The vast majority of patients are more than satisfied with their tummy tuck results. However, to correct post tummy tuck concerns, a revision procedure is sometimes necessary.
Revision surgery has unique challenges, including scar tissue, so it’s essential to choose the right surgeon. There’s nothing stopping you from choosing a different surgeon for your revision tummy tuck either. Just make sure that your surgeon has experience with revision surgery.
So, how do you know whether you need a revision tummy tuck at all?
Why You Should Consider Revision Abdominoplasty
Here are some of the main reasons why a revision tummy tuck might be right for you.
- Stretched Abdominal Muscles Continue to Be a Problem
It’s not uncommon for the abdominal muscles to stretch and separate during pregnancy and weight loss. A standard tummy tuck only focuses on removing sagging skin though. If exercise is not strengthening the abdominal muscles, a revision procedure may be necessary. A bulge at the front of the stomach also indicates the muscles need to be repaired.
- Liposuction is Necessary
When reading through tummy tuck procedure details, liposuction is almost always mentioned. However, not every tummy tuck includes liposuction, which can affect the final results. Patients who schedule liposuction after a tummy tuck to improve their results, often end up with additional loose skin. This is when a revision procedure is necessary.
- You Decided to Have Another Baby
It’s recommended that women wait until after they’ve completed their families to schedule a tummy tuck. However, many women change their minds about having another baby. It’s still possible to get pregnant after a tummy tuck but it will affect your results. Revision abdominoplasty is common amongst women who decide to have more children after their initial procedure.
- Your Skin Flaps Don’t Line Up
When the stomach is stitched up after a tummy tuck, the skin flaps should line up perfectly to achieve an attractive result. An inexperienced surgeon may leave patients with crooked lines where the skin was closed. If this is the case, a revision procedure is required to minimise the appearance of scarring.
- Your Belly Button Doesn’t Look Normal
If your belly button doesn’t look the same after your initial tummy tuck, revision surgery is required. Inexperienced surgeons tend to make the belly button too round, which doesn’t look natural. Following revision abdominoplasty, the belly button should be oval in shape, have a small hood and look much more natural.
- You’ve Gained and Lost Weight
Maintaining a stable weight is essential if you want to prevent your skin from stretching again. If you happen to gain and lose weight again, whether naturally or due to pregnancy, revision abdominoplasty is an option.
- You Want to Touch Up the Results of Your First Tummy Tuck
While a tummy tuck is designed to permanently remove excess, sagging skin, this won’t stop the ageing process from taking its toll. The skin naturally becomes less elastic with age, which can leave you with loose skin after your first procedure. Most patients consider revision abdominoplasty 20 years after their first surgery.
- You Want to Enhance the Results of Your Mini Tummy Tuck
After birth, most women are left with an overhanging flap of skin on the lower abdomen. A mini tummy tuck is ideal for removing this skin pouch and it doesn’t require a lengthy recovery either. Later on in life, it’s not uncommon for women to want to get rid of additional loose skin to enhance the results of their mini tummy tuck. This is when revision abdominoplasty becomes a consideration.
Taking the Next Steps
Being unhappy with your tummy tuck results is not ideal but revision surgery is always an option. Take the time to decide whether your original surgeon is the best person for this procedure or if you need to restart your search. You want to be sure that your revision surgery is 100% successful to avoid even further disappointment.
Since revision surgery tends to be more complex, you need a surgeon who understands what’s required to create a pleasing result the second time around.
Don’t hesitate to ask for recommendations from people you know and trust – you don’t quite realise how many people have had cosmetic surgery until you start asking.