Abdominoplasty

 Abdominoplasty– This is a cosmetic plastic surgery, the purpose of which is to give the abdomen more elasticity. The operation involves removing excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen in order to strengthen the muscles and fascia of the abdominal wall. This operation is usually performed on patients with sagging tissues after pregnancy or sagging skin due to large weight loss.

 

Benefits of Abdominoplasty  

Successful anterior abdominal wall plasty improves the shape of the abdomen, this operation is suitable for both men and women who have lost a lot of weight, and women after pregnancy. 

Abdominoplasty procedure  

The operation is performed under general anesthesia, its duration is from two to five hours. 

There are the following technologies for performing the operation:

• Standard tummy tuck (suitable for patients with significant excess skin). The surgeon makes a curved incision from one thigh to the other, passing directly over the pubic area. Excess skin and fat are removed in the area between the pubis and the navel. The surgeon then makes an incision above the navel, pulling the skin down and increasing its firmness. 
• Mini abdominoplasty (suitable for patients with a small amount of excess skin). The surgeon only makes a small incision above the pubic area to remove excess skin.
• Endoscopic abdominoplasty (suitable for patients who only need to strengthen the muscles of the abdominal wall). The surgeon makes small incisions and uses an endoscope (flexible telescope) with special surgical instruments to strengthen the abdominal wall muscles. The doctor may also use liposuction to remove excess fat.

At the end of the operation, the doctor will usually place small tubes (drainage tubes) in the incisions to help the wound heal faster. The incisions are then closed with absorbable sutures, leaving the drainage tubes in place.

Possible complications:

• Bleeding after surgery. After most operations, there is some pain, so the doctor will prescribe a painkiller for a couple of days. But after a standard abdominoplasty or in case of strengthening the muscles of the abdominal wall, the pain will be quite strong.
• Minor infection in the postoperative wound – very common and treated with antibiotics or subsequent surgery.
• Small scars on the skin that fade over time.
• Swelling under the skin in the lower abdomen caused by accumulation of blood or fluid, in which case the blood or fluid may need to be removed.
• Numbness or persistent pain in the abdomen caused by damage to the nerves of the skin. Such pain usually disappears after a couple of weeks. 

It is difficult to predict exactly what the abdomen will look like after surgery, sometimes after abdominoplasty there is still a small amount of excess skin.

Source: estet-portal.com.