The best candidates for abdominoplasty are women or men who are in relatively good shape but are bothered by a large fat deposit or loose abdominal skin that won't respond to diet or exercise. The surgery is particularly helpful to women who, through multiple pregnancies, have stretched their abdominal muscles and skin beyond the point where they can return to normal. Loss of skin elasticity in older patients, which frequently occurs with slight obesity, can also be improved. Complete abdominoplasty usually takes two to three hours, depending on the extent of work required. Partial abdominoplasty may take an hour or two.
Most people are able to return to work after two weeks.
It is not an alternative to weight reduction but a way to remove localized fat deposits that haven't responded to dieting and exercise. The best candidates for liposuction are of relatively normal weight but who have pockets of excess fat in certain areas. Having firm elastic skin will yield better results since excess skin will not be reshaped by this process and may require another surgical procedure. Liposuction does not remove cellulite. The procedure normally takes an hour or two.