Abdominoplasty and weight-loss surgery: What are the differences?

Many people refer to the doctor for abdominoplasty. In contrast, after hearing their expectations and needs, the doctor suggests bariatric (weight-loss) surgeries. This misperception is due to people’s misunderstanding of abdominoplasty surgery.

Tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is cosmetic surgery, not a treatment. In contrast, weight loss surgeries such as a gastric sleeve or gastric bypass are performed to treat obesity and change the patient’s lifestyle.

This article will help you if you want to know more about the differences between weight loss and abdominoplasty surgeries. First, we need to know what is abdominoplasty, and how is it done?

What is abdominoplasty (abdominal cosmetic surgery)?

Abdominoplasty is a procedure in which the abdomen’s excess fat and skin are removed, and the abdominal muscles are tightened. The result of this surgery is permanent, and the patient can maintain his/her new style after surgery with a healthy diet.

People decide to have abdominoplasty for various reasons, some of which may include weak abdominal muscles after pregnancy or massive weight loss.

How is abdominoplasty performed?

In general, this surgery is performed in two ways: total or partial (mini-abdominoplasty), in both methods, the surgery team puts the patient under general anesthesia.

The procedure of mini-abdominoplasty is as follows:

• Making a large incision across the lower abdomen
• Separating the skin from the abdominal wall below the belly button
• Removing excess fat
• Cutting extra skin
• Lifting and bringing together the skin on both sides of the abdomen and suturing it.

The procedure of full abdominoplasty is as follows:

• Making a large incision across the lower abdomen, parallel to the line between the left and right hips
• Making another incision to separate the belly button from the surrounding tissues
• Separating the skin from the abdominal wall
• Aligning and smoothing the abdominal muscles
• Removing excess fat and skin
• Making a new hole for the belly button and putting it in its new place
• Lifting and bringing together the remaining skin and suturing it.

Abdominoplasty usually takes 2 to 5 hours. Most patients have to stay in the hospital for a few nights after surgery to monitor their general condition. The medical team makes sure that no complication has occurred during surgery. After spending this period in the hospital, the patient is discharged with a very tight garment intended to keep their abdomen firmly in place. The doctor advises the patient to use the garment after abdominoplasty and even for months afterwards. There should be someone to take care of the patient for up to 24 hours after discharge.

What are the complications of abdominoplasty?

As you may know, pain and swelling after abdominoplasty are typical. However, usually, the plastic surgeon prescribes painkillers to reduce the patient’s pain if necessary.

The pain of the tummy tuck surgery may last for weeks or even months. Following the surgeon’s instructions will help the patient recover faster. You may also experience numbness, bruising, and fatigue in the whole body.

Like any other surgery, there are risks associated with cosmetic surgeries such as tummy tuck. Although these complications may be rare, they can include infection, bleeding under the flap of the skin, or the formation of blood clots that can reach the lungs through the bloodstream and interfere with breathing.

The risk of abdominoplasty surgery complications increases if the patient has diabetes, poor blood circulation or heart, lung and kidney disease, or if he/she has a history of blood clots.

Besides, the healing process may not go well, leading to sagging skin and scarring. If the patient has a poor recovery, he/she may need revision surgery.

As mentioned earlier, the sutures (scars) of abdominoplasty are relatively prominent and therefore, they never completely disappear. The surgeon may prescribe ointments and creams for the patient to apply after the full recovery to make tummy tuck scars fade.

Weight loss surgery and tummy tuck differences

Abdominoplasty is a type of cosmetic surgery performed to beautify and correct abdominal defects after excessive weight loss or pregnancy or other reasons. This surgery should not be considered as a method of treating obesity or removing visceral fat.

Visceral or abdominal fat accumulates between organs in the body such that abdominoplasty cannot treat. These fats are the most stubborn, and therefore they are tough to melt. If left untreated, these fats can lead to type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, Syndrome X and other obesity-related diseases.

The best plastic surgeons in Iran generally reject patients who attempt abdominoplasty to remove visceral fat. After losing weight and melting fat, the patient can have abdominoplasty to lift the muscles and remove sagging abdominal skin.

On the other hand, if the patient suffers from obesity, the best permanent solution is weight loss surgery. Gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, gastric balloon, and some other types of weight-loss surgeries are a way to reduce fat and lower body mass index (BMI).

Therefore, if you need weight loss surgery, do not go for abdominoplasty because it will not help melt your fat. It is also very dangerous.

Unfortunately, most people are looking for a quick weight loss diet or cosmetic surgery such as liposuction and abdominoplasty instead of the ultimate weight loss solution. Weight loss surgery is the safest and most effective way to regain good health.

Of course, weight loss surgery has different types, each of which has its advantages and disadvantages. Suppose the patient needs to have both surgeries (abdominoplasty and weight loss surgery). In that case, weight loss surgery should be done before abdominoplasty. The advantage of this is that the patient no longer gains weight after abdominoplasty, and the abdomen does not protrude again.

We emphasize again that abdominoplasty or tummy tuck is cosmetic surgery. In contrast, weight loss surgery is a treatment for obesity and related diseases.