Although abdominoplasty is often associated only with the removal of excess skin from the abdomen, the procedure goes beyond this function. With the evolution of techniques, surgery began to play an important role in reconstructing body contour, especially after pregnancies, large fluctuations in weight or intense weight loss processes.

According to Dr. Flávia Bonato, a plastic surgeon who is a member of the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery (SBCP), the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) and the Brazilian Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (BAPS), modern abdominoplasty takes into account the entire structure of the abdominal region and allows changes to be treated that are not limited to excess skin.

“Many patients arrive at the office believing that the problem is just the excess skin. In fact, there is often a combination of factors, such as loss of abdominal muscles, changes in the waist, sagging of deep tissues and excess localized fat. The treatment needs to consider all these structures so that the result is harmonious”, he explains.

Below, check out 5 interesting facts that help you better understand the procedure!

1. Surgery can correct abdominal muscle separation

One of the most common changes after pregnancy or large changes in weight is abdominal diastasisa condition characterized by the separation of the rectus abdominis muscles. This change can cause the belly to continue to bulge even in people with a low percentage of fat or who exercise frequently.

“During abdominoplasty, the surgeon can perform muscle plication, a technique that repositions these muscles and helps restore the firmness of the abdominal wall. Correction of diastasis usually brings not only aesthetic but also functional benefits. Many patients report improved trunk stability and body perception after surgery”, says Dr. Flávia Bonato.

2. The goal is not always to lose weight

Despite being often associated with weight loss, abdominoplasty is not a weight loss procedure. “In practice, surgery is indicated to remove excess tissue and improve body contour in patients who are already close to their desired weight. It is even more common after weight loss”, says the doctor.

This situation, according to the plastic surgeon, is increasingly common among people who have undergone significant weight loss, including after using weight loss medications, and are left with excess skin and abdominal sagging.

Dr. Flávia Bonato reinforces that surgery should not be seen as an alternative to health care, such as adequate nutrition and exercise. The results of the technique tend to be more satisfactory when the patient’s weight has stabilized and wants to treat changes that have not been corrected with lifestyle changes.

3. Abdominoplasty is often associated with liposuction

A frequent question is whether the surgery removes fat. “Although small amounts can be removed along with excess skin, body remodeling is generally enhanced by the association with liposuction”, says Dr. Flávia Bonato.

The combination allows you to simultaneously treat sagging and localized fat deposits. “The advantage of combining abdominoplasty with liposculpture is a better treatment of the body contour, highlighting the waist more and giving a more beautiful silhouette”, highlights Dr. Marcelo Rudy, plastic surgeon member of the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery.

Furthermore, it is also possible to associate abdominoplasty with other procedures. “Currently we can associate abdominoplasty, for example, with technologies from the IgniteRF platform, such as Quantum and Morpheus, with ultrasonic liposculpture and direct intramuscular lipoinjection”, says the doctor.

Dr. Flávia Bonato highlights that surgery planning considers the body as a whole, taking into account the balance between different structures. “It’s not enough to just remove skin. We need to analyze proportions, contours and volumes to achieve a natural and balanced result.”

4. The belly button is usually repositioned

One of the curiosities that most surprise patients is the treatment of the navel during surgery. The plastic surgeon explains that, in traditional abdominoplasties, the abdominal skin is pulled downwards after removing the excess. As a consequence, the navel needs to be exteriorized again in a new anatomical position.

“Therefore, the final appearance of the navel is an important stage in the surgical planning. The navel is one of the details that draws the most attention in the final result. Currently, there are techniques that seek a discreet, natural and proportional appearance to the abdomen”, explains Dr. Flávia Bonato.

5. Not every patient needs a complete abdominoplasty

Although the traditional version is the best known, there are different types of the procedure, such as mini-abdominoplasty. “Mini abdominoplasty is indicated in cases of complaints below the navel. The indication between it and conventional surgery depends on the amount of skin that needs to be removed, whether the patient has diastasis and, mainly, if the patient has complaints from the navel upwards”, says Dr. Marcelo Rudy.

According to Dr. Flávia Bonato, individualization is one of the pillars of modern plastic surgery. “The biggest surgery is not always the best surgery. The success of the treatment depends on identifying exactly what each patient’s needs are. There are situations in which minor procedures offer excellent results precisely because they respect the anatomical characteristics of that case”, he states.

Important care before and after surgery

Despite technical advances, abdominoplasty should always be recommended after a detailed medical evaluation. Furthermore, Dr. Flávia Bonato explains that the patient’s clinical history, presence of diastasis, skin quality, body weight, lifestyle habits and expectations directly influence surgical planning.

“Another important aspect is the patient’s nutritional status before and after surgery. Adequate protein intake deserves special attention, as these nutrients provide the amino acids necessary for collagen synthesis, tissue repair and healing“, says the doctor.

Therefore, medical monitoring is essential. “Patients who have undergone major weight loss processes, including those who used weight loss medications, may experience insufficient protein intake or loss of muscle mass, which must be identified and corrected before the procedure. After the procedure, protein supplementation may be indicated, depending on the patient”, he explains.

Surgery is only part of the treatment. According to Dr. Flávia Bonato, recovery also depends on the body’s conditions to promote healing. In this way, nutritional adjustments can be recommended and, when necessary, follow-up with a nutritionist to optimize protein consumption and contribute to postoperative recovery.

“Modern plastic surgery seeks naturalness and proportionality. The objective is not to completely transform the body, but to restore structures that have been modified by time, pregnancy or weight loss, returning comfort and harmony to the patient”, he concludes.

By Maria Paula Amoroso