Healing After Abdominal Liposuction

Perhaps the abdomen or tummy is one of the most commonly treated areas in liposuction surgery in which the localized fats are removed using cannula, a hollowed steel tube that is attached to a vacuum pump.

Tummy liposuction, as with any cosmetic surgery, requires recovery although patients are likely to resume their normal activities just within a few days.  But just to be on the safe side, they should avoid strenuous activities and heavy lifting for several weeks after the treatment.

During the first two to three days of recovery, pain is the most pronounced although this can be easily minimized by over-the-counter or prescribed pain medications not stronger than acetaminophen (Tylenol).  The discomfort is almost similar to the muscle soreness experienced after having a long, strenuous exercise.

Usually, the skin is very sensitive to the touch and even to the slightest movement in the abdominal area; the pain is almost similar to that of a severe sunburn.  Also, there is minimal discomfort while sitting and walking.

Unlike during the previous years, the standard liposuction today is performed completely under local anesthesia, and as a result, there is no need to take any painkiller immediately after the treatment.

A day after surgery, most patients can see a dramatic improvement in the appearance of their waistline.  The immediate result has become possible with the introduction of open-drainage technique in which plastic surgeons allow the small incisions open so as to encourage the anesthetic and excess body fluids to leak.

And to further hasten the drainage of the anesthesia and body fluids, patients are made to wear compression garments for three days to a week, depending on when will the leaks stop.

Because of the compression garments and open-drainage, most of the swelling will be gone for a few days, however, it may take four to 12 weeks before all the residual symptoms completely subside.  But still, the recovery is significantly shorter nowadays compared to the previous years when liposuction was always performed under general anesthesia and required longer incisions.

Aside from encouraging faster drainage, compression garments also allow the skin to heal closer to the body in order to prevent sagging.

Despite some pain and discomfort especially during the first few days of recovery, patients are advised not to remain in bed, but rather take a gentle, short walk inside their home or around their neighborhood as soon as possible to encourage normal blood circulation, which in turn leads to less swelling and faster healing.

Surgical Skin Tightening for MWL Patients

Patients who undergo bariatric or weight loss surgery usually develop hanging skin and pockets of fats that can only be removed with body lift surgery which often involves extensive incisions and skin tightening.  According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, about 53,000 procedures were performed to correct body disfigurement caused by massive weight loss in 2010.

These were the five most commonly performed body lift for MWL patients during the same period:

·         Breast lift or mastopexy

After losing a significant amount of weight, it is not uncommon for women to have breast ptosis manifested by nipples even hanging beyond the crease of the bust.  In addition to the sagging appearance, previously obese patients are also bothered with their deflated looking breasts.

Fortunately, the sagging, pendulous breasts can be easily corrected with breast lift which involves strategically placed incisions to hide or at least minimize the appearance of scars.

·         Lower body lift

The procedure involves making a belt-like incision covering the abdomen, hips, and back to remove the pannus or the hanging skin in the midsection.  The surgery can also lift the sagging buttocks and thighs in order to correct or at least improve the disfigured body of MWL patients.

·         Thigh lift

The procedure usually involves making incisions along the groin that goes back to the buttock crease in order to lift the sagging skin and remove the hanging tissue.  But if a patient needs a significant correction, the excisions are placed at the top of the leg where the sides of the underwear are located.

·         Tummy tuck

This procedure traditionally involves a hip-to-hip incision in order to remove the apron-like skin and fats hanging from the abdomen; but if a patient needs a significant improvement, the excision may even reach the flanks (or sides of the hips) so that plastic surgeons can further trim the waistline and correct the disfigurement.

·         Upper arm lift or brachioplasty

The procedure is performed to correct the “bat-wing” caused by the excess skin that forms in the upper arms after losing a significant amount of weight.  This is done by creating incisions in the inner or outer area of the arms that start from the armpit down to the elbow; but for patients who need the most correction, the surgical excision can even reach their chest so doctors can trim more amounts of loose skin and reshape the underlying tissue.