When I first meet somebody who has shed a large amount of weight we spend a fair bit of time creating a shopping list of which “bits” they want to change. Once you have established priorities you can make a plan, followed by working out timings and the costs involved. Once these issues are in place, it provides a good sense of purpose and safety for both you and your family. Any operation has an impact on those around you, both at home and at work, and if you can go forward with a “travel itinerary” of what is going to be happening to you and when, life becomes so much easier.
Most people start with their abdomen, as big weight loss invariably produces a large overhang of loose skin and a droopy pubic area, both of which can make life miserable. It’s not just the hygiene issues, but also you have lost all this weight and still have to tuck bits into the front of your clothes.
I do a different procedure for each person, depending on their issues and shape, but in broad terms there are two types of abdominal reduction. The first is a procedure when there isn’t too much looseness in the flanks, probably best described as a standard “tummy tuck”. I hate that term! This is an operation involving a 2-3 day stay in hospital which will keep you off work for 4-6 weeks. It isn’t trivial!!
The other operation is where there is a lot of loose skin in the midline as well as an overhang. In these cases I take a piece of tissue from the centre of the abdomen in addition to beneath the tummy button. It leaves a vertical scar in addition to a horizontal one.
Both operations produce a scar around the tummy button which is always shortened and reshaped as part of both procedures. Quite often I use a bit of liposuction on the flanks and pubic mons, which is and area that often requires a bit of “hitching up”.
The most important thing about abdominoplasty is to have 6 weeks of down time up your sleeve. You might not need it, but to pretend that everyone is hunky-dory and back to playing AFL with the kids by two weeks is a myth. Most big weight loss patients have some wound healing issues along the way, as their tissues are never that great and the gastric surgery causes a degree of malnutrition. Usually these problems are minor and can be resolved with dressings you can do yourself. All I’m saying is don’t expect it to be entirely plain sailing.
As always, the best way of finding out specifics is to come in and see me or one of my nurse educators, who will be happy to let you know what we do.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.