The method of abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck procedures, often incorporates liposuction by plastic surgeons around the world. However, there is a difference between lipoabdominoplasty and abdominoplasty, and a cosmetic surgeon should be well aware of it.
Lipoabdominoplasty is a cosmetic surgery procedure in Singapore that removes excess fats by liposuction first and then removes the excess skin that will be able to shape the abdominal area better. This advanced procedure combines abdominal/flank liposuction and tummy tuck techniques, allowing to achieve much better results than the conventional tummy tuck surgery in many patients.
Usually, specialists recommend body contouring procedures to individuals who are close to their ideal body weight. That is, those who present with lots of loose skin or fat in the belly region. It is also ideal for people with rectus muscle diastasis.
However, as some patients are unable to shed those extra pounds, making them not ideal for the traditional technique, a better surgical treatment has emerged. It combines liposuction and tummy tuck surgery, so the fat and excess skin layer can be removed more efficiently to achieve the desired curvature.
During the tummy tuck, an incision is made from hip bone to hip bone. The aesthetic treatment preserves blood vessels, nerves, connective tissue, lymphatic vessels, and other important structures in the belly. Other than the above, the tummy tuck can also fix the rectus abdominis muscle after pregnancy. Although it helps to sculpt a better body shape, it does not affect the body mass index because fatty tissue is lighter than the muscle. It is important to note that liposuction on its own does not address stretch marks or cellulite either.
Once the target fat region and excess abdominal skin have been removed, the last step is to reconstruct the belly button and close the wound. The end result is a flat abdomen following the body’s natural contour without necessarily undermining the internal abdominal structure.
In Singapore, the surgical procedure to eliminate pockets of fat and skin is done under anaesthesia and sedation. *Pain will not be felt during these cosmetic procedures; however, there is certain discomfort, swelling and bruising that might occur for a few weeks. Medications will be provided to ease the discomfort. Furthermore, lipoabdominoplasty takes a shorter time to heal than the traditional tummy tuck procedures. Still, recovery times vary from patient to patient and depend on many factors such as the amount of physical activity, age, immune response, etc.
A suitable candidate for lipoabdominoplasty includes male and female patients with weakened abdominal muscles, disproportionate fat distribution, loose skin and excess fat deposits in all areas; excess fat in the upper abdomen, central abdomen, and lower abdomen, i.e. pear-shaped body. Obese patients and those who have flanks that create the appearance of rolls are also well suited for this plastic surgery procedure. If you have recently experienced major weight loss, you are not recommended to undergo an outpatient procedure.
Hence, if you have a skinny abdomen with excess skin, you will not make an ideal candidate for this treatment for obvious reasons. You don’t need a liposuction procedure or rectus abdominis muscle repair and will benefit from the classic abdominoplasty, partial abdominoplasty or mini-abdominoplasty technique instead to improve abdominal contour. The recovery process will be different too.
Before the fat removal begins, the surgeon needs to examine the full medical history of the patient. If you have any medical conditions, do reveal them to the surgeon. It would help if you also made it known to your cosmetic surgeon about any medication you currently are taking. The specialist will check your skin laxity and other factors.
In Singapore and elsewhere, smokers are not advised to get operated on unless they cease smoking two weeks prior to the surgery and four weeks after the treatment. Restrictive dieting around the time of the major surgery is strongly discouraged. Massive weight loss can make things worse at this point.
Most commonly, patients who underwent an abdominoplasty would be required to stay at the plastic surgery centre for a few hours post-operation in order for the medical team to monitor the patients’ condition. After that, you will be prescribed pain medications and discharged. The cosmetic surgeon will tell you how to care for your wound and what to avoid doing.
You will be instructed to wear an elastic compression garment or an abdominal binder around the abdominal muscles for that extra support. This will stick for around 6 weeks and will add to an effective treatment. To reduce tension in the affected area, you are advised to rest with your knees and hips bent. You will need to avoid strenuous activity. Do ask your family members or friends to give you a helping hand with any activities and chores around the house.
Keep in mind that it takes two to three weeks to complete your recovery process from liposuction with abdominoplasty. You will feel much better in the first week post-op. (That said, traditional abdominoplasty takes longer to heal. ) There will be scarring along the bikini line, which you can easily cover with your underwear.
The effects of the surgical treatment are permanent. Once you have all the redundant skin and belly fat tissue removed, it will not grow back. But you need to maintain a stable weight, as fluctuations may alter the results and undo your flat abdomen.
The incidence of complications is lower as compared to classic abdominoplasty and other surgeries. Generally, it is a safe procedure. However, there may be wound complications, skin necrosis, fat necrosis, blood clots, fluid accumulation, and deep vein thrombosis, among other things. The best way to avoid complications is to stick to a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon that will choose the most appropriate surgical technique. The patient examination helps to ensure that the person is suitable for the treatment and will not be exposed to a greater risk of complication than with other interventions available in cosmetic and plastic surgery.
A traditional abdominoplasty procedure, also known as a tummy tuck, eliminates excess skin and fat layer. A lipoabdominoplasty combines liposuction and tummy tuck techniques in a particular order, which deals with major complications associated with other therapies. It is also a more effective treatment because it can achieve the desired results in one go without harming adjacent abdominal tissue. Abdominal liposuction as a separate aesthetic procedure is a great treatment for lipedema. There are different types of liposuction, such as laser-assisted liposuction, selective liposuction, which is less aggressive liposuction than other types.
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