Abdominoplasty can be the solution to achieve a toned, flat and defined abdomen. Having a flat stomach is the aesthetic dream of many people.
Today’s standard of beauty when it comes to the abdomen is the same as that of the Classical Greek period. The “ideal abdomen” depicted in Greek marble sculptures shows a harmonious belly with defined contours and a toned appearance, revealing the outline of the abdominal muscles with precision and finesse.
Achieving a dream abdomen isn’t easy. For many people, it requires a great deal of effort through strict diets, weight control, and frequent, intense toning exercises. However, these methods often fail to deliver the desired results, either because there are fat deposits that do not respond to diet or exercise, or due to factors related to each person’s body type.
The purpose of a tummy tuck is to restore firmness to the abdomen by removing excess skin and fatty tissue, as well as to repair “diastasis”—the separation of the rectus abdominis muscles weakened by pregnancy—and restore the structure and function of these muscles.
The result is a smoother, firmer abdominal contour and a noticeable reduction in waist circumference. Additionally, the curves in that area (waist, hips) are redefined.
Before undergoing abdominoplasty it is advisable that you know the factors that could have influenced the appearance of the belly.
What factors often influence the appearance of a belly?
There are several factors that can influence the appearance of a belly in our body.
– Hereditary factors
– Previous surgeries
– Massive weight loss after surgery to treat obesity
– Significant weight changes
– Aging
– Pregnancy
Let’s focus on pregnancy as a factor that any woman, despite having a worked, toned and strong abdomen, could suffer from.
Changes in the abdomen after childbearing.
Motherhood brings about physical changes that many women would like to correct. During pregnancy, the abdomen experiences skin stretching, increased sagging, and fat accumulation around the waist and on the thighs due to the natural expansion needed to accommodate the baby’s growth.
In many cases, this stretching also affects the abdominal muscles, causing distension and separation of the midline of the rectus abdominis muscles. This natural phenomenon of muscle separation is known as“diastasis recti”and causes an abdominal protrusion— a sort of “pooch” in the mid-abdomen—which can occur even in slim patients with good muscle tone.
In general there are many people with a normal weight who develop that “belly”, they may have that separation of the abdominal muscles, or have excess skin and / or fat at the abdominal level.
Abdominoplasty. What it is and what you should take into account.
Abdominoplasty is a surgical procedure and as such is performed under general anesthesia, in an operating room equipped for this purpose and with the presence of a prepared medical team. The procedure consists of resecting excess skin and fat in the abdominal area to make it look flat, smooth and defined. It is often combined with liposuction (abdomen, flanks, back…), depending on the needs of each patient. The scar is in the lower abdominal area, at pubic level, and is usually not noticeable as it is covered by underwear.
Surgical techniques for abdominoplasty
- Miniabdominoplasty
- Classic abdominoplasty
- Diastasis recti
- Abdominoplasty in “Fleur de Lis” shape
Before and after abdominoplasty surgery before and after pictures
Abdominoplasty. What it is and what you should take into account.
Abdominoplasty is a surgical procedure and as such is performed under general anesthesia, in an operating room equipped for this purpose and with the presence of a prepared medical team. The procedure consists of resecting excess skin and fat in the abdominal area to make it look flat, smooth and defined. It is often combined with liposuction (abdomen, flanks, back…), depending on the needs of each patient. The scar is in the lower abdominal area, at pubic level, and is usually not noticeable as it is covered by underwear.
Surgical techniques for abdominoplasty
Miniabdominoplasty
This technique dries the skin of the lower abdomen, without modifying the position of the navel. It is the simplest and least aggressive surgery, which simply removes the excess tissue in the lower area, and restores smoothness to the abdomen. It is indicated only for cases of abdominal flaccidity or slight flaps. It is common to combine it with diastasis recti repair since many times this flaccidity of the abdominal skin, as well as diastasis recti, go hand in hand and appear secondary to the same process: pregnancy.
Classic abdominoplasty
This surgical technique involves removing a large strip of skin and fat—the “belly.” It is usually necessary to reconstruct the navel; the patient’s own navel is preserved and reattached to the abdominal skin once the procedure is complete. If diastasis recti is present, it must also be repaired. The results are usually impressive, and patients are very grateful for the surgery for several reasons:
o There is a noticeable reduction in abdominal contour and waistline, both subjectively and objectively.
o They regain a flat, defined abdomen.
o The abdominal muscles are realigned and function like a support girdle, which often reduces appetite and improves patients’ posture.
o They can resume activities that were previously difficult for them: physical exercise, sports, etc. Not to mention being able to wear smaller clothing sizes.
Diastasis recti
It is produced by the effect of distension forces that end up separating from the midline of the rectus abdominis muscles. This phenomenon causes an abdominal protrusion, a kind of belly in the mid-abdominal area, which may occur in thin patients with good muscle tone. The correction of this alteration is based on repairing the junction between these two muscles and reconstructing the abdominal muscular system so that it regains its containment effect on the abdominal contents. When this defect is reconstructed, its biomechanical properties are restored to the abdominal wall.
Abdominoplasty in “Fleur de Lis” shape
When there is a severe excess of skin and fat distributed throughout the entire abdomen, it is often necessary to remove fat from both the lower and upper abdomen using a transverse incision across the abdomen and a vertical incision in the upper abdomen. This abdominoplasty is indicated for some patients who have undergone bariatric surgery and experienced significant weight loss, or who have midline laparotomy scars.
Recommendations when having an abdominoplasty.
- Discontinue smoking 2-3 weeks prior to surgery.
- Do not smoke during the first weeks after surgery. Smoking is associated with an increased rate of complications, such as scarring problems.
- Hospital admission usually lasts about 24 hours.
- During the postoperative period, use pressotherapy garments (girdle or body) to reduce the edema caused by the operation. It will also improve and accelerate healing and recovery.
- You will return to normal activity after 7-14 days.
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