What is abdominoplasty?
Stretched skin, resulting from being overweight or pregnancy, doesn’t always return to its original condition. Instead, it might create skin folds that may disturb activity and hygiene.
A slight amount of excess skin, located under the navel, can be removed with a smaller procedure done only to the lower stomach area (mini abdominoplasty). However, excess skin is often located above the navel, and the situation can be helped with abdominoplasty.
In the procedure, excess skin is tightened through an opening created on the lower stomach area. The skin folds are straightened, tissues tightened, and the excess skin fold is removed. A new hole needs to be done for the navel, and besides the vertical scar on the lower stomach, the procedure leaves a scar on the navel as well.
Abdominoplasty is very common. It can be done together with diastasis recti surgery (procedure to correct separation of abdominal muscles) or liposuction. The best results can be expected when the client is satisfied with their weight and big changes in weight will not occur afterwards.
Abdominoplasty may help, if
- Skin on the stomach has stretched and loosened
- The excess skin fold affects hygiene
- The excess skin fold affects dressing.
A consultation is very important to achieve a good result
At the consultation, the method suitable for the client is evaluated and resulting scars, as well as possible consequences of the surgery, are discussed. The decision to proceed with the surgery is done together with the client, always taking the client’s personal wishes into account.
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Abdominoplasty – The Procedure
You must not eat or drink for six hours before surgery. You arrive for the procedure at the agreed time, and before surgery, the surgeon makes the necessary plans on the skin with a marker while the client is in an upright position.
The procedure is often performed under general anesthesia, but it can also be performed under local anesthesia. The procedure typically lasts 2–3 hours.
At the end of the surgery, the wounds are supported with tape. Compression garments are also placed in the operating room. The use of drains, i.e. drainage tubes, is decided individually, but they are rarely needed.
The procedure can almost always be done as day surgery, meaning that you can go home the same day. However, when leaving after surgery, you must have someone to accompany you and stay with you for the first night.
Recovering from Abdominoplasty
Painkillers may be needed during the first few days after surgery. As the tissues recover, different occasional internal stinging sensations in the tissues are typical even for a few months after surgery.
The length of sick leave is typically approximately 2–6 weeks. The length is decided individually.
Use of Compression Garments and Exercise
After abdominoplasty, compression garments should be worn day and night for the first month.
Heavy straining and jumping should be avoided for the first month. Exercise can be started gradually approximately one month after surgery.
Stitches and Supporting Tape
Dissolving stitches are mainly used to close the wounds, and they do not need to be removed.
Supporting tape should be continued for 2–3 months after surgery to make the scars as thin as possible and to help them flatten and fade well. We will provide good instructions for further scar treatment.
Possible Complications of Abdominoplasty
Surgical procedures always involve risks. The greatest risks of complications in abdominoplasty are related to hematomas in the tissues and possible infections.
Hematomas
As a result of surgery, the skin has bruises. Sometimes, hematomas can be larger.
If blood leaks inside the tissues after surgery, it can cause pressure symptoms, and it may even need to be removed in a new surgery. This does not affect the final aesthetic result, but it may slightly slow down recovery from surgery.
Infections
Although surgery is performed under sterile conditions, bacteria on the skin can pass through the surgical wound and cause infection in the tissues even after surgery.
Minor infections can often be treated with medication. In rare cases, a more severe infection may even lead to revision surgery, in which the tissues are cleaned in the operating room.
