Abdominoplasty

Abdominoplasty or dermolipectomy is a surgical procedure whose purpose is to remove excess skin and fatty tissue from the lower and middle abdomen, in order to achieve a tight, flat, firm abdomen without excess skin.

The skin of the abdomen loses elasticity and the muscles of the abdominal wall lose tone with the passage of time, weight changes and pregnancies.

Abdominoplasty is usually associated with liposuction of the upper abdomen or hip area as well as a plication or tightening of the abdominal muscles to optimize the aesthetic result.

The ideal candidates for abdominoplasty are those patients who, being more or less in their weight, suffer from a bulging abdomen that is not very firm, with excess skin accumulation that does not improve in spite of physical exercise or adequate diet. Patients who are obviously overweight should diet and stabilize their weight before surgery and patients who plan to have more pregnancies should postpone it until they have decided not to have more children.

It is important that during the first visit you tell us if you have any major illness, if you take medication such as aspirin ® or sintrom ® or if you are a smoker. Patients who smoke should stop smoking several weeks before undergoing this surgery, because it delays the healing process and scarring is worse.

Abdominoplasty is performed in the operating room under general anesthesia or spinal anesthesia. The procedure usually lasts between 2-3 hours (if it is a mini-dermolipectomy the duration is around 1.5 hours). The incision is made from one hip to the other and is intended to be hidden under the underwear or bikini. We make another small incision around the navel to bring it to the new position. We proceed to separate the skin and fatty tissue from the abdominal muscles which are tightened with a permanent suture. Next, we see how much we have to remove and place the navel in the new position. We use intradermal sutures for the skin and place a couple of drains and a tight bandage.

Patients remain in the hospital for 24-48 hours, although they start walking the day after surgery to minimize the risk of thrombosis. The drains are removed after 48-72 hours and the stitches after three weeks. They will have to wear a tight elastic garment or girdle for a month to reduce the swelling of the abdominal area.

After the abdominoplasty procedure, patients return to work after 2-3 weeks and should avoid intense physical exercise during the first month and a half.

The scars remain red and hard for the first six months, after which they begin to improve. However, we use a series of patches and silicone creams that improve and accelerate the healing process from the time we remove the sutures.

Possible complications, although rare, include skin necrosis in the area above the pubis, seromas and hematomas that will require a longer postoperative period and possible evacuation or reoperation.

The intervention can be definitive if the patient takes care of himself and follows a balanced diet and a routine physical exercise that, besides being healthy, guarantees the longevity of the surgery and the patient.

Abdominoplasty scars will be hidden in the bikini or underwear area. You should be aware that they may take at least 9 months to lighten and flatten.