Abdominoplasty

There's no difference; all procedures involve removing fat from the body.

As each body is different, generally speaking, it can last from 8 months to a year.

From the first month onwards, you can shave, get keratin treatments, or undergo any chemical processes.

You can get a tattoo after 3 months post-surgery.

You can wear heels starting from the first month.

You can remove the compression garment starting from the third month, but the recommendation is to wear it for a year.

The foam and the board are used for three months to prevent folds and to expedite the reduction of swelling.

You cannot take any medication that hasn't been authorized by your doctor.

It can last between 3 and 4 hours.

As is customary, a medical evaluation is necessary. It's essential to assess the degree of skin laxity, the presence of excess skin and fat, skin quality (such as the presence of stretch marks), and the extent of separation of the abdominal muscles (rectus diastasis). It's also common to encounter hernias, especially umbilical ones, which will require treatment simultaneously as we repair the abdominal muscle wall (rectus plication).

The presence of an abdominal apron (excess skin below the belly button) or multiple rolls typically indicates the need for an abdominoplasty (dermolipectomy). If there's rectus diastasis and the muscle wall is weakened (patients often mention they "look" pregnant), abdominoplasty is also necessary.

Yes, it's possible. Often, a patient may have had liposuction years prior, and after pregnancies, an abdominoplasty is necessary.

The issue can arise in cases that are borderline. Liposuction causes skin retraction, which is greater below the belly button than above. This can result in insufficient skin for performing a dermolipectomy.

Combining both techniques is quite common. Liposuction addresses the sides of the abdomen, improves waist shape, and makes the skin looser, allowing it to slide better and stretch without the need for detachment (this concept is known as lipoabdominoplasty, developed by the Brazilian surgeon Oscar Saldanha).

However, one must be cautious with techniques like lipovaser or lipolaser as they can lead to skin problems. Also, in smokers, one should be very conservative with liposuction because poor circulation can result in more skin issues, such as necrosis.

Of course. In fact, we repair them at the same time. The most common is the umbilical hernia. Usually, a mesh is needed to close the hernia hole. In other types, like the epigastric hernia, the rectus plication itself resolves the issue.

Usually between 2.5 and 3 hours. It's commonly performed under general anesthesia, although in some centers, it's done with epidural anesthesia.

This is a myth. The belly button is the same but with a scar around it. The belly button is a scar where the umbilical cord was attached and it's adhered to the muscles. In surgery, it's trimmed and isolated, then attached to the muscle. The abdominal skin is stretched, and a cut (like a buttonhole) is made in the skin to "bring out" the belly button.

Only in very particular cases, where there's an umbilical hernia that needs repair, it might be necessary to sacrifice the belly button and create a new one (neoumbilicoplasty). However, the aesthetic appearance is not the same as the original.

Well, it depends on the weight of the excess fat and skin. Keep in mind that fat occupies a lot of volume but weighs relatively little. After surgery, there's also fluid retention, so one shouldn't worry much about the number of kilos lost. The crucial aspect here is the shape and body contour.

If only the skin is addressed, the postoperative period isn't usually painful. However, repairing the muscles does cause discomfort for several days. This can be managed with conventional pain relief. To reduce postoperative pain, we use a technique called TAP, which involves regional nerve blocks in the abdomen. It's performed towards the end of the surgery to take effect in the following hours.

To prevent pain, we also administer medication to prevent nausea and vomiting. Not smoking in the weeks leading up to the surgery also helps reduce mucus in the bronchial tubes, lessening coughing and therefore reducing movement in the abdomen.

We usually keep the patient hospitalized for two nights. On the first day, they'll be resting in bed and might have a catheter. They'll also have drains to remove blood and fluids that accumulate in the tissues.

The next day, it's important to get up. It's done by avoiding the use of the rectus muscles, so you should get up from the side, using the oblique muscles. The goal for that day is to walk.

At home, it's important not to stay in bed. You should avoid strenuous activities and household chores, but walking is crucial. Walking helps improve leg circulation and prevents blood clots (venous thrombosis). Typically, we also prescribe low molecular weight heparin for a few postoperative days.

We remove the stitches after 10 days. Usually, one can return to work within a week, at most two, depending on the activity. For two months, the patient will need to wear an abdominal binder.

For 4 months, the patient will need to wear silicone sheets over the scar to try to prevent hypertrophy or the formation of keloids.

Results become noticeable around 6-8 months, once the inflammation and skin retraction phase have passed. The scar might take 12 to 24 months to fade. Skin sensitivity is initially lost and gradually recovers over the first year.

After surgery, the most suitable exercise is walking. From the first month, it's possible to start other activities. Swimming is the best exercise. After two months, it's time to begin abdominal work, starting with the oblique muscles and then the rectus abdominis. Hypopressive exercises also help. The goal is to strengthen the natural abdominal belt.

Obviously, this surgery should be done when there are no more plans for pregnancies. However, if a pregnancy occurs, it's not a problem. The abdomen adapts. There have been cases where even the rectus diastasis doesn't reoccur. But it's important to note that a repeat operation might be necessary.