What are the long term cons that are possible after tummy tuck?

Thank you for asking these common questions about tummy tuck surgery.  It is not common that we see the concerns you mention and our hope is that you have no such problems after your tummy tuck.  The goal is to give you a flatter appearing abdomen with a better waistline and abdominal contour.  It should last a lifetime as long as you maintain a stable and healthy body weight.  This new appearance of your abdomen will be the result of several surgical steps including the removal and then tightening of excess loose skin, removal of fat and finally by tightening the abdominal wall muscle separation that occurs with pregnancy or weight gain.  You will end up with a scar located in the pubic area from hip to hip.  You will see improvement in the appearance of your abdomen during the entire first year after your surgery.  It may take awhile for any numbness to resolve, and only very occasionally is this permanent.  Of course every surgery carries risk.  You can minimize these risks by reaching an healthy body weight and nutritional status before your operation. It is also very important to follow all of your surgeon's postoperative care instructions while you are recovering.  Be sure to discuss these issues with your board certified plastic surgeon during your consultation, so that you are as prepared as possible for your surgery.   

Long term problems following a tummy tuck are very rare.  Typically, any issues occur within the first several weeks after surgery.  Occasionally it does take some time for sensation to return between the belly button and the lower abdominal scar, but in my experience, most patients after several months are doing just fine.  Typically, the recurrent swelling and pin and needle sensation that you're describing is very short lived and gone within a year.  I hope this helps.

Look at Realself ratings.    You will note that tummy tucks have one of the highest ratings.     While there can be some long term issues with tummy tucks, it is very rare to have a patient complain about such issue.   It is true that there is often some area of decreased sensation in the lower abdomen, but this rarely results in permanent pararthesias, or uncomfortable sensations.    Problems with the scar or a small or wide umbilicus can be bothersome.      You should be relatively sure you do not want more children, not because a tummy tuck with interfere with the pregnancy, but because it with undo much of the benefit and is not as easily redone.