Treatment
Due to severe emaciation, pregnancy or old age, the skin loses its elasticity. This results in excess, flabby skin on the lower abdomen (hanging belly) or deep skin folds on the upper abdomen. Sport can strengthen the abdominal muscles but can never repair the stretched skin.
An abdominal (wall) correction, abdominoplasty or tummy tuck surgery can solve this problem. The procedure leaves a scar above the pubic area and around the belly button. This scar is acceptable because this procedure causes you to lose one or more clothing sizes. Your waistline improves dramatically with this correction. We always perform a muscle correction as well.
If there is only fat accumulation on the abdomen without excess skin, liposculpture gives a nice improvement of the silhouette.
When there is only a small excess of skin, a mini-abdominoplasty or mini tummy tuck is sufficient. In this procedure, there is only a scar above the pubic area because the belly button does not need to be repositioned.
However, a tummy tuck is not an alternative to losing weight. If you are obese, it is better to lose weight first. After that, a tummy tuck can remove excess skin and tighten the abdominal muscles.
How is a tummy tuck performed?
Step 1
The sagging and stretched abdominal muscles are re-tightened. This muscle toning reduces the waistline by up to about 10 cm. A tight abdomen is the result. This muscle correction is also called rectus plication.
Step 2
The excess skin of the lower abdomen is cut away. This is usually a skin flap 9 to 15 cm high. The belly button is detached and repositioned. Next, the skin of the upper abdomen is detached, tightened and sewn in place.
Step 3
Finally, the stomach area and flanks receive liposculpture. A new body contour is the result.
See the before and after results of this treatment
Important information
Scar
The incision is made in the least visible place, namely in the natural sitting crease, just above the pubic area. The scar is thus hidden in your slip. Suturing is done subcutaneously, then the wound seam is glued. Because the belly button is repositioned, there is also a scar around the umbilical region.
The scar is sometimes red and hard in the first few months. But it fades and softens greatly in the following year. Your plastic surgeon will give advice on how to speed up this process. It is good to lubricate the scar with an oily cream (nivea hand cream, day cream, almond oil, a scar ointment and others) during the first few weeks.
Recovery
You will spend a maximum of one night in the clinic but usually this procedure is performed in one day clinic.
By administering efficient anaesthesia, you will feel little pain after the procedure. The muscle correction may cause some pain afterwards. You can relieve any pain with classic painkillers such as paracetemol or ibuprofen.
One day after the procedure, you will already be able to walk around. After two days, you will come for a check-up and the drainage tube will be removed. You will not be able to work for about two weeks and will have to wear an elastic abdominal band for 1 month.
All sutures are subcutaneous and they dissolve on their own and therefore do not need to be removed afterwards. Showering is possible after two weeks.
Three months after the procedure, the result of the tummy tuck is evaluated on the basis of before and after photos. Your plastic surgeon will then also prescribe you abdominal exercises to maintain the results obtained in the long term.
Anaesthetic
With the refinement of surgical technique and strong advances in anaesthesia in recent years, a tummy tuck is performed under a light general anaesthetic. As a result, you will feel much fitter after the procedure. An overnight stay at the clinic is therefore usually unnecessary.
Precautions
All our procedures are performed in the safest conditions by the plastic surgeon.
During the procedure, you will be continuously monitored (automatic, repeated blood pressure readings, constant oxygen saturation readings, electrocardiogram) by the surgeon. Only this procedure guarantees the highest possible safety for you as a patient.
The procedure is painless, with minimal blood loss and bruising.
If you are taking blood-thinning medications, please inform your plastic surgeon in advance (e.g. acetylsalicylic acid, asaflow, cardioaspirin, dipiridamole, plavix, sintrom, marevan and others).
After your procedure, you will be given your plastic surgeon's personal mobile phone number so that you feel safe.
Possible risks
For healthy people, this is a safe procedure. You may experience an accumulation of fluid under the skin after the procedure. A drainage tube and an elastic abdominal band largely prevent this problem. Wearing this abdominal band is very important for the final result. It allows the loosened skin to stick nicely to the underlying muscles again. Moreover, the virtual space between skin and muscles does not fill up with lymph fluid.
After a tummy tuck, infection rarely occurs. The skin of the lower abdomen may be temporarily less sensitive. Healing may be slower in smokers.
If you are severely overweight, it is better to lose weight first, before considering abdominoplasty.
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How an appointment at our clinic will proceed
At our clinic, we take a personal and expert approach to boost your self-confidence and achieve the best results.
Dr. Patrick Dedoncker
Certified plastic surgeon
Make an appointment
Simply schedule your appointment online or by phone. Choose a time that suits you and let us know your specific wishes or questions in advance.
Consultation
During the consultation, Dr. Patrick Dedoncker discusses your wishes and expectations. We perform a comprehensive analysis to draw up a personalised treatment plan.
Get to know
Meet recognised plastic surgeon Dr. Patrick Dedoncker, who will go through your treatment plan with you in detail. Together we determine the best approach for the desired result.
Treatment and care
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