Who are the people who will benefit from abdominoplasty ? Men and women who have sagging abdominal skin that does not respond to diet and exercise but have smooth body contours are candidates for this surgery. This surgery is especially beneficial for women who have given birth several times, have cracks and sagging abdominal skin, and have weakened abdominal muscles. Patients who intend to lose weight should postpone this surgery. It is also useful for women who intend to give birth to postpone this surgery until after birth. An abdominoplasty surgery will improve your appearance and self-confidence, but it will not give you a completely ideal appearance or eliminate other problems that require treatment. Before deciding on surgery, you need to think well about your expectations and discuss them with your surgeon.
How to Prepare Before Surgery?
During this period, your surgeon will have some demands from you. Especially if you smoke, you should stop smoking 4 weeks before and 2 weeks after the operation. You should not stay in the sun too much during this period. If you are using vitamin E and aspirin, take a break and avoid heavy diet regimes before surgery. A cold or other infection may cause your operation to be postponed.
What is Abdominoplasty (Abdominoplasty) Surgery?
Abdominoplasty is a surgical intervention in which excess fat and sagging skin tissue in the middle and lower abdomen are removed and the abdominal muscles are stretched and strengthened; it is not a treatment for obesity. Fat people should lose the amount of weight they can lose before this surgery. With this surgery, the appearance of fat belly and abdomen is dramatically improved; however, the scar due to surgery is permanent. There are many techniques used by plastic surgeons for abdominoplasty. Abdominoplasty can be performed together with surgeries for body contour correction (aesthetic breast surgeries, liposuction, etc.) or with some other surgeries (uterus, ovarian surgeries, etc.). If you are considering an abdominoplasty surgery, this article will give you information, you may not find answers to all your questions here.
How to Plan an Operation?
During your first examination, your surgeon will learn about your general health condition, the amount and distribution of fat in the abdominal area, sagging and excessive abdominal skin and skin quality. During this examination, you should give the doctor accurate and detailed information about the diseases you have had, your current health problems (diabetes, etc.), your habits (smoking, drinking, etc.) and the medications you use (aspirin, sedatives, etc.). Another issue that you should tell your doctor during this examination is why you want this surgery and what you expect from this surgery. Do not avoid discussing this subject openly. As a result of your expectations and examination findings, you may be a suitable patient for full or partial abdominoplasty alone or in combination with liposuction, or liposuction alone is sufficient for you. During this examination, the type of anaesthesia, the number of days you will be in hospital and possible postoperative problems should be discussed.
Full abdominoplasty can take 2-5 hours, partial abdominoplasty 1-2 hours, depending on the extent of the operation. It is often necessary to make an incision line extending from one buttock to the opposite buttock, which can be hidden in a swimsuit, and a second round incision around the navel. In partial abdominoplasty, the incision line is shorter and the umbilicus may not be moved. During the operation, the abdominal skin is released from the muscles underneath from the groin to the ribs. If there is a weakness or hernia in the abdominal muscles, this area is reinforced and excess skin is cut away from the body. These procedures are more limited in mini-abdominoplasty. After the operation, the wound is closed with either metal clamps or single or hidden (intradermic) sutures and covered with dressings. One or two tubes called drains can be placed under the skin to absorb excess fluid that will accumulate in the area.
What are the Risks of Abdominoplasty?
Hundreds of abdominoplasty operations are performed every year. When performed by a plastic surgeon who also specialises in body contour correction, the result is usually satisfactory. Every surgical procedure has a certain amount of risk and it is important that you understand the risks associated with abdominoplasty. A comparison of the risks and benefits of surgery is the basis for a person’s acceptance of the surgical procedure. Even if most women or men do not encounter the following complications, you should discuss the risks, possible complications and consequences with your plastic surgeon until you are sure you understand them. Complications such as infection and bleeding are rare in this surgery, which is performed by a plastic surgeon under good preoperative examination and evaluation and appropriate hospital conditions. Infection is treated with antibiotics and drainage of the abscess if an abscess has formed, but may prolong hospitalisation. Delayed wound healing or poor wound healing may occur and may result in scarring. A second operation may be required under these conditions. Skin loss and complications in wound healing are more common in smokers.
