Abdominoplasty

Changes that can occur to the midsection over time do not always respond well to exercise and other weight loss efforts. Pregnancy can lead to stretching of the abdominal muscles, and isolated areas of fat can form that detract from your body contour. When weight loss does occur – after pregnancy, bariatric surgery, or your dieting program – skin can fail to conform to the new body contour. This results in loose, sagging skin around the middle that makes clothing uncomfortable. The stretching of the abdominal muscles may also cause back pain as your core muscles are not working well.

Dr Teston offers abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck, for patients concerned with the abdomen and waistline. While this procedure involves a hospital stay and a longer recovery process than other body contouring procedures, the results are long-lasting. In some cases, an abdominoplasty  (tummy tuck) is the most appropriate procedure.

Before Abdominoplasty

Abdominoplasty is an effective procedure for addressing the following concerns:

• Isolated areas of fat around the middle that won’t respond to exercise and diet
• Abdominal muscles that have stretched, creating a bulge in the stomach area
• Loose skin that creates deep folds around the waistline, which can be both uncomfortable and develop rashes.

Dr Teston will discuss your concerns with you before surgery to determine whether abdominoplasty is the right choice for you. In some cases, lipoplasty (liposuction) may be performed at the same time as the abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) to achieve better results and contour. Dr Teston will tailor your specific procedure to your unique needs in order to provide you with the best possible outcome.

During Abdominoplasty

Dr Teston performs her abdominoplasty procedures in an accredited hospital using general anaesthesia. An incision is made across the lower abdomen, underneath the panty line, which usually stretches from hip bone to hip bone. Through this incision, Dr Teston can remove excess fat, tissue and skin to create a flatter midsection. The incision is carefully sutured to ensure positive healing and minimal scarring after surgery.

Patients will typically remain in the hospital for two to three days after surgery to be closely monitored by an attentive nursing staff. Pain medication will be administered during this time as well, to keep you comfortable in the early days of your recovery process. Drains may also be placed into the incision for the first couple of days to prevent fluid build-up and infection in the surgical area.

After Abdominoplasty

It takes some time to recover from abdominoplasty, in order to give your incision and the treatment area ample time to heal. You will probably be back to light activities within about four weeks and will be given the go ahead to resume your exercise regimen after eight weeks. Once swelling and bruising subside, your results will become evident and permanent as long as you don’t gain weight after your procedure.

Potential Risks and Complications 

All surgery carries some degree of risk. Some of the possible complications of abdominoplasty include:

• Wound infection for which treatment with antibiotics might be required
• Pain and discomfort around the incision sites
• Haematoma – an accumulation of blood around the surgical site that may require drainage
• Visible and prominent scars, including keloid and hypertrophic scars – raised, thickened scars that form over healed incisions
• Numbness around operated sites – in most cases this is temporary and will improve over many months
• Areas of skin that do not heal and may require a skin graft
• difficulty in bending forward due to the tightened skin
• Excess fluid accumulation under the skin (seroma) around an operated site, that may require one or more drainage procedures with a needle
• Need for a blood transfusion – in the unlikely event of a large amount of blood loss during surgery
• Blood clots – which may become life-threatening if they move to the lungs
• Nausea and vomiting from the general anaesthetic

This is not a complete list. Your medical history or lifestyle may put you at increased risk of other complications. Speak to your medical practitioner for more information.

If this sounds like the right procedure for you, contact Dr Teston’s office today on (02) 9708 3511 to schedule your personal consultation.

*The information about Abdominoplasty was reviewed by Dr. Leana Teston. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us using our contact form below.