Abdominoplasty with abdominal muscle repair in Korea – 3 months transformation for sagging belly
Patient Registration Info
| Age | Weight | Height | BMI |
|---|---|---|---|
|
60s |
63kg |
160cm |
20 |
Surgical site
Abdomen, M-Type, Rectus Muscle Plication
1,700cc
The abdomen is a body area that
changes not only with weight fluctuations
but also reacts sensitively to skin laxity
and structural changes in the muscle layer.
Especially after pregnancy, childbirth, obesity,
or aging, abdominal management becomes difficult,
and cannot always be solved through
exercise or diet control alone.
The most common problems are
sagging skin that has lost elasticity
and the widening of the rectus abdominis muscles.
If the main cause of abdominal volume
is subcutaneous fat, stubborn belly fat
can be reduced through liposuction or weight loss.
However, rectus diastasis and
loose, sagging abdominal skin
cannot be corrected with workouts or diet.
For this reason, once the fundamental shape
of the abdomen collapses, the entire bodyline
appears heavier and unbalanced,
leading not only to aesthetic dissatisfaction
but also daily discomfort and stress.
In this case study, we will review the
abdominoplasty surgery results of a female patient
in her early 60s, comparing her before and after
to examine both the recovery process
and the effectiveness of the procedure.
This patient in her early 60s had been
consistently managing her weight with
regular walking exercise, yet suffered from
sagging abdominal skin that caused folds,
and an upper body that appeared heavy
and spread out, leading to long-term
discomfort and stress.
She also had a history of abdominal liposuction
about 10 years ago, but removing only belly fat
could not resolve her concerns completely.
The issues of loose skin and rectus diastasis
were beyond what liposuction alone could address,
causing continued frustration.
Because of the protruding abdomen from muscle
separation and the persistent skin laxity,
liposuction could not provide a solution,
and this remained a constant source of stress.
The patient wished to achieve a more
defined waistline by tightening her flanks
and improving the overall appearance
of her abdominal contour.
Due to her previous experience, she also felt
a degree of resistance toward the idea
of liposuction again.
Therefore, the surgical plan focused on
abdominoplasty with rectus muscle repair,
to correct the skin laxity and muscle structure,
ultimately creating a more balanced
and contoured waistline.
Before undergoing abdominoplasty and rectus muscle repair,
the patient presented with a clear loss of skin elasticity
across the abdomen, along with visible rectus diastasis
extending from the upper abdomen downward.
This resulted in noticeable sagging of the lower belly,
with loose skin continuing downward and folds forming
under the influence of gravity.
The lack of a defined waistline blurred the distinction
between the upper and lower body,
making her overall silhouette appear unbalanced.
When wearing clothes, her abdomen did not simply look
like excess belly fat, but appeared bulky and uneven,
with folded skin and a protruding abdominal wall
making the midsection look heavy and spread out.
Despite having previously undergone abdominal liposuction,
the continued separation of the rectus muscles
left the abdominal center weakened and sagging,
making line improvement difficult without correction.
It was determined that a combined correction surgery
addressing both the skin and muscles
was necessary to resolve these issues.
In addition, her flank line was disrupted by the
extended sagging abdominal skin,
making the waistline look irregular and lumpy.
To address these concerns, we recommended
the following surgical plan:
1.M-Type Abdominoplasty
Designed to remove extensive sagging skin
from the upper to lower abdomen,
restoring overall elasticity and silhouette.
2.Rectus Muscle Repair (Plication)
Correcting rectus diastasis caused by pregnancy,
bringing the separated muscles together
to restore midline abdominal support.
3.Umbilical Reconstruction (Umbilicoplasty)
Reshaping and repositioning the navel
to align with the waistline,
as its position inevitably lowers
during abdominoplasty.
4.Abdominal and Love Handle Liposuction
Removing localized fat deposits
in the abdomen and love handles,
creating a smoother and slimmer waist contour.
Based on this surgical plan, the procedure
was designed not only to improve the external appearance
but also to restore abdominal wall support
and achieve better body balance overall.
Below, we will examine the before and after photos
of abdominoplasty, rectus muscle repair,
umbilical reconstruction, and abdominal liposuction.
Before the abdominoplasty, the patient’s abdomen
showed severe skin sagging and folds,
especially concentrated in the lower abdomen.
Because of rectus diastasis, the abdomen protruded
from the upper to lower belly,
both in the center and to the sides,
creating a noticeably bulging appearance.
Through abdominoplasty, rectus muscle repair,
and umbilical reconstruction,
the sagging abdominal skin was tightened
and lifted firmly, while the stretched muscles
were brought back together at the center,
creating a smooth, corset-like waistline.
The navel was also repositioned to an
ideal vertical shape, aligned with the waistline,
bringing overall harmony and balance
to the body proportions.
Before the abdominoplasty, the patient’s
waistline sagged and spread outward
to the flanks, creating an overall
heavy and unbalanced appearance.
After surgery, the abdominal center was
tightened inward, resulting in a stable
and slimmer waist contour that appeared
significantly more defined.
The previously unclear waistline became
smooth and well-defined,
bringing a more feminine silhouette
and a refined, elegant body contour.
From the side view, the effect of
rectus muscle repair (plication)
can be clearly observed.
Before undergoing abdominoplasty and rectus repair,
the entire abdomen from the upper
to lower belly protruded forward,
appearing uneven and bulging,
giving an unrefined impression.
However, with abdominoplasty and rectus repair,
the abdomen was lifted smoothly and firmly,
showing a tightened and reshaped contour.
Over time, the abdominal flow stabilized,
and the transition from waist to hips
became noticeably more refined and smooth.
In the 11-month postoperative photos,
the overall body proportions also appeared
much more natural and balanced.
During recovery, the patient experienced
a seroma (fluid collection), which required
slightly more frequent early follow-up visits.
As she was in her 60s,
her healing process and progress were
closely monitored, with tailored care
and continuous feedback provided.
Despite her age, her scar condition
after abdominoplasty was very favorable,
thanks to regular follow-ups,
consistent self-care, and
laser toning treatments as instructed.
For patients like her, who suffer from
structural abdominal muscle issues
combined with skin laxity
and decide to undergo abdominoplasty
with rectus diastasis repair,
accurate diagnosis, precise planning,
and attentive medical management
according to recovery stages
are extremely important for success.
#Abdominoplasty
#RectusMuscleRepair
#TummyTuckKorea
#SaggingSkinSurgery
#WaistlineImprovement
#BellyFatRemoval
#BeforeAfterSurgery
#BodyContourKorea
#PlasticSurgeryKorea
#LesartsPlasticSurgery
#RecoveryProcess
#KoreanPlasticSurgery
