Abdominoplasty is intended to remove the excess skin and fat from the lower abdomen, appeared as result of a considerable loss of weight or after giving birth. This surgery is not a method of losing weight for the obese patient.
The surgery reshapes the body through the modification of the abdomen shape, improving the profile and the silhouette. At the same time they can be also corrected the possible defects of the abdominal wall (hernia, ovulations). Sometimes, in order to obtain the desired result, abdominoplasty can be combined with lipoaspiration,

surgery that is performed some months later. For this type of surgery, the selection of patients is very important. They should be healthy (free of associated chronic, cardiovascular, lung or kidney diseases, and also informed about the possibility of some secondary surgery.

Two weeks before the surgery, the treatment with aspirin or other inflammatory medicines should be stopped, in order to avoid the excessive bleeding. If the patient follows a treatment against hypertension, the anesthetist should be informed in time. The diet of the patient is very important; the patients keeping a weight reduction diet do not heal well. The fish oil can influence the activity of thrombocytes. Before surgery, the sunburns or any other lesion of the skin should be avoided, because they can represent a potential site of infection. Smoking should be interrupted two weeks before the surgery. The patient is hospitalized a day before or in the day of the surgery so that he/she can be suitable prepared.

The surgery is performed under general anesthesia and consists in the following phases: the incision of the skin in W shape modified at the level of the lower abdominal fold; the abdominal skin together with the fat tissue are raised from the abdominal muscles until the ribs; the navel is released from the skin and the abdominal fat; the muscular wall is remade if it was stretched or destroyed. The skin and fat excess are resected and the wounds are approximated with hidden sutures with dissolvable stitch. For the skin, undissolvable interrupted stitch is used. The navel is sutured in order to come back to the usual position. If the skin excess is important, especially in the side areas of the abdomen it can be required a vertical incision running from the navel to the superpubian line. In order to give a youthful appearance the medial area is deepened through superficial liposuction.

Because of the very large detachment, for hematoma prevention two drains should be inserted for a couple of days. The post-operative scar is slightly visible.

Post-operative, the patient should stay with the thighs in slight flexion in order to relax the scar. For 5 days they should be administered antibiotics and anticoagulants; a supportive abdominal binder is recommended for 6 weeks to prevent the formation of hematoma, seroma, especially if the patient has nausea, vomiting and cough. For the solving of bruising and of small irregularities can be used an ultrasound treatment for 2-3 weeks or the endermology methods by means of the apparatus Cellu M6.

The patient can leave the bed 24 hours after the surgery when are also removed the drain tubes. The operated area should be protected by a simple bandage for 6-10 days.

The daily activity can be resumed immediately after the hospital leaving, being avoided the intense physical activities. It is also imposed a healthy diet. The post-operative complications are rare.

Abdominoplasty determines an improving of the patient appearance who feels “in a good shape” and becomes full of confidence.



Esthetic surgery

Autologous fat transfer

What is autologous fat transfer? Fat transfer is also referred to as fat reintroduction,…

Plastic surgery

Ectropion

Ectropion (ect = outside, and trope = return) is a static palpebral disorder and…

Plastic surgery

Severe eyelid ptosis

Blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery is the surgical procedure to remove access to skin, fat…