How much pain is there after the operation?

Immediately after the operation there is often slight pain in the abdominal area. The pain after the removal of skin flaps is of course stronger than after an endoscopic mini-abdominoplasty, whereby only the front abdominal muscles are tightened by means of a small access. However, in both cases the pain subsides within a few weeks.

What swelling is normal?

Swelling around the scars and under the abdominal wall is normal and disappears completely within three months. However, a rare complication may occur: secondary bleeding, which is accompanied by severe swelling and pain. If this severe complication occurs, a doctor must be consulted. This doctor will then correct the complication surgically.

What scars can be expected after an abdominoplasty?

The scars resulting from an abdominoplasty are similar to those of a caesarean section. Since the incisions are made above the pubic hair area, the scars will later be covered by underwear. In addition, most scars heal well as a result of the wound healing process and fade away with adequate scar care using scar creams.

Is it possible to tighten the abdominal wall without surgery?

There are two known procedures that allow the abdominal wall to be tightened without surgery. The first procedure is Thermage. This procedure uses radio frequency energy to heat deep layers of the abdominal wall while cooling the upper layer of skin.

The warming leads to stimulation of collagen formation. Collagen leads to skin tightening and smoothing. The second procedure is medical needling.

Here, a special roller is used to cause small skin injuries (so-called micro injuries). For this purpose, small needles are attached to the scooter, which is driven over the skin areas to be treated. Due to the micro-injuries, the natural healing process takes place.

Here too, collagen is formed, which tightens the skin. It is important to mention that both procedures are only suitable for small skin surpluses. A surgical abdominoplasty is still indicated for severe skin excess, for example after weight loss or pregnancy.

Costs of the abdominoplasty

The cost of an abdominoplasty depends on various factors: Firstly, it is important to determine which treatment method is suitable for the case at hand. Then there are the individual findings of the patient, which determine the extent of the operation. In addition, the costs also vary between the clinics.

Therefore the costs can vary between 4000 Euro and 8500 Euro. In most cases, abdominoplasty is an aesthetic procedure, which is why health insurance companies do not cover the costs. However, there may be a medical indication for the procedure. If the excess skin leads to skin irritation, for example, which often leads to recurring inflammation, an application for reimbursement can be made by means of a medical report. Depending on the necessity of the operation and the respective health insurance company, partial or even all costs of the operation will then be covered.