POSTPARTUM ABDOMINOPLASTY with Dr Sharp in Brisbane How a woman feels about her body after pregnancy is deeply personal. We believe her physical identity should not be influenced by society, media, friends – or anything other than how the woman wishes to see herself. Book a consultation Home > Postpartum abdominoplasty with abdominal wall reconstructionWhy choose Dr Sharp for your post pregnancy abdominoplasty?Dr David Sharp is a Brisbane based plastic surgeon with a special interest in postpartum tummy tuck (abdominoplasty). This reconstructive procedure repairs the abdominal wall, reduces hernias and removes lower abdominal skin. It primarily offers functional benefits, in addition to some cosmetic changes as well.As a specialist plastic surgeon, Dr Sharp has undergone an additional decade of training in both general and plastic subspecialties. He has worked as a reconstructive surgeon in major cancer and trauma centres in Queensland – and currently operates from one of the largest private hospitals in Australia, where there is a dedicated plastic surgery ward for postoperative patient care.What is a postpartum abdominoplasty?Following pregnancy, women can experience rectus divarication (separation of the muscle wall) and hygiene or skin issues due to lower abdominal or mons pubis skin. A standard abdominoplasty after pregnancy involves the reconstruction of the weakened abdominal wall, firming the stomach with layers of internal sutures. During the procedure, Dr Sharp also removes hernias and then resects excess skin, with the umbilicus replaced in a new position on the abdomen. Functionally this improves core strength, while providing aesthetic changes. If a woman experiences the above mentioned skin issues as well as rectus divarication of 3cm or more, they may be eligible for the procedure to be considered as a reconstructive procedure – and rebates may apply if the patient has Medical or private health insurance. Read on for more information. What is the difference between a full abdominoplasty and a mini abdominoplasty?Generally, a ‘full’ or standard abdominoplasty involves the reconstruction of the abdominal wall, hernia reduction and skin removal, with umbilicus repositioning. The incision runs across the lower torso, from hip to hip. A ‘mini’ abdominoplasty involves only the removal of a small amount of lax skin on the lower abdomen and is appropriate for women who do not have muscle separation, hernias or loose skin to repair or reconstruct. A mini abdominoplasty is always considered a cosmetic procedure and does not carry an item number or rebates.above: before and three months after abdominoplasty surgery with Dr Sharp; results vary between patientsclick here to view a gallery of Dr Sharp’s abdominoplasty patientsMake an enquiryHave a question about this procedure?Complete the form below and we will be in touch ASAP.Name*Email* Phone*Message*PhoneThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. How long after giving birth can I consider abdominoplasty?The best long term results are achieved when you are at your ideal weight; this will improve the longevity of your outcome. At certain times of year, there can be a significant wait to see an experienced, qualified plastic surgeon in Brisbane, so we recommend contacting surgeons about 6-8 months before your ideal surgery time frame, to avoid the disappointment of missing out on your ideal surgery time frames – especially as some mums base their surgery around work or school holidays. Choosing the right surgeon for you is integral, so it’s important not to feel rushed or make a decision based purely on how quickly you can obtain a consult. If’s a life long decision, so we recommend investing in consults with at least two specialist plastic surgeons, to find one that resonates with you.The post partum abdominoplasty item number can only be claimed more than 12 months after giving birth. Read more about the criteria below. There is no limit to how many years ago you had your last pregnancy – some women seek this procedure after 10, 20 or even 30 years. Is it possible to combine an abdominoplasty with breast surgery?Yes, this is a surgical combination Dr Sharp frequently performs. Breast augmentation, reduction or lift (mastopexy) alongside abdominoplasty are commonly combined postpartum procedures. The main benefit of combining the procedures includes a single recovery period (less downtime). Drawbacks include increased costs (due to the longer time spent in theatre) and possibly slower recovery and healing as your body is trying to recover from two procedures instead of one. Dr Sharp spends lots of time going through your informed consent documentation and stepping through these procedures during your pre operative consultations. It’s important to consider the pros and cons, and ask lots of questions. If you are booked to see Dr Sharp regarding a breast procedure and wish to also discuss abdominoplasty, please call us prior to ensure enough time can be set aside to discuss this operation in the consultation. We will also send you a patient education pack for abdominoplasty, to read prior to your consult. What to expect at your postpartum tummy tuck consultationWhen you book your consultation, you will receive an email with lots of information about tummy tuck surgery. Please read over all documentation as it will help form foundation knowledge prior to your consult. It will also introduce you in detail to the benefits, alternatives, risks and recovery of this procedure. This helps you to develop questions to ask Dr Sharp and get the most out of your consult with him.On the day of your initial consult, you will speak with Dr Sharp directly. In alignment with our patient education values, we do not outsource your first discussion regarding surgery to another team member or nurse in our clinic – you will speak directly to the surgeon who’d perform your operation; Dr Sharp. When booking your initial consultation with any surgeon it is important to ask who will be performing your consultations: the operating surgeon or a delegated team member in their clinic?After you consult with Dr Sharp, we are able to provide you with an estimate of fees document and potential time frames for surgery (if your procedure is considered medically required, or carries an MBS item number). Plan to be with us for about 1 hour at this first visit. Subsequent visits are shorter. Please note you have at least 2 consults prior to surgery – and we encourage all patients to have more, if they wish.If your postpartum abdominoplasty is considered cosmetic, not reconstructive, due to regulations introduced in 2023, you will need to have 2 consults with Dr Sharp, sign our clinical consent form and then observe 7 days cooling off before paying a deposit to secure a surgery date. POSTPARTUM ABDOMINOPLASTY GALLERY: BEFORE + AFTER PHOTOScroll down to read more about tummy tuck surgery with Dr Sharp, after the image gallery. When viewing before and after images, please note they are only indicative of the individual patient’s result and outcomes vary depending on a number of factors including genetics, nutrition, natural body habitus and adherence to post operative instructions. To view scarring, please click here before and 3 months after breast lift (mastopexy) and abdominoplasty surgery with Dr Sharp before and 3 months after breast lift, breast augmentation and abdominoplasty surgery with Dr Sharp before and three months after abdominoplasty surgery with Dr Sharp; this patient also underwent fat grafting to her bilateral breasts during the same operation. before and 3 months after breast augmentation, breast lift and abdominoplasty surgery with Dr Sharp before and 3 months after breast lift and abdominoplasty surgery with Dr Sharp before and nine months after abdominoplasty and breast lift surgery with Dr Sharp; this patient also underwent a second stage breast augmentation six months after her initial surgery (shown her three months post ‘second stage’ breast augmentation). before and three months after combined abdominoplasty and breast augmentation surgery with Dr Sharp before and three months after combined abdominoplasty and breast augmentation surgery with Dr Sharp before and three months after abdominoplasty surgery with Dr Sharp before and three months after abdominoplasty surgery with Dr Sharp before and three months after abdominoplasty surgery with Dr Sharp before and three months after abdominoplasty surgery with Dr Sharp before and three months after abdominoplasty surgery with Dr Sharp before and three months after abdominoplasty surgery with Dr Sharp before and three months after abdominoplasty surgery with Dr Sharp before and three months after abdominoplasty surgery with Dr Sharp before and four months after abdominoplasty surgery with Dr Sharp before and four months after abdominoplasty surgery with Dr Sharp before and three months after abdominoplasty surgery with Dr Sharp before and three months after abdominoplasty surgery with Dr Sharp before and three months after abdominoplasty surgery with Dr Sharp before and three months after abdominoplasty surgery with Dr Sharp before and three months after abdominoplasty surgery with Dr Sharp before and three months after abdominoplasty surgery with Dr Sharp before and three months after abdominoplasty surgery with Dr Sharp before and three months after abdominoplasty surgery with Dr Sharp before and three months after abdominoplasty surgery with Dr Sharp above: before and five months after abdominoplasty and breast augmentation surgery with Dr Sharp.
