If you are considering abdominoplasty......
The most suitable candidates for abdominoplasty
All operations involve risk
Planning the operation
Preparing for the operation
Where will the Surgery Take Place?
Kinds of Anaesthesia
The Operation
After the operation
Back to Normal
Your New Appearance
If you are considering abdominoplasty...
Popularly known as the “abdominal tuck”, abdominoplasty is a surgical intervention involving the removal of the saggy skin and fat in the middle and lower abdomen and the tightening of the abdominal wall muscles. This procedure dramatically decreases the abdominal protrusion. However, you should know that scars are inevitable in this operation; depending on the size of the underlying problem and the kind of surgery required to correct the problem, the scar may stretch from one hip to the other, approximately twice the length of a caesarean section scar. If you are considering abdominoplasty, this brochure will provide you with some basic information. When it works, how it is done and what kind of results you could expect? Because many of the answers depend on the patient and the surgeon, you may not be able to find all the answers you are looking for in this brochure. Please consult your doctor. Top
The most suitable candidates for rhinoplasty
The most suitable candidates for abdominoplasty are those women and men with excess fat accumulation around their abdominal area compared with the rest of their body, which does not respond to diet or exercise. The operation is beneficial for those women who have had one or more pregnancies during which the abdominal muscles and skin have been stretched beyond repair. Abdominoplasty can also be performed on elderly patients to correct the skin elasticity loss due to light obesity.
Patients who intend to lose a lot of weight should postpone the surgery. Also, women who intend to give birth could postpone the surgery until after their pregnancy, because abdominal muscles tightened during surgery will be separating again during pregnancy. If you have had previous abdominal surgery besides caesarean section, your doctor may not recommend this operation because there may be potential risk for abdominoplasty.
Abdominoplasty improves your appearance, increases your self confidence; however, the outcome may not exactly correspond to your ideal. Consider your expectations very thoroughly before you decide on the operation and discuss with your surgeon. Top
All operations involve risk
Thousands of abdominoplasty operations are performed successfully every year. When performed by a credentialed surgeon trained in body shaping, the results are generally positive. Even so, there are always surgical risks and complications involved.
Post-operative complications such as infection, delay in the healing of wounds, bleeding and congestion due to emboli (blood clot) are rare, but may be seen (consult your physician for more detailed information). Infection may be treated with drainage and antibiotics; however, it may extend your stay in the hospital. You can minimise emboli risk by starting to walk as soon as you can after the operation (in accordance with your physician’s instructions).
A bad recovery process resulting in the formation of visible scars may necessitate a second operation. Smokers should be advised to quit since it increases risk of complication and delays recovery.
You may reduce your risk of complication by closely following your physician’s recommendations both before and after the operation, particularly about when and how to take up regular physical activities.
An incision is made right above the pubic area to remove excessive skin and fat from middle and lower abdomen. Top
Planning the operation
On your first visit, the surgeon will make a general assessment of your health, examine the distribution of fat deposits in your abdominal area and carefully review your skin tone. If you are a smoker or if you are on any kind of medication or vitamin regimen, inform your physician.
Make sure you discuss your expectations openly with your physician. He will explain you the risks and the limitations of the procedure.
For instance, if your fat deposits are accumulated in the lower abdomen, you may require what is called a partial abdominoplasty, or a less complicated procedure known as mini- abdominal tuck (mini abdominoplasty). On the other hand, to do away with the fat on the hips and attain better body contours, you may benefit from partial or full abdominoplasty performed in combination with liposuction. Liposuction by itself may yield satisfactory results as well. In any case, your surgeon will be informing you of the procedure best suited for the body contours you desire.
During your visit, your surgeon will be informing you of the anaesthesia method he will be using, the hospital where he will be performing the operation and the costs involved. In many cases, insurance policies do not cover the cost of abdominoplasty; check yours to make sure.
The skin is separated from the abdominal wall towards the ribcage in every direction.
The surgeon pulls the muscle sheets on the front wall of the abdomen towards the middle line and sutures them. The waist line is thus reduced and the abdominal wall is tautened.
The saggy abdominal skin is pulled down and the excess is removed. A new opening is formed for the umblicus in full abdominoplasty.Top
Preparing for the operation
Your surgeon will be giving you special instructions about how to prepare for the operation, eating and drinking rules, smoking and about starting or interrupting the intake of certain vitamins and medications.
If you are a smoker, plan on quitting at least one-two weeks before the operation and do not start again for at least two weeks following the operation. Avoid too much sun exposure prior to the operation; particularly protect your abdominal area from the sun. Do not go on a strict diet. Both factors will suppress your recovery capacity. If you develop a cold or infection, the operation should be postponed.
Remember that you will need someone to take you home after the operation and help with going out for one or two days. Top
Where will the Surgery Take Place?
Partial and full abdominoplasty operations are performed in a hospital setting and patients are hospitalised for 1-2
days. Top
Kinds of Anaesthesia
An anaesthesiologist will see you prior to the operation; he will examine you and inform you of the most suitable anaesthesia method. General anaesthesia is the most preferred method and you will be asleep throughout the surgery.
In very rare cases, mini-abdominoplasty operation may be performed under local anaesthesia together with a sedative. You will be awake but relaxed and insensitive to the pain in your abdominal region. However, with this kind of anaesthesia, you may feel some disturbing sensations such as pulling. Top
The Operation
Depending on the size of the planned surgery, abdominoplasty may last 2-4 hours. Mini abdominoplasty takes 1-2 hours.
In an abdominal tuck operation, the surgeon makes an incision right above the pubic area stretching from one hip bone to the other. A second incision is made to separate the umblicus from the surrounding tissues. The incision is much shorter in partial abdominoplasty and the position of the abdomen does not change.
In abdominoplasty, the surgeon separates the skin from the abdominal wall towards the ribcage in every direction and lifts up a large piece of the skin in order to make the abdominal muscles visible. The abdominal muscles are brought closer together in the middle and sutured to their new positions and tautened. This procedure tautens the abdominal wall and reduces the waist line.
Following that, the skin is pulled downwards and excess skin is removed. A new belly button is formed and the umblicus is sutured in its new position. Lastly, the incisions are sutured and the patient is temporarily intubated to prevent possible fluid accumulation in the surgical area.
In mini abdominoplasty, only the skin between the incision line and the umblicus is separated. The skin is tightened downwards, the excess part of it is removed and the remaining skin is sutured back on. Top
After the operation
In the first couple of days, your abdomen is likely to be swollen and you will feel some pain and discomfort which may be brought under control through medication. Depending on the size of the surgery, you may be discharged 1-2 days later.
Your doctor will be instructing you on how to shower and change the bandages. Although you will have a hard time standing up straight in the beginning, you should start walking as soon as possible.
The skin sutures are removed in 5-7 days and your other sutures disappear by themselves. A supportive garment may be worn on the incision instead of bandages. Top
Back to Normal
It may take a while for you to feel fine again. Physical exercises that strengthen the
abdominal muscles will help you recover faster from your abdominoplasty (consult your physician for more detailed information). While some people can go back to work within a period of two weeks, some will be able to do so within three-four weeks.
Exercise will help you recover faster. Even those who have never exercised before should start to do so in order to reduce swelling, decrease the possibility of a blood clot and tone the muscles. However, you should avoid strenuous exercises until you feel comfortable.
As the scars on your skin heal, they may appear to be getting worse during the first three-six months; this is expected. It will take nine months to one year for your scars to heal and fade. Even though they will never entirely disappear, the scars on your abdomen will not be visible in most of your clothes and even in a bikini. Top
Your New Appearance
Regardless of whether it is partial or full, abdominoplasty yields perfect results in patients with weak abdominal muscles and saggy skin. Provided that a balanced diet and a regular exercise programme are adhered to, the results are long lasting.
Following the operation, the patient’s abdomen is flat and taut. The scars are permanent, but they fade over time.
If you are suffering from abdominal deformity, abdominoplasty may be the answer you are looking for.
To healthy days.......... Top |
