Age, your body type and genetics all play a role in how hard it is to achieve your ideal weight and silhouette. Unfortunately, sometimes even the best diet, exercise routine and intentions won’t help you reach your goals.
A person’s individual genetics determines their unique body shape, meaning that everyone burns fat and gains or loses weight differently. Some find it quite easy to burn abdominal fat, while others will burn away fat in the buttock and thigh area instead.
For many men and women, surgery is the most logical solution when their best weight loss efforts are met with failure to achieve their shape goals.
When it comes to addressing excess fat and loose skin of the body, there are two procedures that many people turn to: abdominoplasty and lower body lifts. Although the nature of these two procedures are very similar, they do target different areas. The procedure you choose needs to be selected according to your goals and will depend on what your problem areas are.
Let’s take a close look at these two surgeries so that you can decide which one best meets your needs.
Body Lift: The What and How
A lower body lift is ideal for those who want to get rid of stubborn fat and tighten loose skin around the abdomen, buttock, lower back and outer thighs. If pregnancy, weight loss, genetics and ageing have caused skin laxity and changed the general contours of your body all the way around, from front to back, you could benefit from a lower body lift.
A lower body lift requires a general anaesthetic before the necessary incisions are made. The incision extends around the body within the underwear line. This allows your surgeon to remove an apron of excess skin and fat above the buttocks, in the flank and the stomach. The separated abdominal muscles are repaired, as they are with an abdominoplasty and liposuction. The remaining skin is then lifted, the excess removed and deep sutures are put in place to add support and create contours.
The average body lift takes about four to five hours to complete but can sometimes extend to six hours. While swelling will occur, patients can see a noticeable difference directly after a body lift.
Abdominoplasty: The What and How
Commonly referred to as a tummy tuck surgery, an abdominoplasty also reduces excess skin and fat. The difference is that an abdominoplasty focuses on the abdomen. Over and above this, it also strengthens weakened abdominal muscles. This muscle repair has important functional and aesthetic roles. Many women accept lower back pain, reduced bladder control and reduced core strength as a natural part of ageing, yet men don’t have these concerns. Repairing the abdominal muscles improves the efficiency of the abdominal muscles and strength, with a 90% improvement in lower back pain, an 80% improvement in bladder control and is the most important factor that flattens the stomach after pregnancies.
Patients who have been pregnant or have lost a significant amount of weight can benefit from an abdominoplasty surgery. However, while the results are highly effective, a healthy lifestyle needs to be maintained to prevent the reversal of results.
An abdominoplasty requires a general anaesthetic before a horizontal incision is made across the abdominal area. Excess skin is lifted and repair of the abdominal muscles is usually required. The procedure can also be paired with liposuction if excess fat present interferes with contours. Sutures are used to close the incisions, and tapes are used to provide additional support and help improve and control scar quality.
You will require support at home during the first two weeks after this procedure before you can slowly start resuming your normal routine. At this time, most patients are able to perform most normal activities, although you should exercise more slowly to reduce exertion. Many feel able to increase their activities to light exercise at three weeks, however any significant activities will need to be deferred until six weeks, when all activities can be recommenced.
Deciding on a Surgery
If your diet and exercise efforts are no longer producing results, it might be time to consider surgery. As mentioned previously, the surgery you choose will depend on which areas you’re currently struggling with.
Regardless of the surgical procedure you decide on, there are a few important aspects to keep in mind:
- The surgeon you choose for your procedure makes a significant difference to your experience and results, so be careful in your decision, preferably choosing a specialist plastic surgeon.
- It is essential to have realistic expectations before you undertake any type of surgery, including an abdominoplasty or body lift.
- Make sure that you have support at home after your surgery. The best outcomes come from choosing the best procedure for your goals, a well performed operation and a good recovery that avoids the premature return to significant exercise.
If you would prefer a professional opinion about which surgery to choose, get in touch with A/Prof Magnusson and schedule a personalised consultation.