Everyone wants to have a slim figure and look good, but not everyone succeeds. In addition, sometimes getting rid of excess weight causes a number of cosmetic problems, including excess skin on the abdomen and a flabby anterior abdominal wall. And if exercise and other procedures do not help to correct these defects and get rid of the uncomfortable “skin apron”, the only way out is surgery. Abdominoplasty helps to get rid of excessive sagging of the skin. According to experts, this is one of the most effective techniques for improving body contour.
Panorama.am spoke with microsurgeon Arthur Mambreyan, head of the Orthopedic and Plastic Surgery Department of the Mikayelyan Institute of Surgery, about the features of this cosmetic surgery.
Panorama.am: What is abdominoplasty and when should this procedure be used?
Arthur Mabreyan: Abdominoplasty is a surgical procedure designed to correct deformities of the anterior abdominal wall, remove sagging skin and excess fat. Most often they are attributed to rapid weight loss, age-related changes, childbirth, as well as various diseases that cause significant weight loss. This surgery is purely cosmetic in nature and is one of the best methods of correcting abdominal abnormalities.
Panorama.am: Are underlying conditions considered in abdominoplasty?
Arthur Mabreyan: Of course. Contraindications for abdominoplasty include diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome as well as a number of other diseases in which surgery is not recommended. In fact, abdominoplasty is quite a complicated surgery.
Surgery should be performed by a specialist who has many years of experience and knows certain nuances necessary for a successful operation.
Panorama.am: Is there any amount of abdominal muscle laxity that is an indication for abdominoplasty?
Arthur Mabreyan: This is decided by the patients. If they don’t like the way their tummy looks, they can turn to a plastic surgeon.
Panorama.am: Are complications possible in the postoperative period?
Arthur Mabreyan: Common complications include thromboembolism, fat embolism, wound inflammation, and rough scar formation, which can disfigure the patient’s body and do more harm than good.
As I have already said, this is a complex surgical procedure, so it is necessary to know all the indications and contraindications and to inform the patient about all possible cases where complications may arise.
In fact, people recover quickly in the postoperative period, there are just some rules that must be followed. Specifically, in the first months you should avoid physical exertion and follow a strict diet. After three months, you can already exercise, but you will have to follow a diet for the rest of your life.
At the same time, I must say that there are many who seek such an operation.
Panorama.am: In other words, is it necessary to follow a special diet after tummy tuck?
Arthur Mabreyan: Necessary. If the operation is successful, but the patient does not follow a diet and does not maintain a healthy lifestyle, it can be considered ineffective.
Panorama.am: How to avoid deformations of the anterior abdominal wall?
Arthur Mabreyan: First of all, a person should lead a healthy lifestyle, monitor concomitant diseases that also cause skin and fat folds, excess skin, subcutaneous and fatty tissues. Of course, there are diseases in which people are not to blame, there is a genetic predisposition, but if they take good care of themselves, deformations of the anterior abdominal wall can be avoided.
Panorama.am: What is the difference between abdominoplasty and liposuction?
Arthur Mabreyan: Everything is a matter of methodology, they complement each other. Liposuction may be required after abdominoplasty or vice versa.
By the way, surgery is most often sought after the age of 40. Women are 10 times more likely to use it than men.
