Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck)

Abdominoplasty is one of the most commonly performed aesthetic procedures. This cosmetic surgery is performed for:

• improving the appearance of the abdomen, tightening muscles;
• removal of unwanted scars, stretch marks, excess fat and skin.

Tummy tuck in Minsk is a popular procedure. In our clinic it is performed in accordance with the wishes and needs of the patient.

Cost of abdominoplasty

calculated individually at the time of admission.

A patient who has excess fat, muscle separation, and significant skin laxity needs a full abdominoplasty. In Minsk, this classic method of tummy tuck is used to improve the appearance of not only women, but also men.

Mini abdominoplasty is reserved for those who have a small amount of excess skin and fat. A tummy tuck can be combined with liposuction.

Abdominoplasty is done under general anesthesia and usually lasts from 2 to 5 hours. During a full tummy tuck, an incision is made from hip to hip and around the belly button. Excess skin and fat is excised from the navel just above the pubic hair. The muscles above and below the navel are compressed. The skin is then stitched together, creating a circular scar around the navel and a long scar along the lower abdomen. Drainage tubes are installed and removed before discharge.

During a mini-correction, the navel is not touched, and the incision itself is shorter.

Contraindications to abdominoplasty

A tummy tuck should not be used as an alternative to weight loss.

Abdominoplasty is not for everyone. Plastic surgeons at the clinic will warn against abdominal correction if the patient:

• plans to lose weight;
• has a serious chronic disease (disease of the heart, respiratory system, blood vessels, endocrine system, diabetes, etc.);
• thinks about future pregnancy;
• pregnant or breastfeeding;
• during menstruation;
• has a body mass index greater than 30;
• smokes;
• cancer patient;
• under the age of 18;
• Previously had surgery on the abdominal cavity, which left a lot of scars.

Indications for tummy tuck

The main goal of abdominal abdominoplasty is to remove excess skin, create harmonious body contours, and restore the anterior abdominal wall.

Weight gain, pregnancy and childbirth can cause severe stretching of the skin and muscles. The degree of changes can vary: from small folds to a pronounced skin-fat apron combined with separation of the abdominal muscles.

Indications for abdominoplasty:

• skin-fat “apron”, sagging skin of the abdominal area (as a result of weight loss, age-related changes, pregnancy and childbirth);
• stretching of the abdominal muscles, which can lead to prolapse of internal organs;
• cicatricial stretch marks (striae) in the abdominal area;
• unaesthetic postoperative scars and scars on the abdomen;
• diastasis (separation of abdominal muscles).

Recommendations in the postoperative period and consequences of the operation

After correction, the patient remains in the hospital under the supervision of specialists for 2 to 5 days. After discharge, he is required to visit doctors regularly to monitor the healing process. The sutures are usually removed at 10–14 days.

For approximately 4–6 weeks after abdominoplasty, it is mandatory to wear special support clothing:

• For the abdominal cavity - a postoperative bandage for a week, then compression garments. This helps prevent fluid accumulation and provides support for the abdomen while healing;
• Wear compression stockings on the legs to prevent the formation of blood clots in the blood vessels.

During the first 6 to 8 weeks after surgery, you should be careful when moving around and avoid positions that strain the incision line, such as bending quickly at the waist, to prevent the wound from reopening.

Swelling after abdominoplasty

When going to a plastic surgery center to restore the ideal proportions of your figure, you need to understand that your appearance will not change immediately after the operation. Long-term rehabilitation will be required until the body can cope with the consequences of surgery. Abdominoplasty is a complex operation involving significant amounts of tissue. Large flaps of skin and subcutaneous tissue are removed, and the rectus abdominal muscles are sutured. In this case, significant damage is caused to the lymphatic flows and capillaries, and the body experiences stress. The response looks like massive swelling, an abundance of hematomas, which will go away very slowly.

Important!

The recovery process is different for each patient. Tissue regeneration depends on the state of the immune system, the complexity of the surgical intervention and other objective data. Complete tissue scarring will take about a year, and swelling can persist for up to a month.

Causes of swelling after abdominoplasty

The plastic surgeon begins the operation with small incisions around the navel and larger ones up to 60 cm long above the pubic area. The flap of separated skin is pulled downwards, and the excess part is cut off. The rectus abdominal muscles, which have separated during pregnancy, are sutured together. The operation is traumatic, which leads to massive damage to the channels through which lymph circulates. As a result of the accumulation of fluid from damaged cells, the accumulation of lymph due to the inability to move normally, abundant swelling appears throughout the body in the area of ​​the operation in areas of the body adjacent to the incisions.

Edema of varying sizes appears in all patients. The amount of edema and hematomas depends on the individual characteristics of the body, the complexity of the operation, and the chosen technique. The rate of resorption of hematomas and disappearance of swelling depends on several factors.

• The state of the immune system affecting tissue regeneration processes.
• The individual ability of the body to quickly repair damage caused to the body.
• The technique used by the plastic surgeon, the complexity of the operation.
• Accurate implementation of all the attending physician’s instructions aimed at accelerating the body’s recovery processes.

On a note!

An important part of rehabilitation is the constant wearing of compression garments, which provide fixation of tissues in a new place, relieve stress on the sutures, and constant massage, stimulating the movement of lymph through new ducts.

Recommendations for accelerating the reduction of swelling after abdominoplasty

The speed at which the body gets rid of edema directly depends on the body’s ability to regenerate tissue. The recovery period is different for each person. There is a set of measures to help you go through the recovery period as quickly as possible.

Rest, sleep, minimum stress. You should rest after surgery with your legs slightly bent to relieve as much tension as possible from the scars. For this purpose, special cushions are placed under the patient’s feet for the first day. The horizontal position of the body helps lymph move freely in the body, forming new channels. You may notice that in the morning the swelling is much less than after the patient moves around the ward. Resting after surgery on orthopedic mattresses creates ideal conditions for rehabilitation.

Rational nutrition according to a special diet. The volume of fluid drunk after surgery should not exceed the optimal permissible norms. You need to drink pure mineral water, rich in minerals, to increase the content of vitamins, natural freshly squeezed juices are added to it. To prevent the need for large amounts of liquid while swelling resolves, completely eliminate salty, spicy, and sweet foods from your diet. The use of diuretics is unacceptable after abdominoplasty, as this creates additional stress on the genitourinary system.

Wearing a bandage. Compression garments are a mandatory post-operative attribute that provides reliable protection of the operated area on the patient’s body. The bandage holds the tissue in the desired position, aiding regeneration. At the same time, when moving, the soft tissue provides a light massage and lymphatic drainage, ensuring rapid delivery of minerals and biologically active substances that form new tissue to the affected areas. The industry offers several bandage options. The patient chooses what to use. This could be a wide belt, special panties or a bodysuit. The bandage is removed after the attending physician is convinced that the scar healing process is completely completed.

Limitations faced by every patient who has undergone abdominoplasty. When planning to use the services of a plastic surgery center, you need to prepare in advance for the upcoming long-term postoperative rehabilitation. You will need to comply with a number of restrictions designed to facilitate the body's recovery process. A diet is selected that provides the maximum amount of nutrients while simultaneously reducing the risk of ptosis or diastasis. It is required to completely eliminate smoking and drinking alcohol. An active lifestyle will help keep your body in perfect shape.

Physiotherapeutic procedures to help eliminate swelling

LPG massage will provide ideal proportions of the buttocks, waist, abdomen, hips. Special equipment is equipped with a set of rollers of different configurations, rotating at different speeds. Rollers together with vacuum actively stimulate the movement of lymph, providing the necessary load to increase the elasticity of muscle tissue and epidermis.

Body wrapping using various biologically active components enriches the body with the elements necessary to activate internal potential. Cosmetologists select an individual program for each patient in order to achieve an optimal positive result. Honey, chocolate, algae, mud, sets of mineral or organic components are used.

Lymphatic drainage strengthens the immune system by stimulating the body's hidden reserves. In a passive state, the movement of lymph is limited because, unlike the blood flow, there is no organ that stimulates the movement of lymph flow throughout the body. Regularly attending lymphatic drainage sessions will help keep your body in perfect shape.

Any procedures that accelerate the disappearance of edema are carried out only by well-trained specialists under the supervision of the surgeon who performed the plastic surgery. If any negative sensations appear, physiotherapeutic procedures are stopped immediately. Love your body, it will respond to you with a great mood, a supply of energy, and a beautiful appearance until you are very old.

Early postoperative period

Abdominoplasty is performed under anesthesia; immediately after the operation, the patient may feel nausea, severe weakness, and headaches.
The body's response to anesthesia is individual; the severity of symptoms can be both significant and minimal. Feeling returns to normal on the second day. A drainage tube is installed into the surgical wound to drain exudate (liquid). Drainage speeds up healing and reduces the severity of swelling and bruising. The drainage tube is removed after 2-3 days. During this time, the patient is in the hospital under constant medical supervision.

After abdominoplasty, pain in the postoperative wound cannot be avoided. In the first days, the pain syndrome is pronounced, painkillers are used to relieve pain. After 3-4 days, the pain subsides, but the discomfort and discomfort persist. Almost all patients note that very strong, sharp and burning pain occurs during sneezing and coughing, and this pain has to be endured.

In the early period of rehabilitation, pronounced swelling of the anterior abdominal wall and postoperative suture is observed. After 10-14 days, the swelling subsides, but complete healing of the skin may take several months. You also need to be prepared for impaired sensitivity of the skin of the anterior wall of the abdomen, the recovery of which will take at least six months.

Abdominoplasty after childbirth

Most often, women resort to tummy tuck after pregnancy and childbirth.

During pregnancy, the skin on the abdomen of women often loses its elasticity, which subsequently leads to the formation of not only numerous stretch marks, but also the so-called skin “apron” - overhanging folds of skin on the abdomen.

Abdominoplasty allows you to recreate the natural contours of the body, remove excess skin, eliminate stretch marks, restore the muscle frame, and make the stomach attractive again.

Pregnancy after abdominoplasty

Is it possible to plan a pregnancy after abdominoplasty? It is possible, but at least a year must pass between the operation and pregnancy. Many surgeons have a more radical opinion and believe that planning a pregnancy after abdominoplasty is possible only after 6-7 years.

Will pregnancy affect the appearance of the anterior abdominal wall? Yes. The changes may be minimal or they may be significant. Therefore, the general recommendation of all plastic surgeons is to decide on abdominoplasty if you already have children and another pregnancy is not in your plans.

Sports after abdominoplasty

One of the main rules of the recovery period is to minimize any physical activity. Sports after abdominoplasty are contraindicated for 1.5-2 months, this applies to any type of activity, including Pilates, running, swimming, fitness, yoga and strength training.

Bed rest is indicated for a couple of weeks after plastic surgery, and even getting out of bed must follow special rules: first roll over on your side, then stand up or sit down. Never rise to a sitting position from a supine position - this puts excessive stress on the abdominal muscles. It is better not to laugh, not to cough or sneeze (in other words, if you have allergies, take measures in advance), and not to make sudden movements. It is advisable not to eat rough and heavy foods, and do not take a hot shower or bath.