Tightening and forming of the waist
After pregnancy or significant weight loss, tissue on the belly can hang down and sometimes build pads. Often the waist is malformed or no longer recognisable, as the front belly muscles have drifted apart. If there is a lot of belly fat, a liposuction is needed before the waist can be tightened. During the abdominoplasty, the skin is detached from the muscle as far as it is needed for the tightening of the belly. In order to tighten the upper belly skin, the belly button often needs to be cut around. At the end of the surgery the belly button will be sewed into the tightened skin. In a case where the front belly muscles have drifted apart, a special and unique sewing technique will be performed to form back the belly muscles. In this way, the waist will be newly formed as well. One needs to distinguish ‘small’ from ‘big’ abdominoplasties. The small one is characterised by a tightening of the lower belly skin and therefore can be performed by local anesthesia (depending on the patients wishes). A stay in the hospital is not needed. In contrast, the ‘big’ abdominoplasty is only performed with full anesthesia and therefore a hospital stay of several days is required.
After an abdominoplasty, the lifting of items of more than 5 kilograms is forbidden for the duration of three months in order to prevent the risk of the fissures being ripped apart. After three months have expired, all normal activities can resume.
See video of Dr. Feinendegen, MD
Liposuction
The lippsuction at the belly works according to the same procedures and rules as the liposuction at other parts of the body or in the face. Often, a liposuction at the belly is followed simultaneously by a flank and buttocks lifing. Patients which are severely obesed shall first reduce their weight before a liposuction can be performed. For more information see the video of a liposuction conducted by Dr. Feinendegen, MD, and the general information given for liposuction.
See video of Dr. Feinendegen, MD
