Plastic surgery nowadays collaborates closely with obstetrics – gynecology to reconstruct the abdominal area post partum. Reconstruction can be done directly, after c-section is done by the obstetrician and delivery is completed.
The plastic surgeon can correct the diastases that abdominal muscles have undergone during the night months of pregnancy. In addition, the c-section is sutured in layers, in order to achieve a fine aesthetic result. In case a woman has completed her family, and no other pregnancies are planned, the plastic surgeon then can excise excess skin and subcutaneous fat from the abdomen, accelerating the abdominal area reconstruction.
Abdominal wall reconstruction can also be performed later, months post partum, when breast feeding is completed, extra weight has been lost and skin has been restored to its primary condition. In this case, especially when the patient has undergone other pregnancies, sagging skin of abdominal wall is persistent and is almost impossible to correct it with daily exercise.
Postoperatively patients are advised to wear a specific designed body compression garment for several weeks and to refrain from strenuous exercise and heavy lifting for one month. Wound healing is closely observed with often visits to the office and sometimes silicone sheeting over the wound is suggested. In case pregnancy has caused stretch marks in abdominal area or in other areas of the body due to weight fluctuations, these can be addressed with Fraxel sessions, a laser designed specific to smoothen and discolour skin and subcutaneous tissue changes.
