Is Tummy Tuck Similar to a Hysterectomy?

Question

Is Tummy Tuck very much like a Hysterectomy procedure? Do you cut through the wall muscle? I  am post op 4 weeks hysterectomy - removal of cervix and womb.Thank God I have started to feel better now. I would like a Tummy Tuck but would like to know the details of operation first.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

A tummy tuck is less invasive than the hysterectomy because you do not violate a major body cavity. It usually involves skin removal, fat removal and muscle tightening. However, muscles are rarely cut and not organs are removed.

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question regarding the similarities between a tummy tuck and a hysterectomy. While both surgeries involve the abdominal area, the procedures are quite different in their approach and goals.

A hysterectomy involves the removal of the uterus, and sometimes the cervix or ovaries, through incisions made in the abdomen or vaginally. Depending on the type of hysterectomy, surgeons may cut through muscle layers or work around them to access the reproductive organs. The primary focus of a hysterectomy is on the internal organs of the pelvis.

A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), on the other hand, is a cosmetic surgery designed to remove excess skin and fat from the abdomen, tighten the abdominal muscles, and improve the overall contour of the midsection. During a tummy tuck, the rectus abdominis muscles (the "six-pack" muscles) are often tightened to correct muscle separation (diastasis recti), but the procedure does not involve cutting into the abdominal cavity or working on internal organs like a hysterectomy does.

In terms of recovery, a tummy tuck may feel similar to your hysterectomy since both involve abdominal incisions and some post-operative discomfort. However, the focus of a tummy tuck is on the external appearance and the abdominal wall, not the internal pelvic organs.

Since you're recovering from a hysterectomy, it's essential to fully heal before considering a tummy tuck. I recommend consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon who can provide more details and ensure your body is ready for another surgery. The timing and approach should be carefully considered based on your health and recovery from the hysterectomy.

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

David Shafer, MD, FACS · Answer

Tummy tuck is not like hysterectomy. In hysterectomy, the surgeon has to cut through your muscles and then operative in your abdominal cavity. The recovery from this procedure is not similar to tummy tuck. In tummy tuck or abdominoplasty, the skin is elevated off of the muscles and the muscles are sometimes tightened. The extra skin is then removed and the incision closed.

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question. As you can imagine, every patient will have a different experience when it comes to discomfort (and overall healing process) after tummy tuck surgery. Generally, most patients will report that the recovery process is similar to recovering after C-section or hysterectomy. Anecdotally, when I have asked patients to compare, all have reported that the tummy tuck recovery is less painful than C-section recovery. I hope this, and the attached link/video, helps.

Bahram Ghaderi, MD · Answer

A tummy tuck is easier to recovery from than a tummy tuck. Actually a tummy tuck is often combined with hysterectomy since you are already recovering from that surgery and also working in the same area. The muscle is rarely if ever cut in a tummy tuck - it is just tightened or plicated to give you a flatter appearance. In a tummy tuck you don't go into the abdominal cavity whereas in a hysterectomy you do - that is where the big difference is and therefore the recovery for a hysterectomy is longer than a tummy tuck. With a tummy tuck you can typically get back to desk work and driving in about 10 days. The incision for a tummy tuck is longer but it is less invasive than a hysterectomy.

William B. Rosenblatt, MD · Answer

This is not like a hysterectomy as you abdomen is not entered and no muscles are cut. The abdominal wall is tightened and the excess skin removed. My patients seem to have an easier recovery than those with intra abdominal surgery.

George J. Beraka, MD (retired) · Answer

Hi!
Most of our patients say that a tummy tuck is less painful and easier to recover from than either a hysterectomy or a C section.

John Whitt, MD (retired) · Answer

You should have significantly less pain with a tummy tuck than you are experiencing with your hysterectomy. A lot of your present pain is due to cutting through the muscle layers. This is not done with a typical tummy tuck. The muscles may be plicated but are not divided. You will certainly have some discomfort but it should be much less than with your hysterectomy.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

The recovery from a tummy tuck is comparable to that of a hysterectomy. The muscles are not cut in a tummy tuck and the abdomen is not entered. Having had abdominal surgery gives you a leg up on the recovery from a TT because you already know what abdominal surgery feels like.

Is Tummy Tuck Similar to a Hysterectomy?

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