Stomach

Q: I’m 44 and after three pregnancies and due to a considerable weight gain, my stomach is protruding and sagging. I am considering an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) operation, but I’m anxious that it will be painful and leave bad scarring. Can you reassure me?

A: The abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) operation is certainly the procedure most suited to your circumstances, in that it allows for the removal of the excess skin and fat from the upper and lower parts of the abdomen and the tightening of the muscles of the abdominal wall.

However, before deciding on this as a course of action you need to go for a specialist examination with a plastic surgeon who will be able to assess you and then you can decide together the kind of treatment most suitable for your situation.

An alternative solution may be liposuction or liposculpture if muscular tone and skin elasticity are good and fatty deposits are localized in the abdominal region. If, on the contrary, the fatty deposits and the excess skin are limited to the area under the navel, it is possible to perform a less complex operation called mini-abdominoplasty.

In some cases if there are fatty deposits in the upper part of the abdomen and on the sides, complete abdominoplasty will be needed, sometimes in combination with liposuction.

Abdominoplasty is usually performed under general anesthetic followed by two day hospitalisation. In some cases (mini-abdominoplasty or small liposuction), the intervention can be performed under local and loco-regional anesthetic and in outpatient care.

Scarring from the tummy tuck procedure and liposuction is minimal and incisions for both are made in very discreet areas.

Q. After pregnancy, how long should I wait before having abdominoplasty or abdominal liposuction?

A. The time that should elapse between childbirth and surgery depends both upon the health of the patient and the kind of operation the individual intends to go for.

Normally, we recommend that women who are planning further pregnancies should postpone surgery until their families are completed due to the pressure that childbirth places on the abdominal muscles. In the case of liposuction, the operation can be performed even a few months after a childbirth with the approval of your consultant.

Q. Can I expose myself to sunlight after an abdominoplasty operation?

A. Yes, but it is advisable not to expose the scar to direct sunlight for at least 12 months, because it might become pigmented and more visible.

Q. After abdominoplasty, how long should I wait before returning to the gym and resuming my sports activity?

A. One month after the operation, it’s usually possible to resume all one’s normal activities, including most sports activities, provided that this does not involve the abdominal muscles directly.