The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) has announced that patients who have undergone abdominoplastys (tummy tucks) may not need to have their food withheld meaning that there is the potential for patients to be released more quickly from hospital after surgery.

According to ASAPS, abdominoplasty was the fourth most popular form of cosmetic surgery in 2006 with 172,457 procedures performed - an increase on over 400% from 1997.

Tummy tucks, otherwise known as abdominoplasty, can remove fat from your lower abdomen as well as tightening your middle girdle to flatten the stomach, and remove stretch marks from the lower abdomen.

However, it will not be able to remove stretch marks on the mid or upper abdomen. If you have a thick layer of fat on your upper abdomen, a tummy tuck will not remove this.

Abdominoplasty is more commonly known as the ‘tummy tuck’.

Procedure: Flatten abdomen by removing excess fat and skin and tightening muscles of abdominal wall. 
Length: 2 to 5 hours. 
Anesthesia: General or local with sedation. 
In/Outpatient: Either depending on individual circumstances and extent of surgery. 
Side Effects: Temporary pain, swelling, soreness, numbness of abdominal skin, bruising, tiredness for a duration of time after the operation
Risks: Blood clots. Infection. Bleeding under the skin. Scarring or skin loss due to poor healing. Need for a second operation. 
Recovery: 2 to 4 weeks: Back to Work
                4 to 6 weeks or more: Strenuous activities (bending, lifting, exercise)
                3 months +: Scar fading 
Duration of results: Variable