Abdominal bulge, lax skin, stretch marks, and excess fat can all result from pregnancy and weight loss. In most cases, no amount of exercise or diet can sufficiently resolve these changes. While quite common following several pregnancies, heavy weight-gain pregnancies or large birth weight babies, laxity and bulge of the tummy can also frequently be seen after a single pregnancy with even modest weight gain. Cycles of weight gain and loss can also results in residual “rolls” of skin on the sides of the stomach area.
This redundant tissue can cause discomfort and chronic health issues including persistent rashes, fungal infection, or skin breakdown within the folds and infection risk. Patients frequently present with back or shoulder pain caused by the weight of the redundant tissue or the inability to maintain proper posture. Often, the weight and volume of the excess skin interferes with simple day to day activities and exercise.
I spent a very long time researching for a place to have my abdominoplasty surgery. Wood had some incredible reviews, from the moment after my first consultation with James I knew it was the place I would choose.
I am now 5 weeks post op, the care and consideration I have received while there for the two nights and all of that post op have been phenomenal. The staff are absolutely incredible and nothing is ever too much trouble, from their understanding nature to their prompt responses to any questions or queries. You absolutely get what you pay for and I wouldn’t hesitate to come back or recommend to anyone.
Abdominoplasty Patient
An abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck, removes excess skin and excess fat from the stomach area restoring a firmer, flatter midsection contour. This is often combined with the repair of abdominal muscle bulge or separation (diastasis recti).
Abdominoplasty surgery can be part of post-weightloss surgery combinations and mummy makeovers.
Your body and your confidence,
beautifully restored
An excellent abdominoplasty result involves more than simply excising skin and fat: it is a sculpturing, recontouring, restorative procedure that requires a combination of deep understanding of the anatomy and aesthetic vision to achieve the most rebalanced, restored and aesthetic results. To attain the best and most effective results, an abdominoplasty should not be performed when an individual is significantly overweight: it is not a “quick fix” in place of weightloss. Patients should aim to be stable at, or close to, their ideal weight prior to surgery.
Abdominoplasty at Wood MediSpa near Exeter
The following factors are indications that an abdominoplasty may be the correct procedure for you:
- A body weight within 10% of ideal, or BMI below 30 (and ideally 26-27)
- Excess skin of the abdomen
- Localized excess fat of the anterior abdomen and flanks
- Weak or bulging abdominal contour
- Diastasis recti (midline separation of the abdominal muscles)
Types of Abdominoplasty
At your consultation, your surgeon will offer guidance on the best abdominoplasty approach for your anatomy and desired outcome.
Mini abdominoplasty – a mini tummy tuck treats the region limited below the belly button and above the pubic area, and is ideal for isolated excess in this region. Most women have more diffuse skin excess, fat excess, and diastasis recti usually require a full abdominoplasty.
Lipoabdominoplasty – liposuction is often used in conjunction with a tummy tuck to sculpt and remove excess fat (including flanks and hips). Inclusion of liposuction maximises the ability of the surgeon to sculpt and contour the abdomen.
Classical abdominoplasty – a full tummy tuck can remove more significant skin and localised fat excess, repairs diastasis recti, and rejuvenates and restores the umbilicus (belly button).
Fleur-de-Lys Abdominoplasty
This procedure is a “gold standard” for individuals who have a substantial amount of excess skin that hangs both vertically and horizontally.
Unlike a traditional tummy tuck that uses a single horizontal incision, the Fleur-de-Lys incorporates an additional vertical incision along the midline. This creates an inverted “T” or anchor-shaped scar.
The vertical component allows your surgeon to pull the skin toward the centre of the abdomen, effectively narrowing the waist and removing skin “rolls” from the upper abdomen and flanks that a standard procedure might miss. It is most beneficial for post-bariatric patients or those who have lost 100+ lbs, where skin has lost its elasticity in all directions.
While this technique offers the most dramatic body contouring, it results in a more prominent, visible vertical scar compared to the easily hidden horizontal scar of a classical tummy tuck.
BMI
Wood MediSpa uses body mass index (BMI, a metric that estimates body fat and safety profiles based on height and weight) to assist in the determination of candidacy for surgery.
An ideal BMI is reached at or below 25 kg/m2, where both safety and anticipated results are maximal. A BMI above 30 kg/m2 is a contraindication to surgery.
Discreet Scar Placement
Most abdominoplasty procedures utilise a horizontal incision above the pubic line that is made only as long as the skin-excess requires, generally within the confines of the hip bones. The position of the resulting incision is maintained as low as possible, and most can easily cover it with regular underwear or a bikini. With moderate and severe excess the umbilicus must also be reset, providing for a maximal tightening and flattening of the anterior abdominal contour. This leaves a small scar at the tummy button: when healed, this scar is almost invisible as it is disguised by the contour of the tummy button.
Hernia Repair
If a hernia is present, the hernia is isolated and reduced, and hernia repair is performed. Surgery is the only definitive way to repair a hernia. Wood MediSpa offers surgical solutions for inguinal, femoral, umbilical and paraumbilical and incisional hernias.
Diastasis Repair
When diastasis recti is present, the tummy tuck incision also provides access to repair the abdominal wall musculature.
The repair of the diastasis recti is carried out as a “long plication”, fixing the separation of the rectus muscles from the xiphoid (breast bone) all the way down to the pubic bone, effectively flattening and narrowing the midsection.
Your Wood MediSpa Experience
From your first contact with us, and throughout the entirety of your recovery and follow-up, you will experience the thoroughness, attention to detail, and warmth with which our fantastic team welcome and care for you. The first visit is an opportunity for your surgeon to get to understand your desires, to examine and evaluate physical requirements, to thoroughly inform you about the procedure or alternative treatments that will suit you best, to answer any questions you may have, and to introduce you to our incredibly warm, professional, caring and compassionate staff.
More information about Abdominoplasty can be found at the British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons.