Abdominoplasty
Abdominoplasty
Complete Abdominoplasty
A complete (or full) abdominoplasty involves:
- An incision is made from hip to hip just above the pubic area.
- Another incision is made to free the navel from the surrounding skin.
- The skin is detached from the abdominal wall to reveal the muscles and fascia to be tightened. The muscle fascia wall is tightened with sutures.
- The remaining skin and fat are tightened by removing the excess and closing the defect.
- The old belly button stalk is brought out through a new hole and sutured into place.
- Liposuction is often used to refine the transition zones of the abdominal sculpture.
- A dressing and sometime a compression garment are applied and any excess fluid from the site is drained.
Partial Abdominoplasty
A partial (or mini) abdominoplasty involves:
- A smaller incision is made.
- The skin and fat of the lower abdomen are detached in a more limited fashion from the muscle fascia. The skin is stretched down and excess skin removed.
- Sometimes the belly button stalk is divided from the muscle below and the belly button slid down lower on the abdominal wall.
- Sometimes a portion of the abdominal muscle fascia wall is tightened.
- Liposuction is often used to contour the transition zone.
Recovery
- Depends on the problem to be treated, surgical technique(s), and other factors. Can take one to four weeks and patients are advised to take at least a portion of this recovery time off from work.
- Heavy activity especially is best avoided during this time.
- Initially there may be bruising and discomfort.
- A supportive abdominal binder or compression garment can minimize swelling / bruising, and support the repaired tissues.
- Patients are advised to avoid all forms of nicotine for a month or longer prior to surgery and also during the recovery period.
- Full recovery takes 3 - 6 months, with further fading of scars thereafter.