Abdominoplasty is one of the more commonly performed cosmetic operations in our practice. There is a high satisfaction rate in patients who have undergone this procedure.
The abdominoplasty procedure lasts approximately 3 hours. The procedure is performed under a general anesthetic, so the patient does not see, hear, or feel anything during the procedure. A long acting local anesthetic is administered during the procedure, so there is minimal pain along the incision site. Patients mostly describe a “tightness” along their midline from the plication sutures that bring the rectus muscles back toward the midline.
Drains are placed beneath the skin and exit from the pubic region. Drains are typically left in place for one to two weeks. An abdominal binder is to be worn at all times for 4-6 weeks.
