A flat and toned stomach is what most of us dream of and put in serious effort, like intensive exercises and special diets, to achieve. However, sometimes these efforts are not enough. We discuss the abdominoplasty procedure, which can achieve the desired flatter and more toned abdominal profile, with a medical coordinator at Medical Karadži Health Information Center.
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What is an abdominoplasty?
Abdominoplasty is a surgical procedure used to correct a protruding and sagging abdomen. If the cause of the condition is the concentration of fatty tissue in the abdominal area, only liposuction is performed. When there is excess loose skin, it is surgically removed. Abdominoplasty can also correct weakened or separated abdominal muscles, a condition called diastasis, which often occurs after pregnancy.
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Why is abdominoplasty performed?
There are a number of reasons for excess fat, poor skin elasticity, or weakened connective tissue in the abdomen, such as significant weight changes, pregnancy, abdominal surgery like a C-section, aging, or natural body type. A tummy tuck can remove loose, excess skin and fat, and tighten weak fascia. A tummy tuck can also remove stretch marks and excess skin in the lower abdomen below the belly button.
However, abdominoplasty is not for everyone. A plastic surgeon may not recommend the procedure for you if:
- You plan to lose a significant amount of weight.
- Are you considering any future pregnancies?
- You have a serious chronic illness, such as heart disease or diabetes.
- You have a body mass index that is greater than 30
- You have had a previous abdominal surgery that caused a significant scar.
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What are the types of tummy tucks?
For patients with significant sagging of the abdominal skin, a full abdominoplasty is performed – excess skin is removed from the entire anterior abdominal wall, liposuction is performed if necessary, abdominal muscles are tightened, and the shape and position of the navel are changed. A mini abdominoplasty is a type of method for tightening the lower part of the abdomen. Excess skin, fat, and stretch marks are removed without changing the position and shape of the navel, using a smaller incision compared to a full abdominoplasty. Recovery from this procedure is very fast.
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Abdominoplasty is performed through a surgical procedure.
During an abdominoplasty, the plastic surgeon makes incisions to remove most of the skin and fat between the belly button and the pubic hairline in a horizontal, oval, or elliptical shape. The connective tissue (fascia) that lies over the abdominal muscles is then tightened with permanent sutures. The amount of excess skin removed and the type of abdominoplasty will determine the shape and length of the incision. With a full tummy tuck, the position of the skin around the belly button will also be changed. It will be removed through a small incision and sutured into its normal position. The incision along the pubic hairline will also be sutured and will leave a scar that falls within the natural bikini line crease.
