Liposuction During Abdominoplasty Surgery

Liposuction during Lipo-Abdominoplasty

Not all abdominoplasty surgeries are performed in the same way. Like all plastic surgery procedures, they are best when totally customised to suit an individual’s concerns, body shape, fat distribution, skin condition and surgery objectives. After assessing the patient, Dr Rubinstein often adds customised body-contouring liposuction during abdominoplasty procedures. This allows him to achieve a better overall body shape and fewer bulges for patients who request a firmer, flatter-looking abdominal area.

Liposuction is an advanced surgical body contouring technique used to help abdominoplasty patients get a flatter, firmer-looking result over a larger area of the abdomen. Liposuction-only abdominal area treatments or apronectomy techniques rarely suit the majority of patients who have excess belly fat and loose folds of skin (an “abdominal apron”).

But excess, over-stretched skin and belly bulges are very common body complaints after having children or losing weight.

Fortunately, there are several advanced surgical approaches that can be combined to help you get a more pleasing, longer-lasting result from an abdominoplasty surgery or belt lipectomy procedure, including adding liposuction during abdominoplasty procedures.

The Australian Government has reinstated a Medicare Item Number for an abdominoplasty for some post-pregnancy patients suffering from Diastasis Recti (Split Abdominal Muscles) if you are eligible and meet the new criteria. Read the 30175 Medicare Item Number factsheet.

If you qualify for the 30175 Medicare item number you may also get a subsidy from your Health Fund. There will still be a significant out-of-pocket GAP as Abdominoplasty surgery is NOT FREE.

Considering Abdominoplasty Surgery? Download the Abdominoplasty Guide!

Why Do Patients Seek Liposuction Enhanced Abdominoplasty?

We asked Dr Craig Rubinstein to tell us more about liposuction during abdominoplasty surgery procedures and why it might be performed in a body contouring procedure. He explained that patients may seek liposuction due to:

• Redundant folds of skin or an “abdominal apron”
• An ill-defined waistline even after getting fit
• Post-pregnancy (family is complete) or post-menopausal
• Belly bulges and uneven fat distribution even if super-fit and thin
• Being overweight or having bariatric surgery
• Suffering conditions such as:
  • diastasis recti
  • abdominal hernias
  • extended, over-stretched skin

Signature Procedures: Abdominoplasty with Liposuction

Abdominoplasty with liposuction is designed for women who:

• have lost weight
• finished having children
• suffer from redundant, sagging belly skin
• have unevenly distributed fat stores around their abdomen and mons pubis area

This procedure helps women regain flatter, tighter and firmer contours to their abdomen area or waistline. Further, it helps define or redefine the waistline that has become obscured by loose, redundant skin resulting from pregnancy or weight changes. Finally, it can also reduce loose skin folds or abdominal-area ‘apron’ skin that descends over the belt line.

The conditions that lead women to seek abdominoplasty may often have also resulted in:

• lower back pain
• mild urinary incontinence
• other discomforts during exercise, intimacy or other activities where core abdominal area strength is required

Ask us about diastasis recti or abdominal hernia conditions that we often see in women seeking abdominoplasty procedures, and why no amount of exercising can repair torn abs or take away loose skin.

What is Suction-Assisted Liposuction During an Abdominoplasty?

Have you wondered what suction-assisted liposuction is and if you should have this added body contouring during your abdominoplasty?

“Most patients with excess or unevenly distributed fat and redundant, loose skin on the abdominal area of their torso, do benefit from added body contouring using liposuction,” notes Dr Rubinstein. “But not all surgeons go to this length to help their patients get a good result.”

“An abdominoplasty is primarily a surgical incision method, and it’s officially called an abdominoplasty. But added body contouring via suction-assisted liposuction during the abdominoplasty surgery session is an advanced body shaping technique I use when I recognise a patient is likely to be more satisfied with their results if we can reshape more of that area of the torso, not simply the lower abdomen and belly button area but often the upper abdomen area and even the mons pubis area.”

“So liposuction during an abdominoplasty can be used to help reduce bulges and uneven fat distribution in several areas around the abdomen, including above the navel and below the navel towards the pubis area, which often becomes heavier-looking after having children or gaining and losing weight.”

Procedure Overview of Liposuction During Abdominoplasty Surgery (Abdominoplasty)

Suction-assisted liposuction during abdominoplasty is an advanced plastic surgery combination of procedures. It aids in reducing loose skin from the to gain a flatter-looking belly or mid to lower torso. This procedure also aids in the repair of diastasis recti after pregnancy, treating torn abdominal muscles and helping restore core strength to potentially reduce back pain.

“It’s important that patients are aware that weight stability – along with a healthy BMI (Body Mass Index) – are both crucial for getting a pleasing and long lasting-result,” notes Dr Craig in a recent discussion.

Sometimes the abdominoplasty procedure helps women regain core strength to allow them to exercise again, without heavy, loose skin folds around their abdomen. But if the patient is still too heavy, or has a lot of weight instability – the surgery results will be less than ideal and they won’t look good for long.

Benefits of Abdominoplasty with Liposuction Shaping:

• Tighter-feeling abdominal area with loose skin reduced and torn abdominal muscles repaired
• Flatter-looking torso around the waist or more defined waist-to-hip ratio with skin redundancy corrected
• More contoured and better-proportioned body
• Ability to feel more comfortable in tighter clothing vs baggy clothing that hides the body (commonly worn after pregnancy)

All surgery has risks, and Dr Craig Rubinstein discuss these with you during your consultation. Plus, surgery results can differ substantially from patient to patient.

For the right patient, combined liposuction during abdominoplasty surgery is a well-tolerated surgery procedure for women who:

• Have had one or more pregnancies
• Had vaginal or c-section deliveries
• Lost weight through diet and/or exercise and ended up with over-stretched skin
• Lost weight through Bariatric surgery (e.g., lap band surgery)
• Have loose skin or unevenly distributed adipose cells (fat stores) in different areas of the belly, hips, mons pubis area
• If you need fat or skin reduction around the hips vs the abdominal area, ask Dr Rubinstein if you’re a candidate for a Belt Lipectomy or if another procedure is going to suit your needs best.
• Not all patients are suitable candidates and you’ll need to understand the surgery process, costs, risks and downtime required before you consent to a procedure.

Case Study of a Combined Liposuction and Abdominoplasty Procedure

*Note that results vary significantly from patient to patient and that individual factors, BMI/weight changes and skin health will greatly impact your results.

Combined Plastic or Cosmetic Surgical Procedures

Some patients may want to combine additional procedures to their suction-assisted abdominoplasty (or may need a body-lift procedure).

For female surgical patients, abdominoplasty is often part of a total “combined surgery after pregnancy” surgery plan. This combines other procedures such as a breast reduction and breast lift, an upper arm lift, and/or facial rejuvenation procedures depending on the person’s goals.

Some men with “man boobs” or “moobs” (protruding male breasts) may choose to combine male breast reduction surgery and additional lipo sculpting with their abdominoplasty surgeries.

Surgical Risks to Consider

You’ll receive a list at your consultation and be given recommendations for reducing your risks. These include:

• being at a stable weight
• eating a healthy, nutritious diet
• getting adequate rest before and after your surgery
• not doing too much too soon
• never smoking

Some risks of Abdominoplasty Surgery:

• General Anaesthesia risks
• Bleeding (Haematoma)
• Infection or wound complications
• Pain or discomfort and difficulty sleeping during recovery periods
• Fluid build-up (Seroma)
• Scarring
• Asymmetry
• Deep Venous Thrombosis

You’ll also have a scar across your lower abdomen area.

We can show you photos of post-surgery scars and how Dr Craig Rubinstein aims to place them strategically so they are less visible in certain types of swimwear, gym gear and other clothing. There are also state-of-the-art scar management techniques and treatments he can suggest you explore at the nearby Skin & Anti-Ageing clinic, Coco Ruby.

Please Contact Dr Rubinstein’s office to book a consultation or enquire about further information regarding plastic surgery procedures.

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