ABDOMINAL WALL CORRECTION
What is an abdominoplasty?
In abdominoplasty, or abdominoplasty, excessive fat accumulation and excess skin tissue at the level of the abdominal wall is removed. In this procedure, accumulated fat tissue is suctioned out and excess skin and possibly sagging abdominal muscles are re-tightened. The overall result is a taut abdominal wall and therefore a tight abdomen.
When will you benefit from an abdominoplasty?
If there is not only an accumulation of fat at the level of the abdomen, but also excess skin (a hanging belly), abdominoplasty can offer a solution. Excess tissue at the level of the abdominal wall can have several causes that may or may not occur together. The main ones are pregnancy, weight fluctuations and, rather rarely, injuries or surgical procedures at the level of the abdominal wall.
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After a comprehensive interview and examination, it will be determined whether you are a suitable candidate for a tummy tuck. If you decide to have the procedure, it is important to consider a number of factors: If you are in the process of losing weight or plan to lose weight in the near future, it is best to wait to have the procedure until you have reached your target weight. For women, a tummy tuck is best postponed until after their desire to have children has been granted as pregnancy will cause the surgically tightened abdominal muscles and skin to stretch again. After an initial consultation, you will already have a clear idea whether the procedure is suitable for you.
In the classic tummy tuck, the excess skin and fatty tissue is removed and the muscles are also tightened. The procedure takes about two hours on average. Depending on the complexity and individual details, it may be a little longer or shorter. After loosening and removing the excess skin, the abdominal muscles are usually tightened as well (diastasis correction). This involves bringing the 2 straight abdominal muscles together, allowing these muscles to work optimally again. This is often accompanied by a reduction in back pain as these muscles are now more efficient.
In most cases, Dr Lemmens combines this procedure with flank liposculpture. This allows to obtain a harmonious result with a good balance between abdomen, flanks and back (see also liposculpture). Usually, the combination of these two procedures can be performed safely. However, in order not to compromise blood flow to the tissues, it is useful in exceptional cases to perform liposculpture during a second procedure. That way, the risk of wound complications is reduced.
The procedure takes about two hours on average. Depending on the complexity and individual details, it may be somewhat longer or shorter. If a lot of skin is removed, the navel usually requires a new hole to be made in the tightened skin. However, the navel remains in its normal place.
Sometimes a mini-abdominoplasty can also be performed. In this procedure, a smaller amount of skin is removed and the muscles are tightened back. The advantage is that the navel does not have to be repositioned in this case. This avoids a scar around the navel. The scar will also be shorter. However, not everyone is eligible for such a procedure. But this is examined beforehand and always discussed with you during the consultation.
The first 24 hours after the procedure are the most difficult. This is because the skin is tightened and will prevent you from standing fully upright or lying fully stretched.
Nevertheless, it is important to already walk around the room a bit during the days after the procedure to avoid the risk of blood clots in the deep blood vessels and other complications. Usually, to prevent blood clots, subcutaneous injections will also be given daily to keep the risk as low as possible.
After the procedure, for several weeks there will be some numbness at the level of the abdominal wall, usually below the navel. This sensation usually returns regularly over the following months. Like any scar, the scar at the level of the bikini line will look a little redder during the first few months, after which it will take on a very discreet skin colour. Dr Lemmens always tries to hide the scar as much as possible in the bikini line if technically possible.
De werkonbekwaamheid is afhankelijk van het type werk dat u verricht, maar gemiddeld worden best 3 weken werkonbekwaamheid voorzien. Sport en andere zware fysische activiteiten worden best vermeden gedurende een periode van 6 weken. Zeker indien een buikspiercorrectie is uitgevoerd, is het tillen van zware lasten verboden