Am I Eligible for Abdominal Surgery?

If you’ve experienced hernias or extreme weight fluctuation due to pregnancy or weight loss, then abdominal reconstruction surgery may be the solution for you to get back a defined, contoured tummy.

How Much Does Abdominal Reconstruction Cost?

The cost of the abdominal procedure is provided on a case-by-case basis after your first consultation.

What Are The Scars Following Surgery?

The incision is usually made above the pubic area to avoid an obvious scar. The length of the scar depends on what is required during the procedure. Although it will appear red or purple at first, it will soon fade into white.

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Abdominal Reconstruction

Abdominal reconstruction also known as abdominal wall reconstruction or abdominal surgery is a procedure that combines removing excess skin with repairing the abdominal wall.

What is Abdominal Reconstruction?

abdominal wall reconstruction includes a combination of a tummy tuck, Fleur de Lis and body lifting with abdominal wall tightening. This is also done with mesh repair in some cases. Many patients who have experienced hernias, pregnancy or who have undergone dramatic weight loss choose to have an abdominal reconstruction. It may also be that the patient has previously had abdominal surgery and now has a weakness in their abdominal wall.

The abdominal wall is made up of skin and multiple layers of tissue that includes fat and muscle. This is what helps us maintain posture and protects the abdominal organs such as the stomach and liver. If this is damaged, then abdominal reconstruction may be an option for you.

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Your Abdominal Surgery Consultation

During your initial abdominal wall reconstruction consultation, we ask that you’re open and honest about your medical history and surgery expectations. This is so we can establish the very best treatment option for you. The surgeon will advise the level of abdominal reconstruction you may require as each operation is tailored to the individual’s needs.

Our in-depth consultation aims to work with you to create a surgery plan that can achieve your desired results based on your realistic abdominal reconstruction surgery expectations.

Abdominal Reconstruction Preparations

This abdominal surgery will require you to be under general anaesthetic, so if you’re feeling unwell or have any other health-related issues then it’s important that you let us know. It’s also advised that you take a number of precautions before surgery, including:

Stop smoking 6 weeks prior to surgery
Stop taking anti-inflammatories or herbal supplements
Avoid taking aspirin

After the abdominal wall reconstruction, you should arrange for a friend or relative to collect you. It’s also advised that you take time off work, typically around 2 weeks.

What to Expect During an Abdominal Reconstruction

The duration of abdominal wall reconstruction is usually 2 to 3 hours long but can be longer depending on the extent of the abdominal surgery you’re undergoing. The incision is typically made on the lower abdomen and the longer the incision, the more tissue that can be removed. The technique used depends on what exactly is required. Generally, the abdominal wall is tightened to better define the abdominal contour.

Excess skin is then removed and the incision is closed with dissolvable stitches. The scar should be just above the pubic area, making it easy to hide under any average clothing waistline.

How Long is the Abdominal Surgery Recovery Period?

Following an abdominal reconstruction procedure, it’s common for the patient to feel some pain and discomfort so you may wish to take pain relief medication for this. You’ll need to wear a supportive compression garment for about 4 – 6 weeks to help reduce swelling and bruising. It’s also important that you follow the surgeon’s advice for abdominal wall reconstruction aftercare, including:

Avoid any exercise or strenuous activity
Keep the wounds dry
Avoid driving
Begin to massage the scar once it’s healed

About a week or so after your abdominal reconstruction you’ll be checked over in the dressings clinic to ensure you’re healing well.

FAQs

Who is Suitable For Abdominal Reconstruction?

When one has been through pregnancy or has had past experiences with hernias, this can damage your abdominal wall which is important for many functions including maintaining posture, protecting our internal organs as well as aids in coughing, vomiting and defecating. If the abdominal wall has been damaged in this process, abdominal wall reconstruction may be suitable for you. Abdominal surgery will in turn help to contour and redefine your abdominal region for a more aesthetically pleasing look. You may also be suitable for abdominal reconstruction if:

You are physically healthy
You are not pregnant or breastfeeding
You have recurring hernias
You have an infection developed from surgery
A wound has developed after a hernia repair

How Much Does Abdominal Reconstruction Surgery Cost?

Abdominal reconstruction can involve a range of different techniques as well as be combined with other cosmetic procedures. For this reason, it is difficult to give a detailed breakdown of the abdominal reconstruction surgery cost. When you go in for your first abdominal reconstruction consultation, you will be given a full breakdown of the costs involved with your procedure. This will include surgery fees, anaesthetic costs, surgeon fees and anything else that may be involved. Contact us today to book your abdominal wall reconstruction consultation.

What Are The Scars Following Abdominal Surgery?

Abdominal reconstruction is an invasive procedure, this means you will be under general anaesthetic and put to sleep. With the nature of the abdominal wall reconstruction, it is inevitable that there will be some scarring. Due to where the procedure is taking place, you will have a scar around the pubic area so that the surgeon can hide the scarring as much as possible with normal clothing.

The length of the scar from abdominal reconstruction will depend completely on the amount of work that needs doing. If more tissue is required to be removed, the larger the scar will be. Although at first the scarring will be prominent and appear red or purple, it will soon fade into a white scar. The best way to remedy abdominal surgery scars is by massaging the area regularly to allow blood to flow around the wound. In very rare circumstances, laser treatment may be suitable.

Do You Have Any Abdominal Wall Reconstruction Before and After Examples?

Due to abdominal reconstruction being able to be combined with a range of different procedures like abdominoplasty and a mummy makeover it is difficult to give exact abdominal wall reconstruction surgery before and after examples. As you can see above there are some examples of abdominal wall reconstruction. If you would like to see more examples, you can browse our case studies page. Once you have had your first abdominal surgery consultation, you will have a much better understanding of what to expect.

What Should I Eat After An Abdominal Wall Reconstruction?

After you have come out of abdominal surgery, you will feel drowsy and may not feel like eating. When you do, you can eat your normal diet. If you have an upset stomach, you may find that it is best to opt for more plain low-fat foods including chicken, rice, yoghurt and toast. Like with any sort of procedure, you will need to regularly drink water or fluids after your abdominal reconstruction unless your doctor says otherwise.

Is Abdominal Reconstruction Painful?

Patients who undergo abdominal wall reconstruction often find that the pain postoperative is quite significant. This will be due to the abdominal wall and not the visible scarring. Once you have come out of surgery, your surgeon will do everything they can to help relieve the discomfort by dressing you in a compression garment and will also prescribe you pain relief medication.

Abdominal Wall Reconstruction