Planning a tummy tuck? Here’s everything you need to know

If you’re interested in having a tummy tuck, it’s important to know exactly what this procedure entails before you go ahead with it. Here, our guide covers some of the most common questions surrounding tummy tucks, including what to do if your tummy tuck goes wrong.

How much does a tummy tuck cost?

Tummy tucks aren’t cheap, and cheap tummy tucks aren’t good.

Typically, you can expect to spend anywhere between £4,500 and £6,000 for a standard tummy tuck. If you require more specific cosmetic work, such as major reshaping or sculpting to remove a lot of excess skin, you might end up paying even more.

You’ll also want to consider the additional price of any consultations and aftercare you might require. Initial recovery from a tummy tuck surgery can take anywhere between two weeks and two months if all goes well, so you will need to factor in the cost of taking time away from your usual work routine. You won’t be able to exercise or do any exertive work for four to six weeks, and you won’t be able to drive for at least two weeks after the procedure.

Why would someone choose to have a tummy tuck??

More often than not, someone will decide to have a tummy tuck to feel better about their appearance, or to help get rid of any insecurities they might have about their stomach.

A tummy tuck, along with liposuction, will work to remove any areas where the stomach protrudes or sags. This can be an appealing solution for those who have an abdominal overhang.

Some people choose to have a tummy tuck after pregnancy and childbirth to improve the appearance of areas that might have stretched and scarred over this period of time. This helps to resculpt the tummy into its previous appearance before conceiving children. If you have been left with lower abdominal scarring from other surgeries such as caesarean sections and appendix removal, you might choose to improve or lessen the look of these scars with the help of a tummy tuck.

Tummy tucks can even be used to treat hernias by getting rid of excess skin and fatty deposits.

Are there many complications or risks involved?

As with all major surgery, whether medical or cosmetic, there are risks involved. While most abdominal surgeries are performed successfully and patients fully recover over time, there are times where these procedures can go wrong.

Issues can occur with the sutures of the tummy tuck. For example, if they aren’t correctly applied or applied in a sterile manner, the sutures could come undone, leaving you with an open wound and making you more susceptible to infections. You could also suffer from gastrointestinal problems after a tummy tuck, as your abdominal organs can be disturbed during the process.

There are a number of physical issues that could occur with tummy tucks, including:

• Excessive scarring and raised scar tissue (after healing time has elapsed)
• Nerve damage
• Wounds from the tummy tuck not healing as they should
• Swelling that does not subside over time
• Incorrect positioning or loss of the belly button
• Infection caused by lack of thorough hygiene and sterilisation at time of procedure, or due to poor aftercare
• Bleeding
• Seroma or haematoma
• Asymmetrical results
• Fat necrosis

If you feel you have suffered from any of the above conditions as a result of a botched tummy tuck operation, we can provide you with expert advice and support when making a claim for compensation.

What should you do if your tummy tuck goes wrong?

Understandably, you are probably going to feel very upset and frustrated if your tummy tuck isn’t what you had hoped for.

Whether you’re unsatisfied with the aesthetic results, or you have suffered with your health as a result of the surgery, you could be entitled to compensation for the trouble the procedure has caused you.

If your tummy tuck surgery has unfortunately gone wrong, it’s important that you gather as many details about the surgery as possible to help us assist you if you wish to make a claim. Proof of any expenses and photographs, as well as communications (emails or letters) between you and your practitioner, can be very helpful in this situation.

Contact our team today and we can help you with building a strong case.

Are there any time limitations when making a botched tummy tuck claim?

A cosmetic surgery claim will usually have a time limit of three years from the date of the surgery, but there are some circumstances where this might not apply. For more information regarding how long you have to make a claim after surgery, click here.

How long does a tummy tuck claim take and how much compensation will I receive?

Making a claim can be a stressful and worrying time, so it's only fair that you’d want to know how much compensation you’d be entitled to and how long the claims procedure might take.

There are so many different variables that must be taken into account when making a claim, so it's impossible to give a definitive answer of what you will be entitled to. Each individual’s claim will vary depending on the severity of their issue and how much information can be provided to back up their claim.

However, you could be awarded anywhere from a few hundred pounds to six-figure sums, depending on your case.

Each botched tummy tuck cosmetic surgery claim we deal with is assigned its own specialist solicitor, who will be on hand to answer any questions you may have about the process. At Cosmetic Surgery Solicitors, our experts have your best interests in mind and know that this is a sensitive and difficult time for you, so they will use their knowledge and expertise to fight your corner and get you the compensation you deserve.

For more information about how long a tummy tuck compensation claim can take, click here.

To give you a better understanding of what you could be entitled to, we recommend that you give us a call and we can take a look at your case in further detail.