Difference between abdominoplasty and panniculectomy
Abdominoplasty Vs panniculectomy:
In an age where slim is in, it is indeed every body’s dream to possess that slim figure with an attractive washboard stomach. In a world where cosmetic surgery has become an ordinary day to day phenomena, this has become possible for almost everyone who wishes to obtain that ultimate dream. The terms abdominoplasty and panniculectomy along with another host of words came in to being as a result of this. Although their purposes closely resemble each other, these are two different terms which stand for two different things altogether. And yet, these two terms are often used synonymously because of the similarity between the two procedures and their purposes.
What is abdominoplasty?
An abdominoplasty more commonly known as a tummy tuck, can be defined as a major cosmetic procedure which helps reduce the excess skin from the lower and middle abdomen which will in turn result in tightning of the muscles in the abdomen wall. An abdominoplasty is recommended for those who have a protruding belly due to weak abdomen muscles, hereditary loose skin or a stretched abdomen which is a result of pregnancy and would not go down with diet or exercise.
In this procedure, an incision is made from one hip to the other above the pelvic region while another cut is made which frees the belly button from the surrounding skin while tightening the abdomen muscles with the use of sutures. While the excess skin is removed, a new opening is cut for the belly button and the incisions closed back again with sutures. The cut is made so low in the abdomen so that it could be hidden by the panty line. An abdominoplasty is therefore, considered as major surgery because of the gravity of the operation.
What is panniculectomy?
Whereas a panniculus is defined in the Stedman’s Medical Dictionary as “a sheet or layer of tissue”, panniculectomy refers to the removal of a panniculus through a surgical incision. The definition of a panniculectomy as defined in the same dictionary states that a panniculectomy is “a surgical excision of a redundant panniculus adiposus, usually of the abdomen”. Therefore, one can easily define a panniculectomy as the removal of excessive skin located below the belly button and no liposuction or muscle tightening is performed after this operation and therefore, the patient is still left with a fair amount of excessive skin. A a panniculectomy can be performed alone or as a part of an abdominoplasty. It is also called a mini tummy tuck when the amount of excess skin is slight and does not hang over the genitalia when standing. A panniculectomy is usually covered by insurance as under certain circumstances, it is considered more as a medical requirement more than a cosmetic procedure.
A panniculectomy is not considered as a n abdominoplasty when the excess layer of tissue is located somewhere other than the abdomen such as the upper arms, the neck and sides of the face, men’s breasts and upper legs. In cases such as these, a panniculectomy may be performed to remove excess fat, skin, or both.
What is the difference between panniculectomy and abdominoplasty?
Individuals who participate in panniculctomy usually have extensive layers of fat extending as low as the knees, over the hips, and around the back which create health issues such as back problems, tissue breakdown, rashes or ulcers which can prove to be extremely inconvenient as well as sometimes painful for an individual to go about his day. Therefore, the best participants of a panniculectomy would be individuals who have maintained a stable weight and followed exercise and specific diets for at least a year. Those who are ideal for an abdominoplasty would be those who have a protruding belly due to weak abdomen muscles, hereditary loose skin or a stretched abdomen which is a result of pregnancy and would not go down with diet or exercise. Therefore, whereas an abdominoplasty is considered as a cosmetic procedure, a panniculectomy is considered as a medical procedure under these contexts.
Whereas a tummy tuck involves the repositioning of the navel, liposuction and the tightening of the abdomen muscles, a panniculectomy does not involve any of that. In the case of a panniculectomy, only excessive tissue is removed. Two incisions are made from which the fat is extracted gently and the skin is pulled back firmly and stitched back together. As both procedures are considered as major surgery, the patients are required to rest for a significant amount of time during which certain complications like bleeding, infection, flood collection in the newly created abdominal place, etc may occur.
Panniculectomy can be performed alone or can be done as a part of an abdominoplasty or a hysterectomy depending on the patient’s condition. Also, panniculectomy is considered as a lesser procedure than an abdominoplasty because of the simplicity of the procedure as opposed to the varying steps that are included in an abdominoplsty.
Summary
|
