Body contouring · Melbourne
Abdominoplasty in Melbourne
Dr Brian Yue is a specialist plastic surgeon in Melbourne whose practice includes a substantial focus on abdominoplasty and body contouring after significant weight loss. He works within Specialist Surgical Group, an established multidisciplinary surgical practice providing bariatric surgery and weight management in Essendon and Bundoora. His abdominoplasty practice also includes patients seeking treatment for changes after pregnancy.
Abdominoplasty after pregnancy or weight loss
Abdominoplasty removes excess abdominal skin and reshapes the abdomen. Depending on the anatomy, it can also involve tightening a separated abdominal wall, repositioning the umbilicus, addressing the mons pubis and selectively removing fat. It is a substantial operation with a permanent scar and a meaningful recovery.
People seek abdominoplasty for different reasons. Some have loose skin and abdominal wall changes after pregnancy. Others have lost a substantial amount of weight and are left with an apron of skin that causes chafing, recurrent rashes, difficulty with hygiene or trouble finding comfortable clothing. Liposuction alone cannot remove substantial loose skin; conversely, removing skin without considering the abdomen as a whole may leave an unbalanced result.
I am Dr Brian Yue, a Melbourne specialist plastic surgeon. My starting point is to work out which anatomical problems matter to you, and which operation is proportionate to those problems. The longest scar or most extensive operation is not automatically the right one.
Coordinated care
Body contouring within an established bariatric surgical group
Body contouring after significant weight loss is a substantial part of my practice at Specialist Surgical Group in Melbourne. I work alongside bariatric surgeons, a GP with a focus on weight management, a dietitian and a psychologist. My involvement in this weight loss service means I regularly see patients considering skin-removal surgery after bariatric surgery or other substantial weight loss.
Through this practice, I perform more than 80 abdominoplasty procedures each year, including surgery after significant weight loss and pregnancy. This is my personal abdominoplasty workload. Regular discussions with colleagues and staff help us coordinate care around each patient’s weight history, nutritional health, medical needs and readiness for surgery.
We have operating lists tailored to body contouring after weight loss, supported by a dedicated anaesthetist and surgical assistant familiar with these procedures and their recovery requirements. This setting allows me to understand the care leading up to body contouring and plan surgery within that broader context. For some patients, that means proceeding with an operation; for others, it means further preparation or a staged approach.
Where needed, and with your agreement, we can involve the team in reviewing weight stability, nutrition and psychological support. The clinic also provides iron infusion services when clinically indicated. The services appropriate to you depend on your assessment; not every patient needs every part of the team. Body contouring is an optional step after weight loss and does not replace ongoing weight management.
An individual plan
Planning the operation
At consultation, I assess skin excess in both the horizontal and vertical directions, the position and quality of the umbilicus, abdominal wall separation, fat distribution, the mons, previous scars and the contour of the waist and flanks. We discuss your symptoms, expectations, weight history, general health and plans for further pregnancy or weight change. A comfortable, sustainable and reasonably stable weight is often more useful for planning than pursuing an arbitrary number on the scales.
The operation depends on where the excess tissue sits:
Not every option above is appropriate for every patient. The final design follows an examination and a discussion of what improvement each scar can realistically achieve.
How I tailor the components of abdominoplasty
My planning includes the height and symmetry of the abdominal scar, the appearance and position of the umbilicus, the transition into the flanks, the position of the mons and the tension placed on the wound. The components below are considered individually; not every abdomen needs every component.
Muscle repair and rectus plication
Pregnancy or weight change may be associated with widening between the rectus muscles, known as rectus diastasis. Where repair is appropriate, I use sutures to tighten the stretched connective tissue over the muscles and bring the abdominal wall towards the midline. This is called rectus plication. The repair addresses the supporting layer of the abdominal wall; it does not rebuild or strengthen the muscle itself.
I assess the amount of separation, the quality of the tissues and whether another problem, such as a hernia, needs separate attention. The aim is to improve abdominal wall support and contour without excessive tension. Rectus repair is not a guaranteed cure for back pain or all core-related symptoms, and it adds to the lifting restrictions during recovery.
Drainless surgery with progressive tension and quilting sutures
Progressive tension or quilting sutures secure the underside of the abdominal skin and fat to the deeper tissues. They help distribute tension and reduce the space in which fluid can collect. I use these internal sutures as part of my closure, and many patients can have abdominoplasty without a drain.
Drainless surgery does not mean there is no risk of seroma. Fluid collections can still develop and sometimes require aspiration or further treatment. I may use a drain when the operative findings or the extent of surgery make it appropriate. The closure is chosen for your tissues and operation rather than a commitment to avoiding a drain in every case.
Monsplasty where appropriate
The mons pubis is the soft tissue over the pubic bone. After weight loss, its position and fullness can affect the transition between the abdomen and pubic region. When appropriate, I incorporate elevation and reshaping of the mons into abdominoplasty, sometimes with selective fat reduction.
We discuss this during planning so you understand what will change and where the scars will sit. Excessive elevation or tightening can distort the area, so the amount of correction must respect your anatomy and the tension of the abdominal closure. Monsplasty is not required for every patient.
Tailored liposuction
Liposuction may help reduce selected fat deposits and improve the transition between the abdomen, waist, flanks and mons. Its location and extent are tailored to the skin thickness, blood supply and overall operation. It cannot remove fat within the abdominal cavity or replace removal of substantial loose skin.
I balance contour changes against the need to preserve healthy tissue and reliable wound healing. Sometimes limited liposuction is appropriate; sometimes a separate stage is preferable. We discuss risks including contour irregularity, asymmetry, altered sensation and fluid collection, in addition to the risks of abdominoplasty itself.
Planning more than one body contouring procedure
After substantial weight loss, excess skin may affect the abdomen, breasts, arms and thighs together. My assessment considers these areas in relation to one another and to your priorities. We can discuss mastopexy without implants, arm lift and thigh lift as part of a longer-term plan.
Some patients benefit from treating the abdomen first and returning later for another area. Combining procedures is possible in selected cases; staging is preferable when the overall operating time, wound burden, clot risk or recovery would become excessive. I explain both the likely improvement and the limits of each stage, including what it will leave untreated.
What to expect
Recovery and risks
Abdominoplasty is performed under general anaesthesia. Hospital stay, compression, time away from work and the return to exercise depend on the extent of surgery and your health. Expect pain or tightness, swelling, a temporary reduction in mobility and restrictions on heavy lifting. You will need practical help during the early recovery period, especially if you care for young children. Swelling and scars continue to change over months; the scar is permanent and may be visible outside some clothing.
Risks include bleeding, infection, fluid collection (seroma), wound separation or delayed healing, altered skin sensation, contour irregularity, asymmetry, prominent scars, skin or umbilical blood-supply problems, anaesthetic complications and blood clots. Smoking, nutritional deficiencies and some medical conditions increase risk. A further procedure may occasionally be needed. We discuss how these risks apply to you before deciding whether to proceed.
Common questions
Will I need a fleur-de-lis scar because I have lost a lot of weight?
Not necessarily. The distribution of skin excess matters more than the amount of weight lost. A conventional or extended abdominoplasty may adequately address some post-weight-loss abdomens.
Will abdominoplasty help my rashes or difficulty with hygiene?
Removing an apron of skin may address the tissue causing these problems, but improvement depends on the cause of the symptoms and cannot be guaranteed.
Can I see examples after weight loss and pregnancy?
My clinical photograph collection includes patients of different ages, body types and starting weights, with examples after weight loss and pregnancy. We can review relevant photographs shared with appropriate consent, including scars and the time elapsed since surgery. Individual photographs cannot predict your result.
What does working within a bariatric group mean for my care?
It means body contouring is a regular part of my clinical workload and can be planned with input from colleagues who understand weight management and the preparation required after weight loss. The benefit is the ability to coordinate relevant care; your operation and your personal risks still require individual assessment.
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Your next step
A consultation allows us to decide whether surgery is appropriate, which design best addresses your concerns, and whether any other care should happen first.
Consultations in Essendon and Bundoora, Melbourne.
Book a consultationDr Brian Yue
Specialist Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
FRACS MBBS BMedSci DipAnat
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