1-  HOW MUCH WEIGHT AM I GOING TO LOSE AFTER AN ABDOMINOPLASTY?
Since this surgery removes a certain amount of skin and fat, it will evidently cause some reduction in the body weight, but this will vary according to each patient's abdominal volume. However, the quantity of “kilos” removed is not what will define the aesthetic result, but the proportions that the abdomen will maintain with the rest of the trunk and members. Paradoxically, the abdomens with the best aesthetic results are a less amount of skin and fat was removed. A great majority of women present some abdomen flaccidity after two or more child deliveries. It can be observed some predominance of skin on the localized fat in the area. Excellent results can be achieved in these cases. In other cases, when the patient is overweighed, the result will also be compensatory and proportional to the rest of the body. However, it is worth remembering that excesses of fat in nearby abdominal areas will still remain. This makes it necessary to advise those patients to proceed with a clinical and dietary treatment to achieve a balance between the several areas.


2-  DOES ABDOMIPLASTY LEAVE A VISIBLE SCAR?
All surgical incisions leave scars. By utilizing suture techniques and surgical material of good quality, we try to achieve the most discreet scar as possible. Unfortunately, the scar quality does not depend solely on these factors. Each person's genetic characteristics and type of skin also play an important role in this result. Some people have the tendency to develop hypertrophied or keloid scars. Today, this problem can be easily solved with radiotherapy (betatherapy) treatment during the immediate post -op period.
If this tendency is only lately diagnosed, a second surgical time will probably be necessary (exeresis of the scars) under local anesthesia, when we will be able to carry out betatherapy.

For further information about scar evolution, there follows some facts about the several phases of the scar healing processa.
a. Immediate period : it lasts as far as the 30 th day and has a hardly visible aspect. Some cases present discreet reaction to the stitches and to dressing.

b. Mediate period : it lasts as far as the 30 th day until the 12 th month. During this period, the scar naturally thickens and goes through a change in its color, turning darker (from red to brown) but little by little it becomes clearer. This period is the less favorable of the scar evolution and it is what worries the patients the most. As we cannot accelerate the natural healing process, we recommend that the patients should not be worried about this, since, in a later period, the scar remains will surely diminish.

c. Late period : it lasts from the 12 th to the 18 th month. During this period, the scar turns clearer and less consistent and reaches its definitive aspect. Any assessment of the final surgery result concerning the scar should be done after this period. The resulting scar of a abdominoplasty is located horizontally right above the pubic hairs, extending laterally and its extent will depend on the abdominal volume to be corrected.


3- WHEN WILL I BE ABLE TO SEE THE FINAL RESULT?
Around the second month. But the ideal time is 4 months. The human body takes long to respond to surgical trauma. Therefore, it is expected that, in the first month, the abdomen presents edemas (swellings) and in not yet in its definitive shape. Little by little, it gets less swollen and the body contour becomes more defined. The infra-umbilical area is the one that takes longer for the swelling to go down because gravity force moves the edema from the upper to the lower region. There is less sensitiveness until the 2 nd month.


4-  IS IT TRUE THAT A NEW UMBILICUS IS MADE?
No. Your own umbilicus will be transplanted and, if necessary, remodeled. We should consider that around the umbilicus there will be a scar that will go through the same scar evolution phases described above.


5-  DOES ABDOMINOPLASTY REMOVE THE FAT EXCESS LOCATED ABOVE STOMACH AREA?
Generally, yes. But the result will depend on many factors: • Your biotype: trunk – abdomen proportion is very important. Patients with a short trunk have a disadvantageous result compared to patients with a long trunk. • Thickness of the adipose panicle (amount of fat between the skin and the muscles). • In fat patients, body contour surgery presents, for obvious reasons, several result constraints. For this reason, we recommend weight loss before surgery. In patients with localized fat in the supra-umbilical area, we can associate, though with some restrictions, liposuction. We generally avoid this associated procedure due to risks of vascular damage of the abdominal area (flap).


6-  WILL I BE ABLE TO BECOME PREGNANT IN THE FUTURE WITH NO DAMAGE TO THE RESULTS?
We recommend you should have your children before undergoing an abdominoplasty. A new pregnancy can be scheduled a year after surgery. The result can be maintained as long as you control you body weight during pregnancy. (only 9 extra kilos of your ideal weight).


7-  I HEARD THAT ABDOMINOPLASTY POST OP CAUSES PAIN. IS IT TRUE?
No. Abdominoplasty with normal evolution should not cause pain. There is an enormous misunderstanding because some patient undergo abdominoplasty and gynecological surgery simultaneously and may report some post op abdominal pain. Generally, this procedure does not present severe complications. The risks are the ones inherent to any surgical procedure. We try to minimize them with pre and post op care.


8-  WHAT KIND OF ANESTHESIA WILL BE UTILIZED FOR THIS OPERATION?
General anesthesia. In some cases peridural or similar ones can also be utilized.


9-  HOW LONG DOES SURGERY TAKE?
From two hours and a half to three hours.


10-  HOW LONG DOES HOSPITALIZATION PERIOD TAKE?
24 hours.


11-  ARE DRESSINGS USED?
Yes. Dressings with surgical tape (micro pore tape) that will be changed on a weekly basis at the clinic and a modeling girdle.


12-  WHEN ARE THE STITCHES REMOVED?
Between the 8 th and 12 th day.


13-  WHEN WILL I BE ABLE TO TAKE A COMPLETE SHOWER?
Generally, after three days. Follow medical orientation.


14-  HOW DOES POST OP EVOLUTION TAKE PLACE?
You should not forget that you would go through several phases until we reach a desirable result. In item 2, we discussed scar evolution (until the 18 th month). In item 3, we informed about the evolution of the abdominal shape and sensitiveness. However, you may be worried about seeing the final result ahead of time. Be patient because your own body will be responsible for solving little problems that may appear during this intermediate period and which may call your attention. It is evident that any worry you have should be informed to our professional team. We will provide you with necessary information so you can feel more comfortable. Some patients may feel anxious during this period because of the edemas insensitiveness, scar transition, etc. This is momentary and generally reflects the patient's desire to see the final result as soon as possible. Be aware that the result of an abdominal surgery will not reach its final shape until the 12 th -18 th month after the operation. After the 8 th day, fat patients may eliminate a certain amount of yellow liquid through some of the scar sutures. This phenomenon is called lipolisis and it consists of the liquefaction of residual fat close the scar area and which is being eliminated. But this does not constitute any severe complication.


15-  WILL DRAINS BE USED?
Yes. A drain should be used for five to seven days to eliminate serum blood secretion, which may accumulate under the undermined skin. The drains prevent these secretions (seromas-hematomas) to accumulate. However, there may be occasions when, despite all these cares, seromas may be formed during the post op period, which may require more frequent dressing.


16- ULTIMATELY WILL I GET A DEFINITIVE RESULT WITH A SINGLE SURGICAL PROCEDURE?
Generally, yes. Our aim is that the patient achieves the ideal shape in the most natural and aesthetic manner as possible. Some intercurrence may turn necessary a revision surgery. So the result can be better. This rarely happens but, when necessary, it could be done under local anesthesia, in a comfortable manner.