Performed by Specialist Plastic Surgeon Dr Qadir Khan (FRACS)
Abdominoplasty, commonly referred to as tummy tuck surgery, is a surgical procedure that may be considered for individuals experiencing persistent abdominal tissue laxity or muscle separation. In clinical terms, abdominoplasty involves the removal of excess abdominal skin and, where appropriate, underlying subcutaneous fat, along with the repositioning and tightening of the abdominal muscles.
This tummy tuck procedure is often recommended when changes in abdominal contour have not responded to lifestyle measures such as diet or physical activity. Factors such as pregnancy, significant weight loss, or the natural ageing process can contribute to stretched skin and weakened abdominal muscles. Individuals considering abdominoplasty surgery in Perth are generally advised to be in stable health and at a maintained, stable weight. Patients planning future pregnancies or significant weight changes are typically advised to defer surgery, as these factors may affect long-term surgical outcomes.
At West Coast Plastic Surgery in Perth, each patient undergoes a comprehensive clinical assessment. This includes a detailed medical history check, physical examination, and discussion of individual goals. This structured approach supports informed decision-making and helps determine whether tummy tuck surgery is clinically appropriate.
A tummy tuck, medically known as abdominoplasty, is a major surgical procedure. It involves removing excess abdominal skin and fat and, in most cases, repairing separated abdominal muscles. For many patients, it follows pregnancy, significant weight loss, or changes associated with ageing. This guide provides clear, practical information to help you understand what to expect before and after surgery.
This content has been medically reviewed by Dr Khan, MBBS, MRCS (Edin), FRACS (Plast)
At West Coast Plastic Surgery in Perth, we offer several different abdominoplasty procedure types, each tailored to the unique needs and goals of our patients.
The full abdominoplasty procedure is commonly performed to address both upper and lower abdominal areas. This comprehensive procedure targets the entire abdominal region—both above and below the navel. It involves the surgical removal of excess skin and fat, as well as the tightening of abdominal muscles. The belly button is kept and is repositioned once the skin is removed.
A mini tummy tuck, on the other hand, is a less extensive procedure that focuses on the lower abdomen, below the navel. It’s an ideal option for patients who have a small amount of excess skin.
An Extended Abdominoplasty is a more comprehensive procedure that not only addresses the abdomen but also the flanks and lower back. This procedure is often suitable for individuals who have undergone significant weight loss and have more extensive loose skin.
A reverse tummy tuck is another variant of the procedure, where the incision is made under the breast, rather than near the pubic area. It’s often suitable for patients who have excess skin in the upper abdominal area. Each of these procedures carries unique benefits and considerations. During your consultation at our Perth clinic, Dr Qadir Khan will work with you to determine which type of abdominoplasty is most suitable for your individual needs and goals.
Abdominoplasty may be appropriate if you are experiencing significant laxity or abdominal muscle separation that has not responded to non-surgical approaches.
Women planning future pregnancies or individuals expecting further significant weight loss are generally advised to defer the procedure until weight and health are stable to support a sustained outcome. Results may vary depending on individual healing and lifestyle factors.
Dr Khan evaluates candidates individually, considering overall health, medical history, and personal goals.
At West Coast Plastic Surgery, our abdominoplasty procedure is performed with the utmost care and precision. Here is a general overview of the steps involved in a typical abdominoplasty or abdominoplasty procedure:
Your comfort and safety are our top priorities. The abdominoplasty procedure begins with the administration of anaesthesia. This is typically general anaesthesia. Our anesthesiology team will closely monitor you throughout the procedure to ensure your comfort.
Once the anesthesia has taken effect, Dr Qadir Khan will make the necessary incisions. The size and location of these incisions will depend on the specific type of abdominoplasty procedure being performed.
After the incision is made, the underlying abdominal muscles are repaired and tightened using sutures. This muscle tightening provides a firm foundation and helps create a flatter, more toned appearance in the abdomen.
Following muscle repair, the excess skin is carefully removed. The remaining loose abdominal skin is then repositioned and stretched over the newly reshaped area.
Finally, the incisions are closed with sutures. Dr Khan takes great care to place these sutures in a way that will minimise scarring as much as possible.
It’s important to remember that each abdominoplasty procedure is customised to the patient’s individual needs and goals. The exact steps of your procedure may vary slightly based on the type of abdominoplasty you are having. We will ensure you understand your personalised surgical plan before the day of your procedure.
Mr Khan then moved to Perth, Australia in 2007. He was selected for the highly competitive specialist training programme in Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery in 2014. After the successful completion of his fellowship with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in early 2019, he travelled to Brisbane and Newcastle Upon Tyne, England for post-training fellowships in Head & Neck Surgery, Microsurgery, Facial palsy and Sarcoma.
Mr Khan has published in the peer-reviewed Plastic Surgery journal, presented at national and international conferences and has been part of the training faculty in international plastic surgery flap reconstruction courses in the UK.
Qualifications:
Recovery after an abdominoplasty takes time and patience. At West Coast Plastic Surgery, we are committed to supporting you throughout every stage of your recovery.
You will receive detailed aftercare instructions covering wound care, medications, warning signs to watch for, and follow-up appointments. Following these guidelines closely is essential for optimal healing and results.
Some discomfort is normal after surgery and can be effectively managed with prescribed medication. We will also advise you on proper positioning when sitting or lying down to help minimise discomfort.
Proper care of your incisions is crucial to prevent infection and promote healing. This may include cleaning the area, changing dressings, and applying treatments as directed.
Physical activity should be limited during the initial recovery period. Avoid strenuous exercise and heavy lifting, and gradually resume activities based on our team’s guidance.
Every patient’s recovery is unique and depends on individual health and the procedure performed. Our team will closely monitor your progress and remain available to answer any questions or concerns throughout your recovery.
As with all surgeries, abdominoplasty carries potential risks.
Abdominoplasty, commonly called a tummy tuck, is surgery that removes excess abdominal skin and fat and, in most cases, repairs the abdominal muscles where they have separated down the midline. The belly button is released and repositioned so it sits correctly on the tightened abdominal wall. It is performed under general anaesthesia and usually takes two to four hours. Patients most often consider it after pregnancy or significant weight loss, when skin laxity and muscle separation persist despite diet and exercise, because neither responds to lifestyle measures. It is a contouring operation rather than a weight loss procedure, and it differs from liposuction, which removes fat but does nothing for loose skin or separated muscle. At West Coast Plastic Surgery in West Perth, abdominoplasty is performed by Specialist Plastic Surgeon Dr Qadir Khan (FRACS, MED0001546567).
A full abdominoplasty addresses the whole abdomen, above and below the navel. The incision runs low across the lower abdomen from hip to hip, the belly button is released and repositioned, muscle separation is repaired along the full length of the abdominal wall, and excess skin is removed. A mini abdominoplasty treats only the area below the navel. The incision is shorter, the belly button is not moved, and muscle repair, where performed at all, is limited to the lower abdomen. A mini suits a small amount of lower abdominal skin laxity and achieves considerably less than most patients expect. Where there is laxity above the navel, or muscle separation extending upward, a full abdominoplasty is required. Dr Khan will tell you which applies after examining you.
These are variations chosen for the pattern of excess skin rather than simply the amount. An extended abdominoplasty carries the incision further around toward the flanks and lower back, and suits patients whose loose skin extends around the sides, typically after major weight loss. A circumferential abdominoplasty, or belt lipectomy, continues the incision the whole way around the trunk and also lifts the buttocks and outer thighs. A fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty adds a vertical incision up the midline to remove horizontal skin excess as well as vertical, again usually after major weight loss, trading a more visible scar for a substantially better contour. A reverse abdominoplasty places the incision beneath the breasts to address upper abdominal laxity. Dr Khan matches the technique to where your excess skin actually sits, as part of a broader body contouring plan where relevant.
Muscle repair, or rectus diastasis repair, addresses separation of the two vertical abdominal muscles, which occurs when the connective tissue between them stretches, most often during pregnancy. It cannot be corrected by exercise, because the muscles themselves are intact and it is the tissue joining them that has widened. During abdominoplasty the muscle edges are brought back together with permanent internal sutures, which flattens the abdominal profile and narrows the waist in a way skin removal alone cannot achieve. Patients often report improved core function and, where symptoms were present beforehand, reduced low back pain. Diastasis is assessed on examination and confirmed with diagnostic imaging where Medicare eligibility is in question. Not every abdominoplasty includes muscle repair, and Dr Khan will assess whether yours requires it as part of your post-pregnancy surgery plan.
Yes, although not in the way liposuction does. The excised skin flap includes the subcutaneous fat attached to it, so fat is removed along with the skin from the lower abdomen. Liposuction is also commonly performed at the same time to refine the contour of the flanks, waist and upper abdomen, where fat remains but the skin does not need excising. What abdominoplasty does not remove is visceral fat, which sits deeper, around the organs, and responds to diet and exercise rather than surgery. This is why abdominoplasty is not a weight loss operation, and why being at a stable weight beforehand matters so much to the result. Dr Khan will explain how much liposuction is planned alongside the excision in your case.
Only where strict criteria are met, and never where the surgery is cosmetic. The main item is MBS 30175, radical abdominoplasty with repair of rectus diastasis, which requires an abdominal wall defect as a consequence of pregnancy, a diastasis of at least 3cm measured by diagnostic imaging before surgery, documented moderately severe pain or discomfort at the diastasis during functional use or low back pain or urinary symptoms attributable to it, failure to respond to non-surgical treatment that must have included physiotherapy, and no pregnancy in the previous 12 months. It is claimable once per lifetime. Separate lipectomy items, 30177 and 30179, cover redundant skin after significant weight loss, defined as at least five BMI units with weight stable for six months, where skin problems have failed three months of conservative treatment. Eligibility is a clinical assessment made at consultation.
Private health insurance follows Medicare. If your surgery meets the criteria for an MBS item number, it sits in the “Plastic and reconstructive surgery (medically necessary)” clinical category, which is a minimum inclusion on Silver and Gold hospital policies but not on Bronze or Basic. Your fund can then contribute to hospital and theatre fees and pay the balance of the schedule fee, which is usually worth considerably more than the Medicare rebate itself. If no item number applies, the surgery is classed as cosmetic and no fund will contribute. Standard rules still apply, including a 12-month waiting period for pre-existing conditions, your policy excess and any gap. Confirm cover directly with your fund before booking, and contact our team if you need the item number to quote them.
There is no ideal age, and suitability turns on general health, skin quality and weight stability rather than the number itself. Most patients are in their thirties to fifties, usually after completing their family or after weight loss, but abdominoplasty is performed safely well beyond that where health allows. What matters more than age is whether your circumstances are settled, because a further pregnancy will stretch the repaired muscle and skin again, and further significant weight loss will leave new laxity. Both are reasons to defer. In older patients, cardiovascular health, current medications, mobility and skin elasticity are weighed during pre-operative assessment, and the risk of blood clots rises with age. Dr Khan will explain how your individual health, rather than age alone, affects surgical planning.
You should be at or close to a weight you can realistically maintain, and you should have held it for at least six months. There is no single target figure, because the relevant measure is stability rather than a number on the scale. Losing a significant amount after surgery leaves new loose skin and can undo the contour, while gaining significantly puts tension on the muscle repair. Surgeons generally prefer a BMI in the healthy to modestly overweight range, because complication rates, particularly wound healing problems, seroma and blood clots, rise as BMI rises, and individual hospitals may apply their own thresholds. If you are still losing weight, or are considering weight loss medication or bariatric surgery, it is usually better to wait. Dr Khan will assess your timing and readiness at consultation.
A full abdominoplasty usually takes two to four hours in theatre. A mini abdominoplasty is shorter, often one to two hours, while an extended, fleur-de-lis or circumferential procedure can take four to six hours or more, and adding liposuction or another procedure extends it further. You should allow most of the day at hospital once admission, anaesthetic preparation and time in the recovery ward are included. Abdominoplasty is performed under general anaesthesia with a specialist anaesthetist present throughout. Unlike smaller procedures it is not usually day surgery, and most patients stay one to three nights for pain management and monitoring. You will need someone to take you home and stay with you afterwards. Dr Khan confirms the expected theatre time and length of stay at your consultation.
Abdominoplasty is a well-established operation performed in large numbers, but it is major surgery and carries more risk than most other body contouring procedures. Common complications include seroma, a collection of fluid under the skin flap and the most frequent problem; bleeding or haematoma; infection; delayed wound healing or breakdown along the incision; raised or widened scarring; numbness across the lower abdomen that may be permanent; asymmetry; an irregular belly button; and fat necrosis. The risk that matters most is venous thromboembolism, meaning clots in the leg or lung, which is higher for abdominoplasty than for most cosmetic operations and higher again when procedures are combined. Early walking, compression and, in some cases, blood thinning medication are used to reduce it. Smoking, diabetes and a high BMI substantially raise the risk of wound complications. Dr Khan discusses the risks relevant to your circumstances at consultation.
Abdominoplasty is more uncomfortable than most cosmetic procedures, particularly where muscle repair has been performed, because the tightened abdominal wall is engaged every time you move, cough, laugh or stand. Most patients describe the first three to five days as the hardest, dominated by a strong sensation of tightness across the abdomen rather than sharp pain. Discomfort is managed with prescribed medication, often supported by local anaesthetic techniques given during surgery, and most patients step down to simple analgesia within one to two weeks. Moving from lying to standing is the most difficult part early on, and sleeping with your knees bent reduces tension on the repair. Pain that is worsening rather than improving, or clearly one-sided, should be reported promptly. You are given written aftercare instructions and a direct contact for concerns.
Most patients take three to four weeks off desk-based work and six weeks or more off physical or standing work, which is noticeably longer than for other body procedures. Expect one to three nights in hospital, drains for the first week or so, and a compression garment worn day and night for around six weeks. You will walk slightly bent at the hips for the first week to ten days and should be standing fully upright by about two weeks. Driving typically resumes at two to three weeks, light cardio at four to six weeks, and core or abdominal training not before eight to twelve weeks. Heavy lifting, meaning anything above roughly five kilograms, waits until six weeks. Arrange help at home in advance, particularly if you have young children.
Swelling peaks in the first week and then settles in stages. The most obvious swelling and bruising resolves over the first four to six weeks, by around three months most patients look close to their final result, and residual swelling, often described as a firm ridge or shelf above the scar, can take six to twelve months to settle completely. Swelling that fluctuates through the day, worse by evening and after activity, is normal for several months and is not a sign that anything is wrong. Wearing the compression garment as directed, staying mobile, limiting salt and avoiding overexertion in the early weeks all help. A sudden increase in swelling on one side, particularly with a soft or fluid feel, may be a haematoma or seroma and should be reviewed rather than waited out.
Most patients go home with one or two surgical drains, which remove fluid that would otherwise collect beneath the skin flap and form a seroma. They are usually removed between five and ten days after surgery, once daily output falls below a set volume, so the exact timing depends on your body rather than a fixed schedule. You will be shown how to empty and record the drains before leaving the hospital, and that record matters, because the recorded volumes determine when the drains come out. Removal takes seconds and is briefly uncomfortable rather than painful. Some surgeons use internal progressive tension sutures to reduce reliance on drains or avoid them altogether. Dr Khan will explain which approach is planned for your surgery and what to expect afterwards.
Sleep on your back in a bent or beach-chair position for the first two to three weeks, with your upper body raised on pillows or a wedge and pillows placed under your knees. This flexes the hips and keeps tension off the repaired muscle and the incision, which is the same reason you will walk slightly stooped at first. Many patients find a recliner easier than a bed during the first week. You should be able to straighten out and lie flatter from around two to three weeks, as the tightness eases and you begin standing fully upright. Side sleeping generally waits until about four to six weeks, and stomach sleeping longer again. These are typical timeframes, and Dr Khan’s instructions for your surgery take precedence.
Most patients resume driving two to three weeks after an abdominoplasty, later than after many other procedures, because the abdominal muscles are involved in bracing, twisting and emergency braking. Three conditions need to be met first. You must be completely off prescription opioid pain medication, since driving under its influence is both unsafe and an offence in Western Australia. You must be able to perform an emergency stop and turn to check blind spots without pain or hesitation. And you must be able to sit fully upright and tolerate the seatbelt across your abdomen. It is also worth checking your motor vehicle insurance policy, as some insurers exclude cover if you drive against medical advice following surgery. Confirm with Dr Khan that you are cleared before getting behind the wheel.
Exercise returns in stages, and the abdominal wall sets the pace. Short, gentle walks begin the day after surgery, because early mobility is the single most important measure for reducing clot risk. Walking distance builds through weeks one to three, light lower-body work and low-impact cardio such as a stationary bike resume at around four to six weeks, and running and other high-impact activity from about eight weeks. Core work, including sit-ups, planks, Pilates abdominal work and heavy lifting, is the last category to return and waits until at least eight to twelve weeks, so the muscle repair is not placed under tension while it heals. Swimming, spas and baths wait until the incisions are fully sealed. Dr Khan will confirm the timeline that applies to your surgery.
Most surgeons advise avoiding air travel for at least two weeks after an abdominoplasty, and four to six weeks before long-haul flights. The concern is venous thromboembolism, because abdominoplasty already carries an elevated clot risk and prolonged immobility in a seated position adds to it. Flying also removes you from your surgical team during the period when complications such as seroma, bleeding and wound problems are most likely, which matters if you are travelling to Perth from regional Western Australia or interstate. If you do need to fly, compression stockings, hourly movement and good hydration all help, and you should be cleared by your surgeon beforehand. Discuss any travel plans with Dr Khan before booking surgery so the timing can be planned around them.
The results are long lasting, because the skin that has been removed does not return and the muscle repair is held with permanent sutures. What changes the result is what changes your body afterwards. A subsequent pregnancy will stretch both the repaired muscle and the skin again, and significant weight gain or loss will alter the contour, which is why surgery is usually deferred until your family is complete and your weight is stable. Normal aging gradually reduces skin elasticity, so the abdomen softens over the years, although patients typically remain substantially better off than before surgery. Maintaining a stable weight and staying active protects the result. The scar itself continues to flatten and fade for 12 to 18 months.
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