Abdominoplasty

The most common profile for someone seeking an abdominoplasty is a mother with a bulging abdomen that has no interest in future child bearing. The other source for potential candidates is either a female or male with a history of substantial weight loss resulting in considerable abdominal wall laxity. Both conditions usually cause three soft tissue deformities in the abdominal zone. First, the rectus abdominis muscles, commonly referred to as the “abs” in lay terms, become separated leaving a gap in between. Second, skin is stretched beyond its elastic limits and is often scarred with “stretch marks”. Finally, varying amounts of excess fat is distributed in varying ways on the abdominal wall.

Abdominoplasties convert flabby abdomens into firmer ones with smaller waistlines because they target the three factors mentioned in the foregoing paragraph. The separated “abs” are brought back together tightening the abdominal floor and frequently reducing the waistline by several inches. A great deal of the excess skin is removed. In the usual case, almost all of the skin that can be grasped between your fingers and thumbs in your lower abdomen while sitting is typically removed. Finally, the majority of the fat in the lower abdomen is removed along with the overlying skin. Limited liposuction is also performed for certain parts of the abdominal wall as a part of the procedure. It should be noted that some parts of the abdomen cannot be safely liposuctioned without risking substantial healing problems. These areas will be mentioned during the consultation. Additional liposuction for other body parts can be scheduled at the same time as the abdominoplasty, e.g. flank and hip areas, but this is performed at extra cost when requested.

Abdominoplasty is not the only option for bulging bellies. Sometimes a simple liposuction or a “modified abdominoplasty” will achieve patient expectations. Hence, a consultation is necessary to demonstrate the problems at hand and the desired goals before possible solutions can be adequately explored.

Results Gallery

Recovery for an abdominoplasty varies according to the individual, but generally most people take about 3 weeks off from work. However, full or nearly full recovery for the operation can take as long as 6-8 weeks.