This surgery is performed to reduce or eliminate the lateral excesses of the body contour, known as “muffin tops”, anatomically positioned just above the buttock and making up the waist circumference. These accumulations are more common on the female body due to women’s greater tendency to sagging skin and the accumulation of adipose tissue as a nutritional reserve for pregnancy.
This surgery is indicated for patients who have lost a lot of weight and have sagging skin and muscles in the lower torso. When someone gains a lot of weight and then loses weight again, the skin stretches excessively and ends up losing elasticity. In these cases, no matter how much you lose weight or have liposuction, there will always be a lot of skin left over.
This surgery is often performed together with the tummy tuck.
Besides eliminating excess skin in the torso area, this procedure also allows the buttocks to be lifted, since it makes the complete circumference around the waist at bikini height.
There are few surgeons who have mastered the techniques for performing plastic surgery on the formerly obese, since patients who have lost 90 lb or more have extreme flaccidity and excess skin with little collagen base, making the surgery even more sensitive as a result of the loss of skin elasticity.
The surgery consists of extending the tummy tuck incision to the back, thus removing fat from this area.
The scar is located horizontally on the side of the hip, extending to a greater or lesser extent depending on the volume of skin to be removed.
In any case, this scar is designed to be disguised, contouring the waist and in a position where it is fully hidden under a bikini or underwear.
The post-operative and recovery period for the flankplasty is similar to that of the tummy tuck.
No drains are left.
The operated area gets usually bruised and swollen for about 1 (one) month.
You must lie down for the first 24 hours. After that, it is advisable to walk short distances indoors a few times daily for 2 (two) weeks, when the stitches are usually removed, and you can return to work.
You can usually take a full shower after the dressings have been removed, which will happen at your first follow-up consultation. Surgeries that involve the torso and are related to large incisions and skin traction, such as tummy tuck, require this care.
To speed up recovery, it is recommended that you wear a compression garment during the day for at least 30 days, until medical discharge, and have weekly lymphatic drainage sessions.
The resumption of more intense activities, such as walking and workout, as well as sunbathing (with sunblock) is only possible after 30 days. If you want to carry weights, do weight training or drive, it’s best to wait another 30 days.
Stitches can be removed between the 8th and 15th day, and should be removed selectively over the following days. Total removal rarely takes more than 3 (three) weeks.
The flankplasty rarely involves serious complications, as long as it is carried out according to technical criteria. Specially due to the fact that each patient is properly prepared for the surgery, as well as considering the advisability of combining this surgery with others.
It is also worth noting that, in the case of very obese patients, a certain amount of yellowish or bloody fluid may ooze from one or more stiches after the 8th day. Don’t worry. If this happens to you, it doesn’t mean a complication.
Although very rare, it is worth mentioning that complications such as: allergies, infections, necrosis, retractions, healing difficulties, edema (swelling), hematomas (accumulation of blood, usually in the subcutaneous layer of the incision) or seromas (collection of liquefied fat, serum and lymphatic fluid, which forms under the surgical incision) can occur, regardless of the doctor’s careful conduct.
The post-operative period for the flankplasty is usually not very painful. The post-operative pain is proportional to the extent of the surgical procedure and the performance of other associated surgeries. But remember that pain has an individual threshold and can be solved by using common painkillers.
Certain patients are prone to hypertrophic scarring or keloids. Click here to find out more about the evolution of scars.
However, there are still some remarks to be made about the new tummy, in terms of its consistency, sensitivity, volume, etc.
During the first few months, the area is relatively insensitive, as well as being subject to periods of “swelling”, which recedes spontaneously.
In the second phase, the tummy may look “distended” or “flat”. Over the course of a few months, once you’ve started doing targeted shaping exercises, you’ll gradually achieve the definitive result. No result should be considered definitive before 12 to 18 months after surgery.
In fact, the result already begins to appear in the first month, but the definitive shapes only appear after at least 6 (six) months. This is because the end result depends on the various characteristic phases of scar evolution as well as the evolution of the shape of the operated area, sensitivity, consistency, etc.
A short period of emotional depression may occur in the first few weeks, due to the transitory aspect, and usually arises from the anxiety of achieving the end result as soon as possible.
Time and your body will take care of any minor problems. Any concerns you may have should be passed on to your surgeon, who will be able to reassure and guide you.
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