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1. Will I get a flate tummy after the operation
2. Is it a painful operation?
3. Are the scars really bad?
4. How soon after can I exercise
5. What expenses are covered by Medicare and the health funds?
Q: Will I get a flat tummy after the operation?
A: It depends on the shape of your tummy beforehand and whether you carry excess weight. If your tummy has mainly excess skin and you are slim, you can expect a flatter tummy. If you are overweight then you should lose weight first; otherwise you will still have a pot tummy. Many patients have a potbelly as a result of childbirth and the tummy muscles are stretched. The muscle can be tightened during the tummy tuck giving you a flatter tummy.
Q: Is it a painful operation?
A: Patients often are surprised that the operation is not as painful as they thought it would be.
Q: Are the scars really bad?
A: The scars are long but Dr Chan has learnt to place the scars in the groins and as this is a natural border between the tummy and the legs it is less noticeable and can be covered by most bikinis. If the desire is to have the scar a bit higher it can also be discussed with Dr Chan and he will try and accommodate the request. Scarring however can be unpredictable as each patient heals differently and some people make bad scars regardless of the technique. However most patients are happy with the results.
Q: How soon after can I exercise?
A: You can do general light exercise such as walking after two weeks but three to four weeks before you can do sit ups depending on whether the tummy muscles had to be tightened during the operation.
Q: What expenses are covered by Medicare and the health funds?
A: There is an item number that can be used for this operation. There is a rebate, which will pay part of the fee. If you are in a health fund the item number will help you with your hospital costs depending on your level of cover
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