WHAT IS THE ABDOMINOPLASTY?
Abdominoplasty is a surgical procedure used to remove excess skin and fatty tissue of the abdomen and to affirm the abdominal wall muscles. Abdominoplasty is not a surgical treatment for overweight people. The obese individual who wants to lose weight should postpone all forms of surgery designed to shape the contours of the body until they are able to maintain their weight.
Alternative forms of management of this condition consist of not treating the areas of loose skin and fat deposits. Liposuction can be a surgical alternative to abdominoplasty if you have good skin elasticity and localized abdominal fatty deposits when the individual is of normal weight. The diet and exercise regimens may be beneficial in the overall reduction of excess fat.
Protruding abdomen as a result of weak abdominal muscles (due to pregnancy, aging, obesity), stretched skin and excess fat, causes dissatisfaction daily in thousands of people. This condition does not respond well to diet and exercise as the skin and underlying muscles are stretched or separated.
Surgical Technique:
Complete abdominoplasty usually takes 2-4 hours, depending on the extent of the work. During the procedure:
There are several surgical techniques; they may vary depending on the surgeon and the particular case. The most frequently used consists of a transverse incision along the lower abdomen from hip to hip just above the pubic area (when necessary perform a vertical incision from the pubis to sternum or circumferential incision is made, if necessary. These techniques will be discussed previously. A second incision is made around the navel to free it from sagging skin and keep it in place. Then the layers of skin and fatty tissue are separated or lifted of the abdominal wall.
The next step is to strengthen and raise the abdominal muscles toward the midline. This maneuver flattens the abdomen and better defines the waist.
Subsequently, the skin is pulled inferiorly and removes excess or surplus, leaving the skin carving. In this step, the surgeon makes a small opening on the skin to exteriorize the umbilicus that has always remained in place. Finally, the wounds are sutured; drainage tubes are placed under the skin to drain any excess fluid from the surgical site. The drains are exteriorized in the region of pubic hair through tiny holes, and removed about a week after surgery, and an elastic band is placed around the abdomen, which should be used for 4 weeks. Micropore ® should be used for no rubbing or friction points directly to the wound with dressing while protecting the wound.
Indications and contraindications:
Abdominoplasty or tummy tuck, is an abdominal surgery in which you can reduce protruding abdomen, carving the skin stretched and flabby muscles. It is not a treatment for obesity or a substitute for weight loss. It is indicated in those who fail to correct their defects with diet and exercise, particularly when the skin and muscles have been stretched as in multiple pregnancies or large weight increases and decreases. Patients with a weight within normal limits, but flabby abdominal muscles, excess skin and fat are the best candidates for this operation. The loss of elasticity of the skin that occurs in people over 45 years with mild obesity is another condition that can be improved by this operation.
Remember that this is not a substitute for weight reduction or a treatment for generalized obesity. The best candidates are those with a weight within normal limits with flabby abdominal muscles and stretched or excess skin, who do not improve with diet and exercise. Liposuction or suction of fat in these cases is not an option, since in this case the fat is removed, but it increases the sagging of the skin, resulting in poor results.
Abdominal lipectomy or abdominoplasty is an operation with very good results and of great benefit when it is done under precise indications that these results are very durable, virtually for life, provided that the person does not incur in drastic changes in weight or pregnancy after the operation.
Risks:
The decision to have tummy tuck surgery is very personal and you’ll have to decide if the benefits meet your goals and if the risks and potential complications are acceptable. Your plastic surgeon and / or staff will explain in detail the risks associated with surgery. You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure you will undergo and the risks and potential complications.
Risks include:
- Scars unfavorable
- Bleeding (hematoma)
- Infection
- Accumulation of fluid
- Poor wound healing
- Loss of skin
- Blood clots
- Numbness or other changes in skin sensitivity
- Risks of anesthesia
- Skin discoloration and / or prolonged swelling
- Fatty tissue found deep in the skin might die (fat necrosis)
- Major wound separation (dehiscence)
- Asymmetry
- The recurrent looseness of skin
- Pain, which may persist
- Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
Persistent swelling in the legs - Nerve damage
- Possibility of revision surgery
- Suboptimal aesthetic results