PRE-OPERATIVE CONSULTATION

Before deciding on an abdominoplasty, you must meet with our surgeon for a pre-consultation. During this meeting, you will discuss your expectations, and the surgeon will evaluate what will yield the best results for you.

You will also receive a thorough overview of your options, and the risks associated with each surgical option. The surgeon will ask about your health to ensure you are suitable for surgery.

Based on your expectations and the surgeon’s recommendations, you will plan your surgery together. You are welcome to bring another person to the pre-consultation, as there is a lot of information to consider.

According to the law, you must have a 7-day reflection period after the pre-consultation before you can give your final consent to cosmetic surgery.



EXPECTATIONS

For a fat grafting procedure at Caolín, the surgery is tailored to your individual shape and desires. Using your own fat cells, volume is added to specific areas of your body and face, while unwanted fat is removed, for example, from the abdomen, thigh or back.

With fat grafting, some of the fat will be absorbed, which means that on average, 50% of the grafting fat survives. However, it is not possible to predict exactly how much fat will be lost. You can expect that it will take about 3 months from your surgery to see the result.

It is important to be aware that the results of cosmetic surgery are not permanent. The natural aging process and the rate of body aging are influenced by both genetic factors and lifestyle factors such as smoking, sun exposure, and weight changes.

Additionally, it is important to understand that surgery always carries a risk of complications, and the result may not always match your or the surgeon’s expectations completely. If you are significantly overweight or underweight, there is an increased risk of complications with anesthesia and wound healing. If your BMI is over 30, we may not be able to offer you surgery.

PREPARATION

Before the surgery, you must:

Stop taking medication containing acetylsalicylic acid such as Magnyl, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, and Treo one week before the surgery.

Avoid natural medicines, especially fish oil, ginger, and vitamin D, as they can increase the risk of bleeding. Stop all natural medicines three weeks before the surgery.

Any blood-thinning medication may need to be paused. This will be discussed with the surgeon during the pre-consultation.

Smoking must be paused least 4 weeks before and 6 weeks after the surgery. Smoking can negatively affect the cosmetic outcome, increase the risk of infection, and is generally bad for your health. We often choose not to offer surgery to active smokers.

It is a good idea to shop and prepare meals before the surgery, so you can focus on your recovery afterward.

On the day of the surgery, you should take a shower with thorough cleansing of your body and hair. Avoid using body lotion or other products on the area to be operated on.

Wear loose, comfortable clothing, preferably a zip-up blouse, loose fitting pants, and flat shoes. Remove all jewelry and any piercings and leave them at home.



ANESTHESIA

The surgery is performed under general anesthesia. You must fast for 6 hours before the surgery (no eating, chewing gum, smoking, or similar). You may drink clear fluids like water and sugary drinks in small amounts until 2 hours before the surgery; do not drink milk, juice, etc.

It is crucial to adhere to the fasting rules, as anesthesia can be dangerous if you are not fasting, and the surgery is canceled, if you are not fasting.



SURGERY

On the day of the surgery, arrive at the clinic at the scheduled time. A nurse will greet you and you will be shown to your room, change clothes, and have an intravenous line placed. The anesthesiologist will discuss the anesthesia with you, and finally, you will meet with the surgeon, who will ensure you feel comfortable and well-informed. The surgeon will also mark the area to be operated on.

Depending on the extent of the surgery, it lasts approximately 2-4 hours. During the surgery, liposuction will be performed on the agreed areas, the fat will be purified, and then injected into the designated areas using a very thin needle. The holes are so small that they do not need stitches.

At the incision sites where the fat is removed, fine sutures will be placed. Finally, tape will be applied over all the wounds, and you will receive absorbent dressings and a compression bandage around the suctioned areas.



AFTER THE SURGERY

After the surgery, you will be taken to the recovery room where the nurse will monitor you. You will receive something to drink and eat and pain reliefers if needed. Depending on the extent of the surgery, you may be discharged after a few hours.

Before you go home, the plastic surgeon and nurse will review the post-operative precautions with you and answer any questions you may have to ensure you feel comfortable. You should arrange for someone to pick you up, as you will not be able to drive yourself.

THE DAYS AFTER THE SURGERY

Since the surgery was performed under general anesthesia, you will be tired and sluggish on the first day, and you may experience nausea and dizziness. We recommend having an adult at your side for the first 24 hours.

It is important to take it easy for the first days after the surgery and generally listen to your body’s signals to reduce the risk of bleeding and swelling. Make sure to stay well-hydrated and consume a sensible protein-rich diet.



PAIN

It is important to take the prescribed medication. The medication will reduce pain, but you should expect some discomfort during the first 3-4 days.

Many people experience stabbing and sharp pain in the operated area. This is normal and occurs because the nerves are re-establishing connections. These sensations can last for up to 1 year after the surgery.

You will be prescribed Paracetamol tablets and Ibuprofen tablets to be taken together 4 times a day. Additionally, you will receive a stronger painkiller, a synthetic morphine tablet, which you can take if you experience severe pain.

The nurse will thoroughly review the medication with you before you leave, and you will also receive written material describing everything.



ACTIVITY

In the initial days after the surgery, getting out of bed might be difficult, so having someone to assist you is a good idea. It is important to get up and move around quickly to reduce the risk of blood clots. Engage in light activity, such as short walks, but take breaks when needed. For the first 1-2 weeks, avoid any strain on the wounds.

You must avoid vigorous exercise for the first 6 weeks after the surgery, but it is important to keep your body active with light activities, like short walks.

You must avoid driving until you can handle the vehicle safely and no longer need strong painkillers. Always use a seatbelt, whether you are driving or a passenger.



WORK

You can resume sedentary work after a few days. If you have physically demanding work, you should wait at least 2 weeks. Since you should expect discoloration and swelling in the area for several weeks after the surgery, it is a good idea to schedule any significant events at least a few weeks later if the fat is transplanted to the face.



SLEEPING POSITION

Since no pressure should be applied to the area where the fat has been transplanted, you should sleep on your back with your head elevated, possibly with a couple of extra pillows, for the first week.



WOUND DISCHARGE

Discharge from the wounds may occur. This is due to the fluid used during the surgery and is completely normal and normally lasts a few days. You will receive an absorbing dressing from the clinic to manage this.



BATHING

You can take a shower 24 hours after the surgery or when there is no longer any discharge from the wounds (unless you have drains). Before showering, remove the compressive bandage and the absorbing dressing.

The brown plaster must remain until your follow-up appointment. It can withstand water. Take a gentle shower, rinse the wounds to wash away soap residues (do not wash or scrub the wounds), and pat dry with a clean towel before putting the compressive bandage back on.

You should avoid taking baths, swimming in the sea, or going to a swimming pool and sauna until the stitches are removed and the wounds are fully healed.



SWELLING AND IRREGULARITIES

It is entirely normal for swelling and irregularities to occur both in the liposuctioned area and the area where the fat has been grafted to.
Swelling in the liposuctioned areas peaks after a week and then gradually subsides.

Swelling may last up to 12 weeks. Once the swelling has reduced, the area may feel firm due to scar tissue formation. This firmness will eventually subside, but it may take a long time. Gentle massage of the area may help. Irregularities in the form of small bumps may be visible for several months after liposuction.

The areas where the fat has been transplanted will initially be swollen and uneven, but this will improve over the first few months.

For facial fat transplantation, there is often significant swelling, which is entirely normal and expected. This is because more fat is typically added, as on average 50% is absorbed. It can take up to 3 months for this swelling to properly subside.



COMPRESSION BANDAGE

You will be given a tight compression bandage for the liposuctioned area, which you must wear around the clock for the first 3 weeks and then during the day for an additional 3 weeks. This is to reduce swelling and irregularities. You should remove the compression dressing when showering or when it needs to be washed.



SCARS

The scars from the surgery will typically be red and swollen but will improve over 6-24 months. Over time, scars usually become narrow and lighter I color, but in some cases, they may become wide and darkly pigmented.

You may apply a soothing cream to the scars once they are completely healed. Avoid smoking, as it increases the risk of infection, slow healing, and unsightly scars.



CONTACT WITH THE CLINIC

You will be given a phone number upon discharge so you can contact the clinic 24/7 in case of an emergency. Additionally, a nurse will call you the day after your surgery to ensure you are doing well and answer any questions.



FOLLOW-UP

After 7-10 days, you will have a follow-up appointment with the nurse in the outpatient clinic. The adhesive strips will be removed, sutures at the incision sites will be taken out, and new tape will be applied over the scars where liposuction was performed.

You will need to change this tape yourself every 10-12 days and use it for about 3 months after the surgery. The tape helps keep the scars narrow, flat, and level with the rest of the skin.

You do not need to use tape on the areas where the fat was injected. We will discuss how to care for the scars and address any questions. You will be offered a follow-up appointment with the plastic surgeon 3-6 months after the surgery. If you encounter any issues before then, feel free to contact us.

COMPLICATIONS

Infection: Very rare. Symptoms of infection typically appear after about a week and are characterized by redness, warmth, swelling, throbbing pain, and possibly fever. An infection is treated with antibiotics.

Unsightly Scarring: Scars can vary greatly from person to person. Most scars become neat and white over time, but some people may develop red and thick scars, also known as hypertrophic scarring. This process can take several years.

Hematoma/Blood Accumulation: Most often occurs within the first 24 hours after surgery, but it is very rare. In a few cases, it may require another operation, but it generally does not affect the result.

Numbness: Can occur in the skin of the liposuctioned area. This usually disappears within 3-6 months after surgery, but in some cases, it may be permanent.

Bruising and Swelling: This is entirely expected and will decrease over the first few months.

Fluid Accumulation: In rare cases, fluid may accumulate in the operated area. If this occurs, it may be necessary to drain the fluid with a thin needle. To prevent this, it is important to use the compression bandage.

Tissue Death: Means that parts of the skin lose their blood supply and die. If this occurs, it will require either surgical removal or waiting for the body to heal the area from within, as determined by the surgeon. If you are overweight or smoke, there is a higher risk of this.

Irregularities and Asymmetry: There is a small risk that the skin may become uneven and asymmetrical in the treated areas, both where the fat was removed and re-injected. The poorer the quality of your skin, the higher the risk that the skin may become loose over time and not be even from side to side.

Fat Embolism: A fat embolism can occur if fat is accidentally injected into a blood vessel. This is very rare but can cause blindness if fat is injected into the face.