Reverse Abdominoplasty, also known as Reverse Tummy Tuck, is an aesthetic surgical procedure that eliminates the excess and sagging skin from the upper abdomen.
Unlike the normal Abdominoplasty surgical procedure which makes incisions below the belly button, the Reverse Abdominoplasty makes incisions under the breast. It is done either under the breast crease or at the breast fold. Furthermore, the skin is pulled up for the Reverse Abdominoplasty rather than pulled down. The incisions are either joined in the middle to create 1 continuous horizontal incision by the bra line to be hidden or a space may be left in the middle to break off the 2 incisions. A reverse abdominoplasty or reverse tummy tuck procedure is not performed often.
Those who need to undergo a reverse abdominoplasty are those whose skin above the belly button or navel is loose and hanging towards the floor but the skin below the navel is in good condition.
The best candidate for the reverse abdominoplasty:
- Weight loss patients with lax upper abdominal skin.
- Patients who had tummy tuck but the skin above the naval is still sagging.
The Procedure
As per a regular Tummy Tuck, a Reverse Abdominoplasty surgery may roughly take about two hours and is completed under a general anaesthetic. It is a reasonably serious procedure and requires some research and consideration. Generally you can expect to stay in hospital for two or three nights followed by at least 10 days rest at home. Prior to the procedure, the surgeon will request a consultation, which is where the surgeon will look at your abdominal area and mark the areas with a pen where they will remove the skin. The plastic surgeon will also go through where the scars will be in order for you to be prepared. In this consultation, you will decide which areas of the abdomen needs more work than others and go through how much skin needs to be removed in order to achieve the desired results.
Upon arrival to the clinic and before the procedure you may be required to have a blood test and some other regular tests to ensure that it is safe for you to have a general anaesthetic. The surgeon will then go through the procedure again to make sure you are clear and happy with what needs to be done. The surgeon will then discuss with you all of the risks that can occur whilst you are under the general anaesthetic.
Once you are under anaesthetic, the surgeon will make an incision across the base of the breastline, to remove the overstretched skin.
Risks and Complications
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Further Information about Tummy Tuck & Abdominoplasty Surgery Results
- Recovery after Tummy Tuck or Abdominoplasty
- Abdominoplasty Surgery – Tummy Tuck Sydney
- Real Patient Tummy Tuck/ Abdominoplasty Before and After Gallery by Dr Carmen Munteanu
- Perth Plastic Surgeon|Tummy Tuck Abdominoplasty – Dr Guy Watts
- What Does a Torn Stomach Muscle Feel Like | GCPS – Dr Mark Doyle