Abdominal mini lift

Who needs it?

For women (or men) who cannot get rid of a small rebellious roll of fat which shows above the elastic of their bathing suit.

Aims

The abdominal mini-lift removes excess fat from the abdomen, fat that resides under the navel, at the lower part of the abdomen.

This is an operation that is much “lighter” than an abdominoplasty. In fact, the abdominal mini-lift does not remove the slackening, neither does it remove fat above the navel, a result that may be possible with a traditional plasty of the abdomen,  an abdominoplasty.  It does not allow to stretch the abdominal muscles either (something that enables you to have a much slimmer profile), a result that can only be obtained through an abdominoplasty. The abdominal mini-lift is often associated with a liposuction of the belly, of the thighs, or of the hips, to reach harmonious results.

Before the operation

Your medical examinations: Between one week and a month prior to the operation, you must make an appointment with a medical test laboratory in order to go through a full pre-surgical check-up.  

Taking medication:  You should in no circumstances take a medication containing aspirin at least 10 days before the operation. You should also advise on any medication you may have taken. It is essential that you refrain from eating, drinking or smoking 8 hours before the operation.

Your luggage: As far as your luggage is concerned, you must remember to bring in loose and comfortable clothes, and the original copies of your examinations.

Getting ready for the operation: You will be taken to your clinic the night of the operation, the time to get settled in your room, to take a shower if needed and to meet with the medical team: your surgeon, the anesthetist doctor, and all the health care staff. The operation takes place the following morning.  Very often, the night before the operation, the nurses will give you a kind of pre-medication in the form of a light tranquilizer to make sure that slightly anxious patients to face the operation with more fortitude.  

Type of anesthesia

The abdominal mini-lifting is carried out under full anesthesia

Duration of hospitalization

3 nights

Total duration of your stay in Tunisia

8 nights/9 days

Operation

The surgeon performs a horizontal or slightly bent incision of approximately 15 cm, just above the pubis. He/she splits the skin situated at the lower part of the abdomen, between the pubis and the navel. Without any need for stretching the skin, he/she cuts the excessive part and applies the stitches. As there is no pressure, the stitches will evolve naturally and favorably

Finally, he/she will apply a temporary drain to eliminate any excessive fluid, then he/she dresses the wound with a bandage.

Duration of the operation

An abdominal mini-lift lasts one hour.

After the operation

To have a normal and correct evolution, you must wear a panty around the areas that have been under plastic surgery. You will also have one or several drains in the shape of thin, flexible tubes to eliminate any excessive fluids from the scar to a sealed plastic bottle. These drains will prevent the formation of hematomas

The pain is moderate; the surgeon will prescribe analgesics every six or eight hours to ease the pain. Stitches will be removed 7 days following the operation.

A scar of about 15 cm will follow the upper line of the pubic hair. It is drawn in such a way that it remains hidden by underwear items or a bathing suit. With time, it will take a yellow-pink color and becomes less and less visible.

You must start walking as soon as you can.

Post surgical consequences

A scar of about 10-15 cm follows the upper line of the pubic hair. It is drawn in such a way that it will stay hidden by the underwear or the bathing suit. With time, it will take a yellow-pink color and becomes less and less visible.

You can resume work 10 days following the operation, only if your work is sedentary. If this isn’t the case and that you are required to carry heavy things or to have to perform a very intense physical activity, you will have to wait two to four more weeks. You can probably be ready to put on a bathing suit after one month.

Results

The effect of an abdominal mini-lift is definitive and satisfactory. You will have a flat belly which will be quite firm. Despite the scar that comes as a result, most patients think that the achieved benefits are very important and that there are more advantages than drawbacks. 

Complications

When choosing a qualified, well-trained cosmetic surgeon, you will certainly run less risks of complications. However, any surgical operation, no matter how insignificant it may be, presents some risks and therefore we should think of them as likely to occur.

• Side effects due to anesthesia;
• Infections though unlikely when taking appropriate antibiotics;
• Asymmetrical scars that can be corrected through a very minor and superficial operation;
• Lung thrombosis: such case is rare and is caused by a clot that moves in the blood torrent towards the lungs and can cause a cardio-respiratory shutdown. To avoid such occurrences, it is advisable to keep your legs moving and to leave your bed as soon as possible.
• Very big hematomas: as a preemptive measure, drainage tubes should be applied after the operation.
• Serums or accumulation of fluids under the skin which at times should be drained by means of a syringe.
• Skin necrosis which occurs under rare occasions and which would be without any serious consequences if treated in time.

Work interruption:

There is no need for interrupting the work: the recovery stay spent in Tunisia following the operation is very beneficial and enables most of our patients to resume their professional activities as soon as they return home.

Fees

The fees required for an abdominal mini-lift is 2400 euros