Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty)

Complications

Specific complications related to abdominoplasties include numbness to the lower abdomen which may never fully recover. You are often left with a palm sized area of skin above the central part of the wound which remains numb. This does not usually cause any disability or problems.

Occasionally fluid collections will accumulate in the wound which may require removal in the outpatients department. This is known as a seroma. Very occasionally repeated drainage of the seroma is required. In rare instances a seroma may persist and become walled off with scar tissue. This will leave a prominence in the lower abdomen which may require secondary surgery to remove. Seromas will occur in 1-2 % of patients.

It is important to remember that abdominoplasty is aimed at removing redundant skin and re-contouring the abdomen and is not a weight reduction procedure.