Initial concern
Two pregnancies, two periods of breastfeeding, and a body that did not return — not for any lack of effort. Sara had been training for almost three years before her first consultation: a structured strength programme, a careful diet, and a body that nevertheless held a separated abdominal wall and an upper pole that no exercise could restore.
Consultation
The first consultation took ninety minutes. Diastasis was confirmed on examination — three finger-widths above the umbilicus. Photographs were taken in standardised lighting. The discussion was not about a fixed package; we drew on a printed silhouette together, marked the three things that mattered most to Sara, and agreed to consider a single combined procedure or a two-stage approach.
The decision
Sara took eight weeks to decide. She returned with her husband for a second consultation, asked the questions she had collected, and received the written surgical plan two weeks before surgery. Her family — partner, mother, sister — were briefed on the recovery requirements.
Day of surgery
The hours that mattered.
06:30
Arrival
Pre-operative bloods reviewed. Compression stockings fitted.
07:30
Markings
Standing markings reviewed with Sara in front of the mirror; final consent.
08:30
Anaesthesia
Consultant anaesthetist administers general anaesthesia in the induction room.
09:00
Abdominoplasty begins
Full abdominoplasty with diastasis repair and umbilical transposition.
12:00
Liposuction of flanks
Tumescent liposuction of the flanks for lateral silhouette.
13:30
Breast component
Inframammary augmentation with 290 cc anatomic implants.
15:30
Closure complete
Total operating time 6.5 hours. Compression garments fitted in theatre.
16:00
Recovery suite
Transferred to private overnight suite with continuous nursing.
Recovery
Week by week.
Week 1
Help at home
Sara stayed with her mother. Bent at the waist, walking ten minutes every two hours. Pain managed with paracetamol and one short course of an opioid at night. The drains were removed at day five.
Week 2
Standing upright
Standing fully upright by day twelve. Returned home with her children. Light office work from day fifteen.
Week 4
Out of garments by day
Garments worn at night only. The waist began to be visible. First photograph review.
Week 8
Activity unrestricted
Returned to her strength programme at week eight. Cleared for all activity. Scar at three centimetres above the underwear line.
Month 6
The new silhouette
Photograph review. Scars softening. Sara described it as the first time she had seen her own torso in twelve years and not flinched.
A year on
“Sara wrote a year-on letter to the practice — kept anonymised in our file. She said the change had been less about appearance and more about the absence of a constant low-grade self-critique she had not realised she was carrying.”
Total cost
EGP 235k
Published
November 2024