The ideal of female beauty cannot be conceived without a flat stomach and toned skin. A soft abdomen, with sagging and fatty skin is often the result of significant and sudden weight loss, pregnancy or, more simply, a bad lifestyle with physical inactivity and excessive nutrition. The structure of the abdominal area tends to sag a lot and, as a result, the muscles are unable to maintain its weight, visibly failing. The physical trauma produced by pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding can really cause negative effects in women, which can lead to a loss of self-esteem. In such cases, diet or physical activity do not give satisfactory results. For those women who have lost a lot of weight or have a sagging belly due to pregnancy, the only solution to remove excess skin and beautify the abdominal area is cosmetic surgery. Total abdominoplasty includes surgical correction of the sagging and fatty abdomen, removal of excess skin and fat, reconstruction of the navel, plastic surgery and strengthening of the abdominal muscles. In cases where, in addition to abdominoplasty, fat removal is performed by liposculpture, it is called lipo-abdominoplasty, a technique that allows the removal of skin in the abdomen, excess fat in the waist, buttocks or even thighs.
What should we know about the procedure?
- Before the procedure, pre-operative tests are performed (blood count and blood group, coagulation tests, biochemical, viral, pregnancy and urine tests, visit with the cardiologist and ECG, visit with the anesthetist, etc.).
- Starmed applies totally intravenous general anesthesia, which keeps blood pressure low, reduces the risk of bleeding and hematomas, minimizes the risk of nausea and vomiting and, for this type of surgery, is safer and more comfortable for the patient, as well as allowing the surgeon to work in optimal conditions.
- The average duration is about 2 – 4 hours.
- One or two nights of hospitalization in the clinic.
- Mild – moderate and normally tolerable pain.
- Hematomas and edema inside the abdomen that gradually disappear within 15 – 20 days.
- Small scars in the area around the navel and another horizontal one along the pubic area slightly longer than that of a cesarean section, which are usually thin and faded.
- Rapid recovery period, with gradual improvement in the appearance of the abdomen, the result is considered definitive 4 – 6 months after the operation.
Post-operative advice:
- Use of oral antibiotics, usually up to 5 days after surgery.
- Removal of drains 2 – 5 days after surgery.
- Wound dressings every 3 – 4 days with the clinic staff.
- Removal of stitches 10 – 15 days after surgery.
- Avoid forced movements and heavy lifting for two weeks to a month after surgery.
- Do not drive for the first 1 – 2 weeks after surgery.
- An elastic abdominal band is worn for 30 – 40 days.
- Avoid direct exposure to the sun.
- Gradual resumption of physical activity at least 2 months after surgery, according to the advice of Starmed staff.
- Post-operative checks with Starmed staff according to our clinical protocols.