Abdominoplasty / Minidominoplasty

Patients who are candidates for abdominoplasty are men and women, aged between 30 and 60, who have suffered a progressive decline in the trophism of the abdominal wall as a result of the following causes

• Skin relaxation of the abdominal 'apron' following heavy weight loss through dieting, increased physical activity or bariatric surgery.
• Muscular-cutaneous relaxation of the abdomen following pregnancies that have noticeably weakened the abdominal wall with the appearance of diastasis (enlargement) of the rectus abdominis muscles.

The doctors at the Romano Fuhr surgery advise patients to follow some basic recommendations in order to achieve a clinically satisfactory and stable result over time.

The basic requirements are:

• Having achieved a stable weight over time.
• Wait at least 6-9 months after delivery.
• Stop smoking for 3-4 weeks before and after abdominoplasty surgery.
• The operation can be performed throughout the year, depending on the patient's schedule and organisation.

The preoperative examination with the medical staff at Studio Romano Fuhr is aimed at assessing the patient's general clinical situation and agreeing on the desired result in an absolutely informal but professional atmosphere.

In order to rule out pre-existing abdominal wall pathologies, patients are advised to perform, in addition to the routine examinations for all surgical procedures (blood count, coagulation balance and ECG), also

• ultrasound of the abdominal wall in order to rule out the presence of umbilical hernias or related hernias
• echocolordoppler of the lower limbs

The operation requires general anaesthesia and hospitalisation in a healthcare facility for 24 hours.

The duration of the operation may vary depending on the amount of tissue to be removed, as well as the technique adopted, with the duration of the operation varying between 120 and 240 minutes.

Reshaping of the abdomen is performed through a skin incision extending from the pubis to the iliac spines bilaterally. This incision allows the entire abdominal wall to be peeled back as far as the costal arch, taking care to disengage the umbilicus from the skin itself, which will return to its original physiological position.

By means of this dissection it is possible to stretch the abdominal skin downwards in order to remove all the excess skin and fat. In some cases, it is possible to eliminate almost entirely the skin striae located below the navel.

The belly button, a fixed structure of the abdominal wall, will be resurfaced in its new location, giving the abdomen a beautifully relaxed and toned appearance.

The doctors at the Romano Fuhr surgery have always paid great attention to the problems of patients who have suffered a diastasis of the rectus muscles after pregnancy or as a result of progressive abdominal dislocation due to excessive weight gain, offering them the possibility of repositioning the abdominal muscles by means of suturing them together.

In some cases, the surgeon may recommend an aspiration of the hips or other areas of the body in order to better harmonise the shape of the trunk.

The post-operative period of abdominoplasty is usually characterised by slight haematoma and oedema associated with mild discomfort easily controlled with oral analgesics over 24 hours.

Bed rest is recommended for 24 hours then moderate activity for 5-7 days after which she can return to work.

The patient will be checked and dressed after 24 hours, one week and two weeks.

The scar remaining from the operation is generally of good quality and its position below the panty line makes it particularly "invisible" from prying eyes.

In order to improve the result and speed up healing, it is recommended to wear an elastic girdle for a month.