Dr Eddy Dona Introduces Open Book Tummy Tuck™ Abdominoplasty Technique
Mon 22nd Jun 2026
As weight-loss medications continue to gain popularity across Australia, the conversation around obesity treatment is changing rapidly. Millions of people worldwide are now achieving significant weight loss through medical therapies, lifestyle interventions and improved access to weight-management support.
Yet while much attention is given to the weight being lost, another aspect of the journey is also becoming increasingly common.
For some individuals, significant weight reduction is accompanied by excess skin and tissue laxity that can affect multiple areas of the body, particularly the abdomen and torso. Understanding how to address these complex changes has become a growing area of interest within the field of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
For Sydney Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon Dr Eddy Dona, this challenge became the catalyst for developing the Open Book Tummy Tuck™ (Abdominoplasty), a surgical technique that has recently been published in the peer-reviewed journal JPRAS Open.
Dr Dona has spent years treating patients following substantial weight loss and observed that many presented with concerns that traditional forms of abdominoplasty did not fully address.
“Post-weight loss body contouring is often far more complex than many people realise,” says Dr Dona. “Patients frequently experience changes across multiple areas of the torso, requiring a thoughtful and individualised approach to surgical planning.”
These observations led Dr Dona to develop the Open Book Tummy Tuck™, a technique designed for selected patients experiencing multidirectional tissue laxity following major weight loss.
“Necessity is the mother of invention. When faced with these complex presentations, I needed to think differently and develop an alternative approach,” says Dr Dona.
After refining the technique over several years and applying it in carefully selected patients, Dr Dona sought to share his experience with the wider international plastic surgery community.
The recently published study reviewed 53 patients who underwent the procedure between 2021 and 2024. Patients had achieved an average weight loss of more than 43 kilograms before surgery, with many having undergone significant lifestyle and health changes before considering body contouring procedures.
For Dr Dona, however, the significance of the Open Book Tummy Tuck™ extends beyond the procedure itself.
“The development and evolution of any surgical technique is a process of continual learning and refinement,” he explains. “Publishing outcomes and sharing surgical knowledge through peer-reviewed research is an important part of advancing patient care and contributing to the broader surgical community.”
The publication adds to the growing body of international literature focused on post-weight loss reconstruction and highlights the increasing recognition of the unique challenges faced by patients following major weight loss.
As the use of weight-loss medications continues to grow and more Australians achieve substantial weight reduction, demand for information about post-weight loss body contouring is likely to increase. Through the development and publication of the Open Book Tummy Tuck™, Dr Eddy Dona has provided Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons with an additional surgical option that may be considered for appropriately selected patients following major weight loss.
Read Dr Dona’s published research:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpra.2026.05.044
Dr Eddy Dona is a Specialist Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon. This article is intended for general information only and does not constitute medical advice. All surgical procedures carry risks. Suitability for treatment can only be determined following consultation with a qualified Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon.
