Interest in ‘tummy tucks’ is on the rise

Abdominoplasty procedures, commonly called ‘tummy tucks’ are rising in popularity, in part due to increased interest and discussions about the aesthetic technique on social media. The method has been viewed 2.3 billion times on TikTok.

“The popularity of abdominoplasty surgery has rocketed over the last few years,” says the cosmetic surgeon and Aesthetic Medicine Award Finalist, Sujatha Tadiparthi from Choice Aesthetics. “I have noticed a significant increase in patient interest in plastic surgery following the TikTok boom during lockdown.”

“Many women are sharing their experiences (good and bad) on tummy tucks and other cosmetic surgery procedures on Instagram and TikTok, so social media does play a huge part in steering health trends and awareness,” continues Tadiparthi. “Many of my patients also comment that they have seen a lot of discussion on social media around abdominoplasties, which plays a huge part in them being interested in the procedure and coming in for a consultation. They want to see first-hand what the surgery can do for them.”

The increased interest in the procedure has also renewed discussions about the important safety protocols for abdominoplasties, especially around ensuring patients are suitably informed about possible scarring and other complications.

“From my perspective, a medical, as well as mental health and wellbeing assessment, plays a key part when I see prospective new patients to ensure they are suitable for surgery,” confirms Tadiparthi. “Patients also need to be at their ideal weight and remain stable at that weight for a few months before proceeding with surgery. Otherwise, if they lose more weight following the operation, they will have excess skin and fat. In addition, I would advise against ‘tummy tuck’ surgery for anyone who may have excess abdominal tissue but is thinking about having more children or planning to start a family in the future.”