What is Apronectomy?

What is Apronectomy – Overview

What is apronectomy? – It is the right question to ask when you are looking for a lower abdomen fat solution.

Apronectomy is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the lower abdomen.

Apronectomy specifically targets and removes the ‘apron’ of excess skin hanging over the lower abdomen, often after significant weight loss.

Losing belly fat is a challenging task. Your body can lose weight while your lower abdomen fat still hangs.

Like all surgical procedures, apronectomy requires recovery time and is not an immediate solution.

Apronectomy – Problems of Excess Fat

Talking about the people of the USA, the majority of them suffer from obesity. Further, the medical industry has given them multiple choices to lose weight. Somehow, people who undergo weight loss surgery experience a significant weight reduction.

However, the aftereffect is that the appearance of the body makes them disappointed. It is the main reason for hanging skin near the lower abdomen. Sometimes the skin looks flabby and loose, which tends to cover their genitals too.

What do most people opt to get a solution for this problem? They have the option of abdominoplasty, which is major surgery.

This surgery might not be appropriate for patients who have not stabilized their weight or have medical conditions that affect wound healing.

Because of its unsuitability, an alternative solution was needed. That solution is apronectomy, which is a cosmetic surgery to get rid of excess skin.

What Is Apronectomy? – The Solution To Consider

Apronectomy is an alternative to tummy tuck surgery or abdominoplasty. It removes the extra or unwanted skin near the lower abdomen, called the abdominal apron.

The cosmetic surgery experts remove the excess skin and close the wound with stitches.

People who are considered overweight, have aging issues, are pregnant, or have experienced rapid weight loss can go for apronectomy surgery.

Benefits of The Surgery

Look at some of the benefits that people can get after apronectomy surgery.

  • It helps reduce serous fluid or blood flow blocks.
  • It is good for people with elevated body mass index (BMI), even if they have lost a significant amount of weight.
  • It improves the appearance of the bulging belly and puts it into a well-defined shape.
  • Patients who have undergone surgery often get large and deep scars. These tend to cause internal tethering, which can be painful. Here, an apronectomy is the best solution for them.

What Is The Procedure?

Regarding how the surgery is done, we would like to share the procedure summary.

In an apronectomy, typically, only a horizontal incision is made just above the pubic bone; a vertical incision is not standard for this procedure.

The second step is to flatten the lower abdomen. The excess or unwanted skin is removed and tightened to make it look well-defined.

Surgeons performing this procedure are skilled in techniques to minimize complications and ensure patient safety.

Meanwhile, the surgery can take around 5 to 6 hours, depending on the amount of skin removal.

It is done by avoiding nerve damage and caring for the internal organs and blood vessels.

Expectations after the Surgery

Apronectomy is considered a major surgical procedure due to the significant tissue removal and recovery involved. Once the surgery is done, the patient can feel the abdomen area be sore and swollen.

The doctor will advise tissue drains for a week or two. The patient is also recommended to stay in the hospital for a couple of days.

Another caution is that the patient should refrain from lifting any item and avoid excessive movement. This has to be followed for a few weeks to ensure they heal better.

Weight Requirement for Apronectomy

Weight Requirement for Apronectomy: Most abdominal surgeries, including apronectomy, typically require patients to be at or near their ideal weight to minimize complications and achieve the best outcomes.

You will have to talk to the doctor to determine the right weight. However, surgeons are inclined to perform the surgery on people above the optimum BMI.

The exception is available because the fat in the lower abdomen causes problems during exercises. Hence, reaching the desired weight might not be possible with the condition.

However, the doctor will ask you to reach as close to the desired weight as possible before the surgery.

Risks & Complications Involved

It is obvious that there are some risks involved in the surgery. These risks are categorized into general risks and specific risks. Take a look at some of them that the patient can experience with this procedure.

  • After the surgery, a patient can get an infection. To curb it, doctors may advise antibiotics, etc.
  • Patients who are prescribed to take blood thinner medicine are more susceptible to bleeding.
  • There is a possibility of chest infection, for which the doctors advise taking antibiotics. Some patients are also recommended to go with physiotherapy.
  • If the patient is obese, he or she may be prone to the risks of thrombosis, heart or lung complications, and much more.
  • Strokes may occur because the surgery puts a strain on the heart.
  • There is a possibility of a blood clot in the legs, which can further cause pain and swelling. It can also travel to the lungs, causing major troubles.
  • A large area of the abdomen must be surgically opened to remove the fatty skin. This can cause a major infection.
  • Discharge of fluid can occur for some time during the surgery. For this, drains are placed. However, blood may build up under the excess skin, which must be removed.
  • After the surgery, the scars can become thick, which can be painful for the patient and cause some discomfort.
  • There is also a possibility of a loss of life

Wrap It Up

There you are. We have shared a brief of apronectomy with the procedure, for whom it is beneficial, as well as the risks involved.

Patients undergoing this surgery may need to take good care of themselves and may also experience lifestyle changes after surgery.

Getting your body in shape through an operation is the last resort for many. However, it is important to always keep your health as the top-most priority.

Now that you know what Apronectomy is and its benefits, decide the right course of action for your body.

See Also

Mommy Makeover Cost

Medical Loans for Bariatric Surgery

Does Medicare Cover Breast Reduction

Current Version
July 12, 2021
Written By
Victoria Abigail Friedland
April 17, 2024
Updated By
Daniyal Haider, MD

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