Liposuction, liposculture and the various variations of abdominoplasty are the aesthetic surgeries that leaves the abdomen fat free and with the smooth appearance, like that of a model. Here are the main types and how to recover each one.
1. Liposuction
Liposuction is especially indicated for those who need to remove the fat located in the lower part of the belly button, superior or on the sides of the abdomen, but which does not need to remove excess skin.
In this type of aesthetic treatment fat accumulations can be removed, improving the body contour, but for it to have the desired effect, the person must be close to his ideal weight, so that the result is proportional.
- How recovery works: Liposuction lasts for about 2 hours and recovery lasts approximately 2 months, requiring lymphatic drainage sessions at least 3 times a week to remove excess fluids, and use straps to keep them from getting marks in the abdomen, or if it forms fibrous points, which are harder parts and that can leave the belly with a wavy appearance.
2. Liposculpture
In liposculpture the plastic surgeon removes localized fat from the belly and strategically places that fat elsewhere in the body in order to improve the body contour. Usually fat removed from the abdomen is put on the thighs or glutes but the results can be seen after about 45 days after the procedure.
This aesthetic treatment also needs postoperative care so that it has the expected results, so it is necessary to use strap on all treated areas and to do lymphatic drainage to remove excess fluids that form in these regions.
- How Recovery Is: Recovery can be a bit more time-consuming than other procedures because more than one area of the body is treated on the same day.
3. Complete Tummy Tuck
The abdominoplasty is particularly indicated to remove the localized fat and excess skin that remained after a great loss of weight. This procedure requires more care than liposuction but can be done when the person is not yet within their ideal weight.
In this procedure, the plastic surgeon can also sew the rectus abdominis muscle to leave the belly even harder, preventing the removal of this muscle, which can generate abdominal diastasis, very common after pregnancy.
- How is recovery: Excess skin and sagging belly can be totally eliminated in this type of plastic surgery and the results can be seen after 2 or 3 months of operation. However, as the area worked is larger, this type of procedure has a longer recovery and the results can take 3 or 4 months to be noticed.
4. Modified Tummy Tuck
The modified abdominoplasty is one where the region of fat and skin that will be removed are only in the region located below the navel. It is particularly suited for people who have managed to lose weight and achieve ideal weight, but who have had a flaccid belly, similar to a 'pochete'.
To do this type of plastic surgery you need care like no smoking, do not take hormonal remedies and anticoagulants before surgery.
- How recovery is: After surgery, you need to wear a brace and do lymphatic drainage on the first and second months. Usually the end result can be seen after 1 month of the procedure.
5. Mini abdominoplasty
In the mini abdominoplasty a cut is made only in the inferior region of the navel, closer to the pubis, which can be useful to remove the accumulation of fat in this place or to correct scars, with that of the cesarean section or another cosmetic procedure.
Recovery here is faster because the region being treated is smaller, however, it also requires the same care, with the use of the brace and lymphatic drainage sessions in the first month after surgery.
- As is the recovery: As the intention here is the correction of a scar, the results can be seen from the 2nd week, which is when the region is less swollen and the outline of the new scar can be observed, that although it is greater and go from one side to the other of the body, is finer, and should remain imperceptible over time. Usually after 6 months to 1 year of correction, the person already finds only a thin line at the site of the old scar.
6. Associated techniques
In addition to these options the doctor can also associate techniques in the same surgical procedure and so he can choose to do a liposuction on the upper and lateral abdomen and then do only a modified abdominoplasty, for example.
- How is recovery: It is not very time consuming when the area worked is smaller, but when the doctor chooses to do a complete abdominoplasty with a liposculpture in the same procedure the recovery can be more time consuming and the person may need daily help to dress, go to the bathroom and shower for more than 1 month.
The best way to know which treatment is best for each person is by going to an appointment with the plastic surgeon who can indicate the areas that can be treated and the treatment options available.
