Sometimes the skin of the abdomen can loosen in the lower quadrants as after a pregnancy and take on a relaxed, sagging appearance. It is a rather frequent phenomenon even in obese people, and is also found after a strong weight loss. The intervention that can remedy this situation is abdominoplasty.
Prof. Bracaglia has perfected the surgical techniques for abdominoplasty, which have also been published in international scientific journals and made available to colleagues from the international scientific community of the “National Institute of Health” and the “National Center for Biotechnology Information” – USA.
When a tummy tuck is needed
The pendulous abdomen causes great discomfort because it takes on an unnatural, flaccid and hanging appearance , sometimes aggravated also by the presence of stretch marks.
In more advanced cases, the skin of the abdomen hangs so low, in front of the pubis, that it forms a wide fold that covers the genitals and the upper part of the thighs. A chronic irritation can form at the bottom of this deep skin fold, which is often accentuated in the summer, when sweat macerates the skin.
All these situations can be resolved with an abdominoplasty .
The abdominoplasty surgery: how it works
With abdominoplasty (or dermolipectomy) excess skin and fat are removed and, if necessary, the tone of the abdominal muscles is restored with an intervention on the rectus and oblique muscles , which constitute the structure of the abdominal wall.
The classic abdominoplasty or dermolipectomy surgery for aesthetic purposes always acts on the external planes : this means that the surgeon will not have to open the abdominal cavity, that is, it will always remain in the plane between the muscles and the skin. The result is a more toned, dry and compact abdomen.
The intervention involves a horizontal suprapubic incision whose length varies depending on the amount of skin to be removed . The incision can be shorter in less striking cases or reach the iliac wings in more severe cases.
In minor cases, the navel is not touched , while in major cases the navel is repositioned in its correct location on the abdomen.
Abdominoplasty can also be associated with a liposuction, if indicated.
If excess skin is present in the lower part of the abdomen between the pubis and the navel, it is possible to correct the defect with a more limited intervention of mini abdominoplasty.
The scars
The scar in most cases remains hidden under the edge of the slip or swimsuit. The muscles of the abdominal wall, in the event that they were relaxed, can be brought together again to recreate the physiological continuity and strength, while the anterior rectus muscles are brought back together in the right position.
At the end of the abdominoplasty or dermolipectomy surgery, excess skin and subcutaneous fat is removed.
Anesthesia
The abdominoplasty or dermolipectomy is performed under general anesthesia . The hospitalization is 2 days.
The post-operative
After surgery, the pain is modest and transient , easily manageable with common analgesics. In some cases, it is completely absent.
There are rare complications such as infections, increased blood and serum collections, or reopening (dehiscence) of wounds. However, carefully following the pre- and post-operative instructions given by the surgeon clearly reduces any risk.
Recovery
Diabetics or heavy smokers who have not stopped smoking before surgery may experience slower healing times after abdominoplasty. For healthy people, however, recovery times are generally quite fast.
The convalescence, depending on the case, lasts at least 10-14 days: during this period it will be necessary to wear a waistcoat.
