All 8 Clinics that provide Tummy Tuck in Dorset

The tummy tuck is a procedure to reduce the size of the abdomen by removing excess fat and tightening stomach muscles. Ideal candidates for the procedure are healthy individuals who want to tackle areas of fat or muscle that are not responding to exercise.

Combined with diet and exercise the effects of the procedure can be long lasting.

Length

A full abdominoplasty lasts between two and five hours with a partial abdominoplasty taking one to two hours.

Procedure

The operation is usually carried out under general anaesthetic. In a full abdominoplasty an incision is made following a semi-circle from hip to hip, just above the pubic area, a second incision frees the navel. Excess fat is removed and muscles are tightened by the use of stitches. A partial abdominoplasty involves a smaller initial incision with work being carried out between the incision and the navel.

Recovery

Recovery periods are different for each patient and can be affected by a number of factors such as a patient’s general physical condition and postoperative exercise. All stitches should be removed within two to three weeks at which stage some patients will be able to return to normal activity, others taking a few weeks longer. Temporary bruising and swelling as well as discomfort can all be part of the recovery process and again vary from patient to patient. Scarring will result from the incisions, the appearance of which may grow more noticeable in the first few months before fading over time.

Risks

Procedures may, in rare cases, result in abnormal clotting or infection. Scarring resulting from the procedure can require an additional operation to meet the desired appearance.

A guide to plastic surgery regulations in the United Kingdom

The Department of Health decides on health policy and oversees the National Health Serice in the UK.

The General Medical Council (GMC) is the self-regulating body for doctors within the UK. It holds a register of all doctors registered to practice within the UK. The GMC provides detailed information online about the current status of all registered doctors. Compensation claims will rest on proof that a failure in the 'Duty to Care' has resulted in injury - these claims are persued throught the civil courts.

The British Medical Association is the chief professional organization for doctors in the UK.

BAPRAS, the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons is the main organization that plastic surgeons will belong to.

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons represents plastic surgeons who specialise in cosmetic surgery and all its members are on the Specialist Register of Plastic Surgery.

Education

The UK has 32 medical schools spread over a number of administrative regions. Training is usually 5 or 6 years in length though 4 year graduate programmes have become available. The difference in training periods generally applies to theoretical work with set minimums in place for clinical study.

Doctors are ethically responsible for keeping their training up to date through Continuing Professional Development (CPD). All professional associations promote continuing education and organize training. CPD is not mandatory though failure to engage may result in a doctors ability to maintain their 'Duty to Care' coming into question.

Complaints

The GMC will deal with complaints against doctors but its powers only enable it to limit or remove the right to practice: It does not issue fines or grant compensation. The GMC strikes off about 30 doctors each year.

Other complaints should go first to one of the local healthcare authorites.

There is also a health ombudsman (one for each of England, Scotland, Wales and N. Ireland), independant of the profession.

Storage and Access to Medical Records

The UK has a data protection act. This both protects data and covers the right of an individual to access data held on them - including medical data. Furthermore medical data requested by an individual must be presented in an intelligible manner and within a maximun of 40 days from a formal request being made.

Plastic surgery in the UK:

London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Bristol, Manchester, Leicester, Coventry, Stockport

Resources

Healthcare Commission (for ombudsman/complaints, provider ratings etc)
Website: http://www.healthcarecommission.org.uk/aboutus.cfm

The General Medical Council (GMC)
Website: http://www.gmc-uk.org/
Check status of doctors: http://www.gmc-uk.org/register/search/
Role in complaints: http://www.gmc-uk.org/concerns/complaints_and_role_of_the_gmc/index.asp

The British Medical Association
Website: http://www.bma.org.uk/

British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons
Website: http://www.bapras.org.uk/
Member surgeons: http://www.bapras.org.uk/findasurgeon.asp

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons
Website: http://www.baaps.org.uk/
Member surgeons: http://www.baaps.org.uk/content/view/18/32/

The biggest choice of tummy tuck clinics in Dorset with Prices, Patient Reviews, Maps. Everything you need to find the best tummy tuck for you in Dorset.