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What is abdominoplasty?
Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) is a procedure to correct abdominal deformity due to excess skin, subcutaneous tissue and laxity of the abdominal wall musculature.
Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) is a procedure to correct abdominal deformity due to excess skin, subcutaneous tissue and laxity of the abdominal wall musculature. Abdominoplasty is one of the most performed cosmetic surgical procedures. It is usually performed by a plastic surgeon.
What are the causes of abdominal deformity?
- Pregnancy: Pregnancy can stretch the skin beyond its biomechanical capability to spring back and stretches the muscular structures of the abdominal wall. The result is stretching skin and thinning of the abdominal muscle.
- Massive weight loss from dieting, exercise gastric bypass surgery or after pregnancy causes excess skin and laxity of the abdominal wall.
Is abdominoplasty a major surgery?
Abdominoplasty is performed under spinal or general anesthesia and it is a major surgery.
What is abdominoplasty done for?
- Abdominal wall laxity
- Excess skin
- Striae (stretch marks)
- Diastasis (separation) of the abdominal muscles
- Body contouring
Am I a candidate for abdominoplasty?
- You would be an ideal patient if your body mass index (BMI) is within normal limits, have no plans for future pregnancies and only seek body contouring after weight loss.
- Moderate amount of excess of skin and fat can be treated. You need to be close to your ideal body weight prior to the surgery.
- If you are planning another pregnancy or planning to lose more than 10 lb, it is advised to postpone the procedure.
- The most accepted criterion for measuring obesity is BMI. Calculated by weight in kg divided by height in meters squared. The BMI categories are:
- 20-25 – healthy
- 26-29 – overweight
- 30-34.9 – obese (category I)
- 35-39.9 – obese (category II)
- >40 – morbidly obese (category III)
- It is important to have realistic expectations and aesthetic goals. The excision of excess skin and fat does not flatten an abdominal wall distended from inside. If you have had multiple pregnancies with striae, results would not be like in the magazines.
What happens during the abdominoplasty procedure?
Preparation
The surgeon will
- Advise the patient to stop smoking and start exercising before the surgery for overall well-being and to speed the healing process.
- Advise the patient to lose enough weight they will be close to their goal weight.
- Perform a physical examination, blood and radiological investigations.
Procedure
- Surgery is performed under anesthesia.
- Various types and sizes of incisions exist which the surgeon picks based on the patient’s body shape and/ or choice of clothing.
- In most abdominoplasty procedures, the incision is low on the abdomen and hidden by underwear.
- Absorbable sutures can help reduce scarring.
- Endoscopic abdominoplasty (incision size is 2 1/2 inches) may be done in slim patients who just have a “pot belly”
- A surgical drain may be inserted to prevent blood and fluid accumulation in the operated area.
- The drain is a clear tube inserted through a small incision below the main incision.
After the procedure
- Pain killers and antibiotics may be administered.
- The surgical site is dressed for up to 48 hours.
- The drain may be removed the same day or within 24-48 hours.
- Removal is not typically painful.
- The patient can be discharged the same day or after drain removal.
- The patient should not shower for 48 hours.
- Feeling abdominal tightness, swelling and bruising is normal and usually resolves without further problems.
- Absorbable sutures take a few weeks to dissolve.
- Patients may experience pain for 10 to 20 days which may need pain killers.
- The patient can resume normal activities after 48 to72 hours.
- Avoid lifting heavy objects, rigorous exercise, swimming and other sports for six to eight weeks.
- The patient may resume moderate walking after 10 to 14 days.
- The patient can return to work, depending on their own comfort level, nature of work, physical activity required, travel distance and approval from the surgeon.
Who should not get abdominoplasty?
People with the following issues should not receive abdominoplasty surgery:
- Other abdominal scars
- Severe comorbid conditions such as
- heart disease
- diabetes
- obesity
- tobacco addiction
- Planning pregnancy
- Bleeding or blood vessel disorders
- Morbid obesity (BMI >40)
- Unrealistic expectations
- Tendency to form keloids or thick scars
How dangerous is abdominoplasty?
Abdominoplasty is a relatively safe and commonly performed surgery. It is important to be mindful of the contraindications, follow advice and have realistic aesthetic goals. But as with any major surgery, there are complications, which include:
- Poor wound healing
- Dehiscence (cut made during a surgical procedure separates or ruptures after it has been sutured)
- Bleeding
- Blood clot formation
- Infection
- Hypertrophic scarring (formation of raised scars)
- Residual deformity
- Blood clots in the vessels
- Wide umbilical scars
- Intra-abdominal hypertension
- Acid reflux
- Temporary or permanent numbness around the incision site
Plastic Surgery: Before-and-After Photos
Reviewed on 2/8/2021
Plastic Surgery: Before and After
Cosmetic surgery is not just for the rich and famous. It’s available to almost all who need or want it in the U.S. and many other countries. Over 18 million cosmetic surgical procedures are done per year in the U.S.
Procedures that result in flatter stomachs, increased or decreased breast size, reshaping of the nose or chin, and many skin alteration techniques are some of the most popular procedures. This slideshow will show some untouched before and after pictures of cosmetic surgery. Examples include both surgical procedures and minimally-invasive procedures (for example, chemical skin peel or laser skin treatment).
Nose Job: Before and After
A rhinoplasty (commonly termed a nose job) is a procedure in which the nose is reshaped to correct crookedness, or remove a bump or lump, or simply reduced in size to better fit the facial structure. It is usually not done on patients younger than 15 years of age. Recovery takes about 1 to 3 weeks and complications are rare.
Eyelid Surgery: Before and After
Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) can improve droopy upper eyelids and baggy skin under the eyes by removing excess skin and fat. Healing takes about 1 week, and scars are rarely visible.
Neck Lift: Before and After
Loose tissue around the neck (sometimes referred to as turkey neck) can be surgically corrected by removing excess skin and tightening the muscles. A neck lift is usually done in conjunction with a facelift (see next slide). Recovery takes about 2 weeks. The procedure carries only a small risk of infection./p>
Facelift: Before and After
A facelift may reduce the effects of aging and gravity on the facial and neck skin by pulling it upward surgically and removing excess skin, fat, and wrinkles. Some patients may have filler or fat inserted to further restore a more youthful appearance. There is a small risk of infection. Some surgeons may use other less invasive techniques such as dermabrasion or laser surgery.
Arm Lift: Before and After
Brachioplasty or an arm lift can reduce the flappy or saggy skin and fat that women especially develop near the triceps and upper arm with age. Commonly termed “chicken wings,” this extra skin and fat in the upper arms can be removed. But there will be a scar on the inside of your upper arm after the procedure.
Liposuction: Before and After
Bulges of fat in the areas of the tummy, thighs, hips, or behind can be reduced by the liposuction technique, now a commonly used cosmetic surgery procedure. Suctioning out the fatty bulges can result in smoother body contours. There are some infrequent risks to the procedure that include skin or nerve damage, scarring, infection, asymmetry (uneven removal of fat bulges), and other problems.
Tummy Tuck: Before and After
Belly fat and belly protrusion can be reduced by a tummy tuck. Although the common term for abdominoplasty — tummy tuck — sounds benign, it is major surgery that consists of fat removal and tightening of the abdominal muscles. An abdominal scar will be visible after the surgery. Surgeons suggest postponing a tummy tuck if a person is still planning to lose weight or is planning to become pregnant.
Breast Implants: Before and After
Breast implant surgery (termed augmentation mammoplasty) is a common cosmetic surgical procedure for women. The surgery involves making a cut in the armpit, areola, or at the breast fold. The doctor then places a saline or silicone gel implant of a specific size (chosen by the patient but in consultation with their doctor to best fit the person’s breast anatomy, skin elasticity, and body type). The risks are low but include scarring, infection, implant leakage or rupture, and other problems.
Breast Reduction: Before and After
Some women develop large heavy breasts that can cause neck and back pains. Breast reduction surgery can reduce breast size by removing fat tissue and skin from the breasts. Again, the risks are low, but include scarring, infection, loss of feeling in the nipples, and other problems.
Choosing a Surgeon
Choosing a cosmetic or plastic surgeon is very important. You will need a competent, experienced, and caring doctor that you can trust and communicate with candidly. Here are some tips: Ask your friends for a referral if they liked their cosmetic surgeon. Ask if the doctor is “board certified” in cosmetic surgery because this certification indicates the doctor has had special training and testing in plastic surgery techniques.
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