Abdominoplasty is a surgical procedure to remove excess wrinkled skin, stretch marks of pregnancy, old surgical scars and fatty tissue from the middle and lower portions of the abdomen. It tightens the abdominal skin, strengthens abdominal muscles and flattens the lower abdomen. It can be combined with other procedures on the abdomen.

The abdominal skin is separated from the muscles using an incision in the lowest fold. The navel is left attached at its own position. Through this incision, the muscle is tightened. The excess skin and fat is then pulled down and cut off and the navel re-attached. This rids the tummy of all the skin and fat that lies below the navel, along with the scars and stretch marks. Drainage tubes are inserted under the skin to take away any fluid that may accumulate under the skin flaps.

I prefer General Anaesthesia, although this can even be done under epidural spinal anaesthesia.

Patient stays until the drainage tubes are removed, generally 48 to 72 hrs.

• When combined with liposuction, the drainage may continue for 4 to 5 days.
• If the navel has been excessively stretched by an associated hernia, the umbilicus may have to be removed.
• The scar, especially in darker skin types, may not be as light as the Caesarean section scar that existed earlier in its place.

Patient is generally allowed to shower after the drains have been removed and follow up visits are once in 3 to 4 days. Stitches are removed about 10 to 12 days after surgery. A corset is recommended for 3 to 6 months, especially if liposuction has also been done.

Stretch marks, above the navel to start with, will be pulled down but not taken away. Stretch marks from the sides cannot be taken away by the conventional incision that is used. The final appearance of the scar has great individual variation.

The change in the body contour is remarkable, especially in those women who have a roll of fat and skin to hold below the navel.