tummy tuck lipoabdominoplasty

Abdominoplasty – Synonyms & Principle

synonyms: Lipo-abdominoplasty (=tummy tuck with liposuction immediately preceding it), abdominoplasty, mini-abdominoplasty

principle:
removal of excess skin in the abdominal area

Mini-abdominoplasty=lower abdominal area – sometimes with loosening and lowering of the belly button

Abdominoplasty = area from the lower abdomen to the navel – the navel is cut or removed and reinserted/reconstructed in the appropriate place

Lipo-abdominoplasty=same procedure is prepared and optimized by extensive liposuction, blood vessels and lymph vessels are better protected, more options in terms of body shaping

is often combined with…

• liposuction during lipo-abdominoplasty (hips, upper abdomen, flanks, thighs, abdomen for modeling the surface)
• autologous fat (for liposuction – e.g. for the facial area)
• rarely fat freezing for certain regions after surgery
• treatment of an umbilical hernia
• repair of a rectus diastasis
• thigh lift or Bodylift

efficiency

The excess skin on the abdomen is removed and the abdomen is thus made firmer

The excess volume is removed immediately (the maximum possible effect of liposuction per region is approximately 70-80%).

duration of surgery

On average, a lipo-abdominoplasty takes 2-3 hours

repetition of the treatment

usually only after major weight changes

or even after pregnancy

or severe tissue deterioration for other reasons (e.g. aging)

Application in which body region

abdomen, upper abdomen, hips, etc.

decision-making aids

Essentially, these are fundamental decisionsthat constitute a tummy tuck.

Should I have a tummy tuck do it at all? – Sometimes it is better not to do something at all.

Good advice highlights all the advantages and disadvantages of an operation – and thus helps you make the right decision.

Cut: an incision in the area and length of a normal Caesarean section scar is always necessary (mini abdominoplasty). This creates a tightening effect, especially in the lower abdomen. To improve the area around the navel, the navel can be detached at its base and pulled down to a certain extent (depending on the position of the existing navel, a few cm are possible here before the navel sits too low and looks unnatural)

If more tissue and excess skin is removed and an effect is to be created in the upper abdomen as well, the navel is cut around. The cut in the bikini area is then a few centimeters longer than a normal Caesarean section scar. The more the cut length is saved here, the more likely the transition at the end of the scar is to be disrupted and can bulge (plastic surgeons call this a "dog-ear"). As more tissue is removed and there is more tension on the scar, the scar can also be somewhat wider. To prevent this, a small cut is sometimes made vertically upwards from the bikini scar to capture the navel hole.

Umbilical hernia? Rectus diastasis?

Especially after pregnancy, excess skin can be accompanied by an umbilical hernia or rectus diastasis, which can be treated in the same operation. Therefore, the abdominal wall should always be examined carefully before the planned operation in order to discuss the possible sensible procedure, if possible before the operation.

Navel and scar: Depending on the shape of the navel, there are different options for the navel. The classic procedure is to cut around the navel, move the abdominal (skin and fat) tissue downwards over the navel, and then fit the navel back into the abdominal tissue in its existing position. In some cases, however, it can be less conspicuous if the navel is completely removed and fitted into the abdominal tissue in an ideal position and reconstruct a depression. This eliminates the round scar around the navel.

liposuction and tummy tuck (=lipoabdominoplasty): definitely makes sense and is, in my opinion, the more modern version of the classic tummy tuck, where only a block of tissue is removed and the wound edges are sewn back together.

During lipoabdominoplasty, a large amount of fat is removed before the excess skin is removed (including from the lower abdomen, which is actually then removed). This may prolong the operation time somewhat, but has the following advantages:

• By suctioning in the area of the hips and upper abdomen and the abdominal area, the entire region is modelled and thus becomes more harmonious.
• By sucking in the lower abdomen, most of the lymphatic and blood vessels and nerves remain intact, which is beneficial for wound healing. Only the excess skin is removed
• This also improves the healing process in our hands (less lymph congestion, less bruising, less bleeding)
• Round drains are usually no longer necessary. Puncture of lymph fluid – as I experienced in the past with conventional techniques – is usually not necessary

What should you have heard/read before a tummy tuck?

Scar: Cut = scar – there are no “invisible scars”. The more tension a scar is subjected to, the wider it can be. I usually try to keep the cut as low as possible so that it is covered as much as possible with normal underwear or even with a slightly wider bikini. That’s why it makes sense for marking before surgery his bring your favorite underwear or bikini bottomEven if the scar moves upwards a little as the wound heals, there is a good chance that the scar will remain in an area that can be covered with normal underwear or a slightly wider bikini bottom.

misconception

the scar after a tummy tuck is always “invisible”

facts

Incision = scar: even if you try everything to make it as inconspicuous as possible, the quality of the scar varies greatly from patient to patient. Of course, there are cases with very delicate and very inconspicuous scars. But then, with the same technique, there are also cases with wide, firm and noticeable scars, even to the point of scar overgrowth.

And of course there are ways to work on the quality of the scar after the operation (cutting it out again, injecting hyaluronic acid or cortisone, laser or similar, medical needling, and much more). The scar can also usually be covered with underwear or trousers - provided it is deep enough and actually stays there.

But if you expect an “invisible scar” and don’t want one, you should not opt for a tummy tuck.

possible side effects/complications

• Scar (possibly wider, possibly moving higher over time and with rather loose tissue)
• Asymmetry (always present on two sides to a certain extent)
• irregular surface, irregular transitions

details Information on possible complications can be found in the information documents

In summary, good preparation (information, explanation, preliminary examinations, precise examination and analysis of the abdominal region, etc.), and the surgeon's experience are important factors for the success of lipoabdominoplasty (= tummy tuck with preparatory liposuction).

You should avoid…

• short cuts at any price (after an operation, a good shape and good, even transitions at the edge of the cut are almost always more important than the length of the cut) - but of course the cut should not be longer than necessary. The exact length of the cut often becomes apparent during the operation.

anesthesia

Possible anesthesiaforms for lipoabdominoplasty

• twilight sleep
• general anesthesia

the operation

Deadlines must be met in Austria (surgical information and anesthesia information) – this means that once you decide to have a tummy tuck, you have to wait at least 3-4 weeks, but often longer.

adjusting compression garments

Do not take any blood-thinning medication 10 days before surgery

for smokers: 2 weeks before and after the operation, stop smoking (or at least limit it as much as possible) – otherwise the wound healing will suffer from the nicotine and the anesthesia will also be better tolerated after a smoking break

We will inform you if a psychological report may be necessary before your surgery.

THINKING POSITIVELY – helps. It not only prolongs life, but is also always a good first step towards any treatment or operation.

the operation

rest for 3 weeks in the sense of:

• When standing up, do not use your abdominal muscles and do not pull yourself up anywhere – work with weight shifting or get help if necessary
• do not lift more than 5-6kg
• no jerky movements
• Relieve the abdominal wall and walk slightly bent forward

abdominal corset for 6 weeks almost day and night

our preferred technique/recommendation

• Lipoabdominoplasty = shaping liposuction before the actual tummy tuck
• Local anesthesia + twilight sleep and monitoring by the anesthetist
• individually adapted incisions and precise surgical technique

Cost

Guidelines:

approx. 5900-7500 lipoabdominoplasty including anesthesia (depending on effort and complexity, incision length and planned duration of surgery)

300-600 sutures of an umbilical hernia – in the same operation

900 suture rectus diastase – if present – in the same operation

from 5700 mini lipoabdominoplasty including anesthesia

3000 Mini Mini Lipoabdominoplasty in LA

400 overnight stay at the clinic with nurse/450 for overnight stay from Friday to Saturday

100 costs for day admission to the clinic (if no overnight stay is planned) – but we recommend an overnight stay!

50 Anesthesia information for planned anesthesia with an anesthetist

150-200 compression garments

70 optional special price recommended scar ointment + disinfectant spray (regular after surgery 103)

The prices listed are average values and could be cheaper or more expensive. The final total price will be determined during the second consultation (=consent) depending on the individual effort/planned operation time, combinations, desired clinic/room category and other factors.

At the turn of the year, clinic prices are adjusted and may then be slightly higher.

reasonable budget

A final cost estimate is only possible and meaningful after a detailed on-site inspection and clarification of individual wishes.

downtime

In general, 2-3 weeks of rest be taken into account – this means specifically:

• lifting no more than 5-6 kg
• no jerky movements
• Do not perform any activities overhead or overstretch the abdominal area

Important to know…

Accurate analysis of the abdominal region and the patient's wishes before surgery is important for the most individual surgical technique possible

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