Publicado por Dr. Miguel Fernández Calderón: 16/12/2022
Abdominal surgery can give patients their confidence back by allowing them to have a slimmer figure, without excess skin and fat. But it is not only about physical changes; below, we describe the benefits of an abdominoplasty. These are the reasons why this surgery has become so popular.
What does an abdominoplasty correct?
Abdominoplasty is cosmetic surgery performed to remove excess skin and fat from the abdomen. It also tightens the muscles in this area and, as a result, the patient will have a flatter, firmer abdomen.
The abdomen is one of the areas where fat accumulates most and where the skin suffers most from weight changes. Although diet and exercise make it possible to remove this excess, sometimes there is a percentage we cannot shift. There may also be a lot of loose skin with no elasticity.
It is in these cases that abdominoplasty emerges as an alternative for achieving the body you want.
The abdominoplasty process is carried out with an abdominal incision, positioned so that the scar is hidden by underwear.
Through this cut, the surgeon removes the excess fatty tissue and skin, and repairs the muscles. This is how the patient achieves a firmer, slimmer abdomen.
Benefits of abdominoplasty: aesthetic and emotional
Having an abdominoplasty in Madrid is sometimes the only way to remove the excess tissue from the abdominal area. The physical change it produces is striking; the person can regain their self-confidence, and even gain self-esteem they had never had before.
The benefits of an abdominoplasty are many. Below, we set out some of them.
Increased confidence and self-esteem
A sagging abdomen, where the skin looks loose, can affect a person’s self-esteem. Especially when the patient has tried by other means to improve their figure. That is why one of the most noticeable changes is seeing how their self-confidence improves.
During the procedure, the surgeon can define the muscles through high-definition liposuction. With this they will give the patient a more athletic body.
Improved body contour and athletic appearance
When people with obesity lose a considerable amount of weight very quickly, excess skin is left that will not go away with exercise. The same happens with women who have been pregnant.
This is where the discomfort caused by hanging skin arises, not only aesthetically; it also makes personal hygiene difficult in the folds that form. An abdominoplasty takes care of this problem.
With an abdominoplasty the abdominal area is flattened, the figure is shaped and firmness is restored to the abdominal muscles. This operation is often combined with liposuction to optimise the results.
Through abdominal surgery, the surgeon will restore the tension the muscles have lost. Thanks to this, the abdomen will be strengthened, but its appearance can also be improved through options such as HD lipo, which achieves the six pack look some patients are after.
Functional health benefits of abdominoplasty
Besides the aesthetic benefits, abdominoplasty has functional benefits for patients, among them:
Relief from back pain and improved posture
The results go beyond what you can see. When the excess abdominal skin is removed, the person may notice that their back pain decreases, because the strain that was there is being taken away.
The extra weight caused by the skin and fat causes lower back pain and affects the patient’s posture. Removing it through an abdominoplasty reduces the load and strengthens the muscles. Which results in better posture.
Reduction of conditions associated with fat
Excess fat can lead to health problems. So abdominal surgery emerges as an option for preventing conditions associated with it. Some examples are high cholesterol and diabetes.
Bear in mind that this type of surgery is not only performed for aesthetic reasons, but for health ones too. So it means a big change for people.
Reduction of stress urinary incontinence
Although abdominoplasty is not surgery for treating urinary incontinence, in some cases it can have an indirect effect in women who have involuntary stress-related urine loss (from coughing, sneezing, laughing or exercising). This is because the surgery can improve the pressure of the abdominal muscles and so support the pelvic organs.
In other words, the correction of the abdominal wall achieved with an abdominoplasty can improve support for the bladder and reduce the symptoms of stress urinary incontinence in some patients. But bear in mind that it is not surgery that addresses the underlying causes of this problem, which are more associated with the pelvic floor muscles or sphincter problems.
Correction or prevention of abdominal hernias
A ventral or abdominal hernia forms when the intestine or abdominal tissue passes through the abdominal wall and creates a kind of pouch or sac in this area. It can develop for various reasons, such as abdominal weakness from significant weight loss, a caesarean section and others.
Abdominoplasty corrects the hernia by working on the weakened muscles in the area and reduces the pressure on the skin.
Functional impact and additional wellbeing
Besides the physical, emotional and health benefits, abdominoplasty brings functional benefits and other forms of wellbeing for patients. Among them:
Easier exercise and healthier habits
After an abdominoplasty, you may even feel more motivated to change your lifestyle. Exercising will be easier because you are not carrying the weight of the excess skin and fat.
Greater comfort and personal hygiene once skin folds are removed
The main purpose of abdominoplasty is to remove excess skin; by doing so you will not have folds left over on the abdomen and hygiene in the area will be easier; on top of that, you will have greater comfort and confidence when getting dressed.
Considerations and risks
An abdominoplasty is considered safe and effective surgery, especially if you choose an experienced team of surgeons like ours. But as with any other surgery, there are certain risks, some minor, others more complicated, among them:
- Pain.
- A long recovery time.
- A negative reaction to the anaesthetic.
- Bleeding.
- Cardiac and pulmonary complications.
- Thrombosis.
- Fluid build-up.
- Prolonged swelling.
- Skin discolouration.
- Infections.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the effect of an abdominoplasty last?
The definitive results of an abdominoplasty are seen around six months after surgery. And they will last over time as long as the patient follows the surgeon’s recommendations.
If for some reason the patient gains weight again, the skin will stretch and look loose. The muscles will also lose firmness. They will therefore see a setback in the results that had been achieved.
Because of this, it is recommended to follow a healthy lifestyle, with a balanced diet and physical activity. As well as, in the case of women, avoiding pregnancy after this type of surgery.
Age, on the other hand, can cause a little elasticity to be lost. However, by following the recommendations, the change will not be excessive.
Can I lose weight with an abdominoplasty?
Abdominoplasty is not cosmetic surgery for losing weight, and neither is liposuction. However, it is possible to reduce it thanks to the excess tissue being removed. The kilos lost depend on the amount of skin and fat removed.
In addition, after the operation the patient may go down one or two dress sizes.
Ideally, a patient about to undergo abdominal surgery should lose enough weight before the operation. If they have the abdominoplasty and then keep losing weight, they will accumulate excess tissue again.
Through the surgeon’s assessment it can be determined whether the patient is ready for the operation or whether they need to lose more weight.
Is an abdominoplasty painful?
It is major surgery and requires at least two days of recovery. The first and second weeks are the most painful, because your body is healing. The surgeon will prescribe medication for this.
These benefits of an abdominoplasty will help you weigh up whether it is the surgery you are looking for. If you want to know more about this operation, do not hesitate to contact us.
