Abdominoplasty: The Road to a Firm and Defined Abdomen

Objective: To remove excess skin and fat from the abdomen

Treatment time: 2 to 5 hours

Recovery: 2-4 weeks

Many people, after significant weight loss, multiple pregnancies or simply due to ageing and genetics, find themselves with excess skin and sagging muscles in the abdominal region that neither the strictest diet nor the most intense exercise can resolve.

Abdominoplasty is a comprehensive procedure that aims to remove excess skin and fat from the abdomen while tightening the muscles of the abdominal wall, resulting in a smoother, firmer and more toned abdominal contour.

It’s the ideal solution for those who dream of regaining a more harmonious silhouette and a defined waist.

The Advantages of Abdominoplasty

Abdominoplasty offers a series of benefits that go far beyond simple aesthetic improvement, positively impacting quality of life:

It eliminates hanging skin and fat deposits that accumulate in the abdominal area, creating a slimmer profile.

It corrects diastasis of the rectus abdominis (separation of the abdominal muscles), common after pregnancy, which improves core strength and posture.

It shapes the waist, giving a more defined and curvaceous silhouette.

Although it doesn’t eliminate them completely, abdominoplasty can remove a large part of the stretch marks located below the navel, on the skin that will be excised.

For some patients, excess skin can cause irritation, infections or difficulty in finding suitable clothing.

How do you know if Abdominoplasty is for you?

If you are considering a tummy tuck, consider the following points:
01. Do you have excess hanging skin on your abdomen that won’t go away with diet and exercise?
02. Are your abdominal muscles weakened or separated (diastasis), creating a bulge even when you try to contract your abdomen?
03. Do you think your abdomen is disproportionate to the rest of your body?
04. Does your abdominal skin have a lot of stretch marks and/or has it lost its elasticity?
05. Are you at a stable weight and close to your ideal weight, and is your weight loss consolidated? (It’s important not to plan major weight changes after surgery).

If the answer is “yes”, it’s very likely that you’ll benefit greatly from a tummy tuck.

Take the first step towards feeling better, with a plan designed for you and natural, long-lasting results.

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What to Expect from Treatment

It usually lasts between 2 and 5 hours, depending on the extent of the surgery and whether it is combined with other procedures (such as liposuction).

Abdominoplasty is performed under general anesthesia, ensuring the patient’s comfort and safety throughout the procedure.

The main incision is usually made horizontally, from hip to hip, in the lower abdomen, just above the pubic line, so that it can be easily hidden by underwear or a bikini. A second incision is made around the navel to reposition it.

The length of the incision varies according to the degree of sagging and excess skin.

After the incisions, the skin and fat are lifted from the abdominal wall.

The rectus abdominis muscles, which often separate (diastasis) due to pregnancy or weight gain, are sutured to bring them back together and strengthen the abdominal wall.

The excess skin and fat is then removed, and the remaining skin is stretched downwards. The navel is repositioned through a new opening in the skin.

  • Immediate post-operative period: It is normal to experience pain, significant swelling, bruising and numbness in the area. The pain is controlled with medication.
  • Drains: Small drains can be placed temporarily to collect excess fluids and are usually removed in a few days or a week.
  • Compression girdle: It is essential to wear an abdominal compression girdle for several weeks to help reduce swelling, support the tissues and shape the new contour.
  • Posture: In the first few days, it is advisable to walk slightly bent forward to avoid straining the incision.
  • Activities: Light walking is encouraged to promote circulation. Lighter daily activities can be resumed in 1 to 2 weeks. Strenuous activities, heavy lifting and abdominal exercises should be avoided for 6 to 8 weeks.
  • Scars: The main scar will initially be reddish and raised, but with proper care (massages, sun protection, creams), it will tend to lighten and flatten over time. It can take up to a year or more for the scar to fully mature.

Initial recovery takes 2 to 4 weeks. Residual swelling can persist for several months, and the final result will only be fully visible once the swelling has completely resolved and the scars have matured.

The final result of abdominoplasty is usually achieved after 6 months to 1 year, when the swelling has completely disappeared and the scar has matured. The abdomen will be smoother, firmer and more toned.

The results of abdominoplasty are considered permanent, as long as the patient maintains a stable weight and a healthy lifestyle. Future pregnancies or large fluctuations in weight can affect the longevity of the results.

    • Smoking: It is absolutely crucial to stop smoking at least 4 to 6 weeks before surgery and during recovery, as smoking dramatically increases the risk of complications, including healing problems.
    • Medication: Tell your surgeon about all the medicines, supplements and herbs you are taking, especially those that can affect blood clotting.
    • Stable weight: Patients planning significant weight loss or future pregnancies should postpone abdominoplasty to optimize the results and their durability.

It usually lasts between 2 and 5 hours, depending on the extent of the surgery and whether it is combined with other procedures (such as liposuction).

Abdominoplasty is performed under general anesthesia, ensuring the patient’s comfort and safety throughout the procedure.

The main incision is usually made horizontally, from hip to hip, in the lower abdomen, just above the pubic line, so that it can be easily hidden by underwear or a bikini.

A second incision is made around the navel to reposition it. The length of the incision varies according to the degree of sagging and excess skin.

After the incisions, the skin and fat are lifted from the abdominal wall. The rectus abdominis muscles, which often separate (diastasis) due to pregnancy or weight gain, are sutured to bring them back together and strengthen the abdominal wall.

The excess skin and fat is then removed, and the remaining skin is stretched downwards. The navel is repositioned through a new opening in the skin.

  • Immediate post-operative period: It is normal to experience pain, significant swelling, bruising and numbness in the area. The pain is controlled with medication.
  • Drains: Small drains can be placed temporarily to collect excess fluids and are usually removed in a few days or a week.
  • Compression girdle: It is essential to wear an abdominal compression girdle for several weeks to help reduce swelling, support the tissues and shape the new contour.
  • Posture: In the first few days, it is advisable to walk slightly bent forward to avoid straining the incision.
  • Activities: Light walking is encouraged to promote circulation. Lighter daily activities can be resumed in 1 to 2 weeks. Strenuous activities, heavy lifting and abdominal exercises should be avoided for 6 to 8 weeks.
  • Scars: The main scar will initially be reddish and raised, but with proper care (massages, sun protection, creams), it will tend to lighten and flatten over time. It can take up to a year or more for the scar to fully mature.

Initial recovery takes 2 to 4 weeks. Residual swelling can persist for several months, and the final result will only be fully visible once the swelling has completely resolved and the scars have matured.

The final result of abdominoplasty is usually achieved after 6 months to 1 year, when the swelling has completely disappeared and the scar has matured. The abdomen will be smoother, firmer and more toned.

The results of abdominoplasty are considered permanent, as long as the patient maintains a stable weight and a healthy lifestyle.

Future pregnancies or large fluctuations in weight can affect the longevity of the results.

  • Smoking: It is absolutely crucial to stop smoking at least 4 to 6 weeks before surgery and during recovery, as smoking dramatically increases the risk of complications, including healing problems.
  • Medication: Tell your surgeon about all the medicines, supplements and herbs you are taking, especially those that can affect blood clotting.
  • Stable weight: Patients planning significant weight loss or future pregnancies should postpone abdominoplasty to optimize the results and their durability.

Frequently Asked Questions

All the answers are carefully explained so that you always feel confident.

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Abdominoplasty is often combined with other procedures, especially as part of a “Mommy Makeover” (post-pregnancy transformation) or a body makeover after major weight loss. Combining surgeries in the same operative time, when clinically appropriate, can optimize results and the overall recovery period. Some common combinations include:

  • Liposuction: This is almost always combined with abdominoplasty. Liposuction is used to refine the flanks, waist and back, creating a smoother, more cohesive contour around the abdomen.
  • Mammoplasty (Augmentation, Reduction or Mastopexy): Many women choose to combine abdominoplasty with breast procedures to restore the shape and volume of their breasts after pregnancy and breastfeeding, or to treat sagging breasts.
  • Brachioplasty (Arm Lift) or Cruroplasty (Thigh Lift): In patients with major weight loss, abdominoplasty can be part of a wider body makeover, also addressing excess skin in other areas.
  • Classic Abdominoplasty: For cases of significant sagging above and below the navel, with muscle diastasis.
  • Mini-abdominoplasty: For cases of sagging just below the navel, with little or no muscle diastasis. The incision is shorter and there is no incision around the navel.
  • Circumferential Abdominoplasty (Lower Body Lift): In cases of major weight loss, involving excess skin in the lower abdomen, back and flanks, the incision extends around the waist.