and muscles that were repaired during surgery cannot "un-do" themselves. Therefore, what you see when you look in the mirror at 6 months post-op is generally what you will see 10 years later.

Tummy tucks remove excess skin and tighten the abdominal muscle while liposuction removes excess fat. Therefore, if you are looking to improve your overall body shape by tightening up loose skin that has developed due to pregnancy or significant weight loss, a tummy tuck would likely be your best option. On the other hand, if you have areas of fat that are difficult to get rid of despite eating well and exercising regularly, but otherwise have good skin elasticity, then liposuction may be enough on its own. It is common for individuals to choose to have both procedures performed together.