Body

Disclaimer

This article is general information only and does not replace medical advice. If you have symptoms, concerns, or questions about your health, please seek advice from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

Abdominoplasty is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen while tightening the underlying muscles. Some individuals find that, despite diet and exercise, loose skin and weakened or separated abdominal muscles persist, often after pregnancy or significant weight changes. Dr Sophie Ricketts, a specialist plastic surgeon, performs abdominoplasty with a focus addressing individual concerns.

Who May see Benefit from an Abdominoplasty?

Some patients seek abdominoplasty following changes in their body after pregnancy. During pregnancy, the skin stretches significantly, and the ‘six-pack’ muscles — known as the rectus abdominis — separate to accommodate the pregnancy, a condition called diastasis recti. After childbirth and return to a pre-pregnancy weight, the skin and muscles may not return to their previous state. Exercise or targeted physiotherapy may not fully address this muscle separation or address excess stretched skin. In such cases, abdominoplasty can repair the muscle separation and remove skin in the lower abdomen which tightens the stomach wall and skin overlying it.

Another common group considering abdominoplasty includes individuals who have undergone significant weight loss, whether through diet, exercise, or bariatric surgery. Rapid or substantial weight reduction can result in loose skin that may cause discomfort, irritation, or difficulty wearing certain clothing. Abdominoplasty removes the excess skin and fat while repairing abdominal muscles.

What Abdominoplasty Can and Cannot Do

It’s important to understand what abdominoplasty can achieve. This surgery effectively removes excess skin and fat, tightens the abdominal muscles. However, it is not a substitute for weight loss or a treatment for obesity.

Some patients ask whether liposuction alone is an alternative to prevent an abdominoplasty scar. While liposuction effectively removes fat, it does not predictable or effectively address loose skin and can not repair separated abdominal muscles. Liposuction may in come cases be performed as part of an abdominoplasty to address contour.

The Abdominoplasty Procedure

Abdominoplasty is performed under general anaesthesia, usually requiring a 2 night hospital stay. The surgeon makes an incision low on the abdomen, typically just above the pubic area. The skin is then lifted up off the abdominal wall muscles as far as the lower edge of the breast bone. This allows the separated abdominal muscles, to be sutured back together. The skin is then stretched taut, and redundant skin is excised. The incision is closed carefully in layers with dissolving sutures.

The procedure can vary depending on the area being treated — from a shorter scar abdominoplasty, which focuses on the lower abdominal skin and fat below the umbilicus, to an extended abdominoplasty that also addresses the flanks and back.

Recovery and Aftercare

Most patients stay in the hospital for one to two nights. Whilst it is likely that you will be able to care for yourself after discharge, complete healing usually takes around six weeks. During this period, heavy lifting and strenuous activity should be avoided to allow the muscle repair, if performed, to heal adequately.

You will be provided with a compression garment to reduce swelling and support the abdominal wall as it heals. Most patients can return to light activities and work within three to six weeks, depending on the nature of their job. Follow-up appointments with Dr Ricketts follow your recovery and give advice on scar management and return to activities.

Risks and Considerations

As with all surgery abdominoplasty carries risks such as infection, bleeding, scarring, and changes in skin sensation. For further detail on risks and complications specific to Abdominoplasty please check the Abdominoplasty Procedure page on Dr Ricketts’ website. http://drsophiericketts.com.au/procedures

Why Choose Dr Sophie Ricketts for Your Abdominoplasty?

Each procedure will be specific to an individual’s anatomy and objectives.

If you are considering abdominoplasty and want to discuss whether this procedure is suitable for you, Dr Sophie Ricketts offers professional advice and compassionate care throughout the process.

Surgical Disclaimer

Surgical outcomes vary between individuals. A consultation is required to determine suitability, discuss risks, alternatives, and what may be achievable for your anatomy.

For further information including risks and complications of this surgery go to Dr Sophie Ricketts’ website www.drsophiericketts.com.au/procedures/

Disclaimer

This article is general information only and does not replace medical advice. If you have symptoms, concerns, or questions about your health, please seek advice from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

There are a few ways in which you can reduce the visibility of surgical scars.

If you have decided to undergo an abdominoplasty surgery here’s what you may be interested to know before you begin your treatment…

1.  Prepare for your surgery

One of the best things you can do to is to choose a fully qualified and experienced surgeon – check for the FRACS (Plast) credential which means they are trained and recognised through the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. Chat to your surgeon about any concerns that you have regarding scarring and ask them to explain exactly where your scar is expected to be.

Your surgeon will let you know what shape scar you will have depending on the technique that they choose to use. The prominence of your scar will depend on a few factors, including the surgical technique your surgeon uses, your unique skin type and how well you follow the aftercare instructions.

If you smoke, it is very important that you stop for at least six weeks before your surgery is scheduled. This will help to reduce the risk of surgical complications and delay in the healing process.

2.  Follow your surgeon’s instructions

To help your scar fade over time, it is important that you follow any instructions that your surgeon gives you for your recovery.

It’s advisable that you eat a healthy, balanced diet throughout your recovery period.

Your surgeon is likely to recommend that you avoid strenuous exercise and heavy lifting for around six weeks after surgery. Gentle walking is the best form of exercise from about 2 weeks after your surgery. You should also avoid any activity that activates your core muscles such as lifting for 6 weeks and you should also use your binder garment for support until this time.

3.  Take care of your incision

Keeping your scar clean is an essential step in preventing infection after surgery. You should take care of your general hygiene with regular showering. Your incision will be covered with water-proof dressings for a couple of weeks and after that we use paper tape that stays on for a week at a time up to about 6 weeks after your surgery. Keep a lookout for potential signs of infection — these include increased swelling or redness that does not improve with time, smelly discharge from the incision, fever and worsening pain. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should contact your surgeon immediately.

4.  Take care of your skin

Once the period of post operative taping is over (6 weeks after the surgery) you may find it helpful to apply vitamin E or Bio-Oil™ to your skin — this will keep your scar and the surrounding area moisturised. Once your scar has healed, you can continue to use the oil to massage the scar tissue.

It’s also very important that you apply sunscreen to your scar — scars are made of new skin and are particularly prone to darkening when exposed to the sun. Ideally, you should avoid too much sun exposure and use a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more.

How can we help?

Dr Sophie Ricketts offers a number of procedures for the body, including abdominoplasty surgery. .

If you would like to find out more about abdominoplasty and what the procedure involves, please have a look here.

If you would like to arrange a consultation with Dr Sophie Ricketts, please don’t hesitate to get in touch here.

Surgical Disclaimer

Surgical outcomes vary between individuals. A consultation is required to determine suitability, discuss risks, alternatives, and what may be achievable for your anatomy.

For further information including risks and complications of this surgery go to Dr Sophie Ricketts’ website www.drsophiericketts.com.au/procedures/

Disclaimer

This article is general information only and does not replace medical advice. If you have symptoms, concerns, or questions about your health, please seek advice from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

An abdominoplasty may be an option for individuals who have been through pregnancy or significant weight loss and wish to address an excess of skin or muscle separation of the abdomen.

What is an abdominoplasty?

An abdominoplasty involves the removal of excess fat and skin from the lower abdominal area, and repairing rectus muscle separation if present to address abdominal contour. Read on to find out more about the procedure, and what to expect from the recovery process…

Who is a suitable candidate?

There are a few reasons one may consider an abdominoplasty surgery. After pregnancy there may be an excess of lower abdominal skin that is resistant to diet and exercise and there may be a separation of the stomach muscles that may have not returned to their pre-pregnancy position despite targeted exercise.

Abdominoplasty may also be appropriate for individuals who have lost a considerable amount of weight. Significant weight loss often results in laxity and excess of skin — during the abdominoplasty process, this excess skin is removed, and the stomach muscles are repaired as required.

If you are considering abdominoplasty, it is important to know that you should be at a stable and healthy body weight before going ahead with the surgery and at least 12 months after delivery and have completed your family.

What is the recovery like?

After your surgery, you can expect to experience some pain and swelling. Your surgeon or anaesthetist will prescribe some medications to assist with discomfort. You will need to wear a compression garment for around six weeks following surgery — this will support your abdomen and help to control swelling during recovery.

It is important that you avoid strenuous activity for around six weeks after your abdominoplasty. Be sure to attend all your follow-up appointments and raise any concerns that you have with your surgeon throughout your recovery period.

Once you have healed completely it is advisable that you maintain a stable and healthy body weight.

How can we help?

If you would like to find out more about abdominoplasty and what the treatment involves, please have a look here.

If you would like to arrange a consultation with Dr Sophie Ricketts, please don’t hesitate to get in touch here.

Surgical Disclaimer

Surgical outcomes vary between individuals. A consultation is required to determine suitability, discuss risks, alternatives, and what may be achievable for your anatomy.

For further information including risks and complications of this surgery go to Dr Sophie Ricketts’ website www.drsophiericketts.com.au/procedures/