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Candidates: Women
or men with an abdomen out of proportion with the rest of their body due to either
an excess of skin and fat in this area. Or due to abdominal muscles that have been
separated and weakened, specifically seen in some women after pregnancy.
Objective: To improve the shape of the abdomen by removing excess fat and
skin and tightening the abdominal wall muscles.
Incisions: A horizontal incision is made just above the pubic area, and extends
laterally toward the pelvic bones. The length of the scar depends on the amount
of skin that needs to be removed and usually the incision can be placed within the
lines of the bathing suit. When there is a small amount of loose skin and the fat
deposits are concentrated below the navel, a much shorter horizontal incision will
be sufficient. This is called a mini-abdominoplasty. When there is loose skin above
the umbilicus a second incision is made around the navel freeing it from the abdominal
skin, the excess skin is then pulled down and the navel re positioned, thus the
final position of the navel remains the same.
Operating Time: 2 to 4 hours.
Anesthesia: General anesthesia is needed when the muscle wall needs tightening
otherwise local anesthesia with sedation is administered.
Hospital Stay/Outpatient: A minimum 24-hour stay is advised with a full abdominoplasty
(especially if combined with another procedure). A mini abdominoplasty can be performed
on an outpatient basis although an overnight stay is advised.
Recovery period: Temporary pain is treated with analgesics. Swelling, tenderness,
numbness of abdominal skin, bruising, and tiredness, some, or all of these can last
up to several weeks. Small drains, removed after a few days, are used to help avoid
the accumulation of fluids in the abdominal wall. Dressings are applied and will
be changed every other day for the first two weeks. You may be required to wear
a girdle for 20 to 30 days. Stitches will be removed in stages over a period of
one or two weeks.
Possible Complications: Collection of liquid under the flap. Blood clots.
Infection. Bleeding under the skin flap. Reactions to anesthesia. Delayed healing.
Poor healing resulting in visible scarring or skin loss. Need for a second operation.
Possibility of wide scars (keloids) in patients with a tendency. Any one of these
complications could occur and every precaution is taken to minimize the possibility.
Recovery Time: Back to work: in 2 to 3 weeks. Strenuous exercising and sunbathing
in 4 to 6 weeks or more. Fading and flattening of the scar: occurs after 3 months
and sometimes up to 2 years.
Details: Any plan to become pregnant or lose weight in the future, should
be discussed before the operation. The scar placement and quality from previous
abdominal surgery may limit the results of your abdominoplasty. There may be an
improvement in the number of stretch marks, especially those located below the navel,
as the skin of the lower abdomen that contains the stretch marks will be removed.
Sometimes liposuction may be used alone to remove abdominal fat, or in conjunction
with an abdominoplasty procedure.
How long will the results last? The abdomen should remain firm and flat for
many years, unless you gain a lot of weight or become pregnant. However, over the
years, with the pull of gravity and natural aging process, a second abdominoplasty
may be needed to improve the body contour. |
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