What are the risks?

A tummy tuck (abdomenoplasty)  is commonly performed and generally safe. However, in order to make an informed decision and give your consent, you need to be aware of the possible side-effects and the risk of complications of this procedure.

Side-effects

These are the unwanted, but mostly temporary effects of a successful procedure, for example feeling sick as a result of the general anaesthetic. Side-effects of a tummy tuck include:

• Considerable bruising - this can be painful and take a month to resolve
• Swelling - this may not completely settle for a few months
• Scarring - this usually fades over the course of a year, but won't completely disappear

Complications

This is when problems occur during or after the operation.  The possible complications of any operation include an unexpected reaction to the anaesthetic, excessive bleeding, or developing a blood clot, usually in a vein in the leg (deep vein thrombosis, DVT). Specific complications of tummy tuck are uncommon, but can include:

• Infection - this may need antibiotic treatment and sometimes surgery
• Bleeding under your skin (haematoma) - this may require surgery to stop the bleeding and drain the area
• Numbness - this may last several months, but can be permanent
• Damage to internal organs - this may require surgery to repair, but can be fatal
• Unusually red or raised scars (keloids) - these can take a long time to heal

The final position of your belly button may be off center, and there's a small risk of losing your belly button completely.

There's a small chance that a blood clot can form in the blood vessels and move to the lungs. This is called a pulmonary embolism and can be life-threatening.

It's possible that you may not be completely satisfied with your appearance after the operation.

The exact risks are specific to you and will differ for every person.  Ask your surgeon to explain how these risks apply to you.