Posted by Dr. Miguel Fernández Calderón: 20/12/2022
Abdominoplasty is ideal surgery for people who have lost weight suddenly, or for women whose abdomen is left sagging after pregnancy. Although it is fairly popular, it is still not as well known as liposuction. That means there are a lot of false claims surrounding it, so today at Sculpture Clinic we are going to tell you about some myths and facts about abdominoplasty.
What is abdominoplasty?
Abdominoplasty is cosmetic surgery that corrects imperfections in the abdominal area, such as excess fat, excess skin or tension or damage in the abdominal muscles. Normally, these arise after sudden weight loss or after going through a pregnancy.
It should be made clear that abdominoplasty, although it uses some liposuction techniques, is not a lipo. It is a different procedure.
This surgery is recommended for people with natural abdominal sagging, for women whose abdominal muscles have relaxed after pregnancy and whose skin has not gone back into place. Also for those who have lost weight suddenly, leaving excess skin.
Other requirements for being a candidate for an abdominoplasty are:
- Being in good health.
- Having sagging in the abdominal area that cannot be solved with either exercise or diet.
- Being clear about the results you want and having realistic expectations
The people who are not suitable for this surgery are those with conditions that could get worse after surgery. Nor is it recommended to have this surgery if the patient is thinking of becoming pregnant in the future, since the results will be lost.
Bear in mind that after an assessment it will be your doctor who determines whether or not you are suitable for an abdominoplasty.
Myths and facts about abdominoplasty
Although abdominoplasty has become popular over time, there is still a certain lack of knowledge around it. That generates false claims and myths that get reinforced as they pass from mouth to mouth. That is why we recommend doing your research before undergoing any plastic surgery.
The most common myths and facts about abdominoplasty are:
It tackles being overweight
One of the most common myths is that abdominoplasty is used to remove abdominal fat from someone with obesity. So many people believe that you can have an abdominoplasty while overweight, but you cannot.
The doctor often tells the patient to lose weight before undergoing this process. As we mentioned earlier, this procedure is for people who are close to their ideal weight but who still have sagging skin and weakened muscles
You lose your navel after the operation
This is completely false; although a large amount of excess skin is removed, the surgeon will always aim to position the navel on the abdomen, making sure it looks as natural as possible.
The procedure removes all stretch marks
There is a little truth in this: when you go through a pregnancy or are overweight it is normal for stretch marks to form in the abdominal area because the skin stretches.
When an abdominoplasty is done, a lot of the stretch-marked skin is stretched and removed. So a lot of it may disappear, but removing it completely is not the surgeon’s priority.
You will need to be hospitalised
This is true: after undergoing this procedure the patient will have to stay in hospital for 1 to 3 days depending on the scale of the surgery. This is to monitor the patient in case of any complication.
You cannot have an abdominoplasty after a caesarean section
This is completely false; the patients who most often have abdominoplasties are women who have given birth. A caesarean section will not be any obstacle to the procedure.
Although you do need to wait 8 to 10 months after giving birth to have an abdominoplasty, which also debunks the myth that you can have one immediately after giving birth.
The extracted fat can be used and placed in the buttocks
This is false, since fat transfer can only be carried out when the fat is extracted by liposuction. The fat also has to be treated before being returned to the body.
You will have scars for ever
This is part myth and part truth: like all cosmetic surgery, abdominoplasty leaves scars, but this does not have to be a problem, since the surgeon aims to position the incisions strategically so that once healed they can be hidden under underwear or a bikini. It should also be stressed that over time the scars flatten and fade.
How is an abdominoplasty performed?
The first step of the procedure is the anaesthetic; normally a general anaesthetic is administered. Although in some cases an epidural is used, the anaesthetist will choose the anaesthetic that suits you best.
The surgeon will then start making incisions in the abdominal area; the size and position will depend a great deal on the amount of skin and the procedure being carried out. For example, in a partial abdominoplasty the surgeon will make few incisions and short ones. In either case they will be made in strategic places so that they are easy to hide afterwards.
Next, the surgeon separates the skin of the abdomen upwards as far as the ribs in order to expose the abdominal muscles. They will go on to tighten the muscles and join them in the middle, since obesity or pregnancy tends to separate them. This will give the patient a firmer abdomen and a narrower waist.
Once that is done, the separated skin is stretched down to the pubis, the skin left over is removed and then the navel is positioned so that it looks natural. Finally, it is sutured, a drainage tube is placed and it is dressed.
Today we have talked to you about myths and facts about abdominoplasty to inform you about this effective surgery and encourage you to consider having one. If you need an abdominoplasty in Madrid, get in touch with us.
