Abdominoplasty is a surgical procedure aimed at correcting slack abdominal muscles as well as skin accumulation, both proof of damage resulting from several pregnancies and/or major weight fluctuations.

Contrary to popular belief, abdominoplasty is not a surgery meant for people suffering from obesity, but rather for people whose weight is stable and does not exceed 15% of the normal weight of a healthy person.

• The tightening of abdominal muscles makes the abdomen firm and flat.
• The removal of excess skin smooths and tightens the skin covering the abdominal area.
• Most stretch marks on the lower abdomen can be eliminated.
  
  Several techniques are available when performing abdominoplasty. The outcome of both the medical exam and careful study of the patient's physiology help best determine the quantity of excess fat and skin, the presence of stretch marks or scars and the tonus of the abdominal wall muscles. Thus, a diagnosis is called for in order to know exactly which surgical procedure will be needed.
  
  

Abdominoplasty is normally done under general anaesthesia. The duration of the operation depends largely on the technique used. In general, the surgery lasts approximately 2 to 3 hours.

Traditional abdominoplasty consists in making initial incisions around the umbilicus (navel) and across the lower abdomen, so that the skin can be lifted up (Figure 1a). Then, during the second stage, the abdominal muscles are tightened by plication (permanent sutures) that give more tonus (Figure 1b). Finally, all that remains to be done is to pull down the skin and to remove the extra skin (Figure 1c). The incisions are located around the umbilicus and across the lower abdomen following the bikini line (Figure 1d).

The “mini” version enables the removal of excess fat and skin as well as the restructuring of abdominal muscles (Figure 2a) without, however, umbilicus disinsertion. The incision, much shorter than the one in traditional abdominoplasty, is made above the pubic area (Figure 2b). This technique can be applied if the patient presents only a small amount of excess skin in the lower abdominal area.

Endoscopic abdominoplasty is meant for patients presenting a slack abdominal wall without excess skin. The surgery is often done in combination with ultrasonic liposuction of the abdominal region. The major advantage of this technique is that a minute incision only 5 cm in length is made above the pubic hairline.