Publicado por Dr. Miguel Fernández Calderón: 09/01/2023
Today we answer one of the most frequently asked questions about abdominal surgery. It is who is a good candidate for an abdominoplasty. The patient has to meet certain criteria to undergo this procedure and the surgeon will help them understand which requirements they need to fulfil.
What should you consider before an abdominoplasty?
Abdominoplasty surgery is a fairly popular procedure performed to restore firmness to the abdomen and improve body contour. Patients who undergo this procedure have excess fat and sagging skin around the waist.
This generally happens because of drastic weight loss and after pregnancy, but there are other reasons why it can arise. It is possible, for example, that the patient has a genetic predisposition causing fat to accumulate in the abdomen. Or that the muscles become more lax with ageing.
In any case it is important that the professional you turn to knows your medical history. When you choose the best abdominoplasty surgeon in Madrid, they will ask you to have a series of medical tests before the operation. These include blood tests, electrocardiograms and chest X-rays, among others.
The reason is that they need to know the state of your health in order to determine whether you are suitable for surgery.
In addition, the patient must give information about their habits, such as tobacco or alcohol consumption.
Abdominoplasty is surgery that requires planning and sometimes it is better to wait a while before having it. Someone who wants to keep losing weight after the operation should not have abdominal surgery yet. The same goes for women who want to become pregnant.
Talk to your surgeon and be clear about what your goals are, and together you will decide whether it is the right time to have the abdominoplasty.
The best candidate for an abdominoplasty is someone who is close to their ideal weight.
Who is a good candidate for an abdominoplasty?
Among the characteristics of a good candidate for abdominoplasty, one stands out: the patient must be close to their ideal weight. Some people think this is a treatment for losing weight, but it is not.
While some weight will be lost by removing the excess fat and skin, it is not a specific treatment for that. So the patient must first reach the weight they are aiming for before considering an abdominoplasty. There are other specific procedures for losing weight, such as bariatric surgery.
A good patient is in good general health, since this is what makes it safe surgery. It is also key to the success of the procedure.
The physical change produced by an abdominoplasty is considerable. That is why it is important that the patient commits to maintaining the results in the future. Which includes eating healthily, exercising and following the surgeon’s instructions.
Characteristics of patients for an abdominoplasty
We have already mentioned some of the criteria considered when performing an abdominoplasty. Below, we mention other characteristics of candidates for abdominoplasty.
- Men and women who accumulate fat and loose skin around the abdomen. If the tissue does not go away with diet or exercise, abdominoplasty is an alternative for achieving the silhouette they are after.
- Women with multiple pregnancies or whose weight gain during gestation was very drastic. During this stage the skin stretches and becomes lax, and the rectus muscles separate. They often do not recover their original figure after pregnancy and abdominal surgery can help them achieve it.
- With ageing the skin loses elasticity and tends to hang in some parts of the body. This is noticeable around the abdomen, where the muscles also begin to lose firmness. Surgery makes it possible to solve both problems and so recover the figure.
When you have any surgery, whether an abdominoplasty or a bichectomy in Madrid, you have to adapt your lifestyle to maintain the results.
How do you know whether the surgery will be effective?
If you have an abdominoplasty in mind, explain to the surgeon what your goals are. Based on the state of your health and your lifestyle, they will tell you whether the operation is viable.
The surgeon will make a full assessment of your situation to determine the procedure to follow. For example, whether it needs to be combined with liposuction to shape the figure.
There are also different types of abdominoplasty that are used according to the patient’s situation. A mini abdominoplasty may be enough, or the area to be treated may need to be larger and take in the back.
Make sure you choose a good surgeon, one who is certified and has experience in this type of operation. You should also follow the instructions they give you, since all the recommendations are aimed at looking after the results of the operation and looking after your health.
The definitive results of an abdominoplasty can take a few months to show. And during that time it is important that you follow the doctor’s instructions. Which includes wearing the compression garment and avoiding tobacco and alcohol, among others.
Likewise, consider what your plans are after the operation. If you have an abdominoplasty but do not lead a healthy lifestyle, the results will not last over time. On the contrary, you can gain weight and the skin will stretch again and the muscles weaken.
A pregnancy after an abdominoplasty will have that same effect.
In the same way, if your plan is to carry on losing weight, you will end up with excess skin again and will lose the results.
What should you avoid before an abdominoplasty?
The care you take before surgery also affects the results and your health in general. The surgeon will give you precise instructions so that you can prepare for the operation. Among the things you need to do are:
- Avoid weight fluctuations during the six months before surgery. Try to keep a stable weight.
- Do not smoke for at least two weeks before the procedure, because tobacco can interfere with recovery.
- Tell the surgeon about the medication you take. If any of it affects blood clotting, you will need to stop taking it around ten days beforehand. The surgeon and your GP may need to talk to each other to assess the options.
Confirm with your surgeon who is a good candidate for an abdominoplasty and whether you fall into this category. That way you can start getting ready to undergo this operation if you want to achieve your ideal figure.
