Abdominoplasty
What is abdominoplasty?
Abdominoplasty, commonly called tummy tuck, is a highly popular operation in cosmetic surgery. Abdominoplasty allows the removal of the excess skin and fat from the upper and lower part of the abdomen and the tightening of the muscles of the abdominal wall. A tummy tuck allows a significant improvement of the appearance of a low-slung and/or protuberant stomach by removing the excess skin, the localized depot fat and correcting the flabby abdominal muscles.
Who is this kind of operation indicated for?
Abdominoplasty is particularly suitable for those who, despite a fairly good physical condition, suffer from considerable depot fat (fat stomach) or excessive looseness of the abdominal wall which cannot be improved by dieting nor through physical exercise. Therefore, abdominoplasty is in great demand by the women who have had one or several pregnancies or by the patients who, due to their ripe age, to a drastic loss of weight or to previous surgery, suffer from flabbiness of the abdominal muscles and a loss of skin elasticity which is no longer recoverable.
Are there age limits to undergo abdominoplasty?
There are no age limits to undergo this surgical procedure, but it is advisable for the women who are planning pregnancies to postpone the intervention, because the endoabdominal pressure increase might separate once again the muscles repaired through abdominoplasty. Overweight patients should first follow a diet before undergoing abdominoplasty not to have to resort to the plastic surgeon once again in order to remove the excess skin due to the future loss of weight.
What surgical operations can be performed together with abdominoplasty?
Abdominoplasty can be performed alone or in association with other surgical techniques such as liposuction, thigh-lift or other jobs.
What are the risks and the complications of this kind of operation?
Abdominoplasty is a rather complex surgical procedure. When this kind of operation is performed by a specialist in plastic surgery, experienced in body contouring, and in qualified facilities, the results are usually very good. However, it is a real surgical procedure whose complications (bleeding, seroma, loss of sensibility in the abdominal region and infection) are rare but may occur and can be easily resolved only if the intervention is performed by a specialist inside duly equipped facilities. In order to reduce the risks of complications, it is anyhow essential to follow the advice and instructions given by the surgeon carefully before and after the operation. Smokers should reduce the use of cigarettes because smoking may increase the risk of complications and slow down the recovery.
What does the preoperative examination consists in?
Abdominoplasty is a very customized kind of surgery that, as such, needs a meticulous specialist examination. During the first examination, the surgeon will assess the amount and the seat of the depot fat inside the abdomen, the skin elasticity, the possible excess skin and the tightness of the muscles of the abdominal wall and show you the target and the cosmetic results you can achieve. The surgeon will also assess your physical condition in order to exclude the presence of troubles (such as high blood pressure, clotting or healing disorders) which might affect the final result of the operation. Before the operation you will receive specific information about the preoperative and postoperative diet and the use of drugs, alcohol and cigarettes. At the end of the examination, the surgeon, in tune with you, will choose the surgical procedure most suitable for your situation. If your muscle tone and your skin elasticity are good and you want to remove some depot fat in the abdominal region, a liposuction or a liposculpture may be enough. If the depot fat and the excess skin are limited to the area below the navel, it is possible to perform a less complex surgical intervention called miniabdominoplasty. If, on the other hand, the depot fat and the other blemishes are found even in the upper part of the abdomen and on the sides, you will have to go for complete abdominoplasty, sometimes in association with liposuction.
What kind of anaesthetic is given?
Abdominoplasty is normally performed under general anaesthesia and a two-day hospitalization. In certain cases (miniabdominoplasty or small liposuction), the intervention can be performed under loco-regional anaesthesia and in outpatient care.
Where are the incisions made?
In abdominoplasty, the incision is made above the pubic area and the surgeon will arrange for the scar to be always hidden inside the pants.
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| Fig.2 |
Abdominal wall contouring. |
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| Fig.3 |
Removal of excess skin and fat. |
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How long is the operation?
An operation of abdominoplasty will last about three hours, it is not very painful and ends with a dressing you will have to wear for about three weeks.
What happens during the post-operative period?
During 48 hours following the operation of abdominoplasty, you will have to rest up, flexing your legs and keeping your back raised. Starting from the third day, you will be able to resume your normal life, avoiding, nevertheless, tiring activities, saunas and sweat-baths. During the first two days, swelling and ecchymoses may appear in the treated area. After 7-10 days, you will be able to resume work, provided that it is not too tiring. Three weeks after the intervention, you will gradually resume all your normal activities, including the sports activity.
What kind of result can be achieved?
Abdominoplasty, whether it is partial or complete, usually bears fruit. If you have the forethought to follow a balanced diet and to perform physical exercise regularly, the results achieved through this kind of operation will be practically permanent.
If you wish to take this subject further, we advise you to visit the FAQ page about abdominoplasty and fat, where you will find the answers to the most frequent questions asked by the patients.
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