Swimsuit Styles Following Abdominoplasty Surgery
It can be challenging for post-abdominoplasty patients to find an ideal swimsuit style that fits comfortably and shows off their new silhouette, but conceals any leftover scars.
When shopping for swimwear, it is important to consider several important factors, such as body shape, coverage areas, and torso length. Your best pick does not have to be the trendiest style. Rather, it is one that matches your unique style and makes you feel confident when at the beach, pool, or on holiday.
There are a variety of current swimsuit styles to try.
One-Piece Swimsuits
There are various one-piece swimsuit styles that suit all body types, ages, and sizes. Other one-piece style options include the high-neck, V-neck, and cross-back.
Available in many different sizes, styles, torso lengths, and coverage options, one-piece swimsuits are an excellent choice for post-abdominoplasty patients because they normally offer complete coverage of the lower abdomen. Whether you have a lower or higher-placed abdominoplasty scar, one-piece swimsuits are the simplest and most readily available choice for women after abdominoplasty surgery.
Bikini Body Suits
Bikinis-style bodysuits, which feature a connected top and bottom with adjustable halter straps that are looped through the back to keep your bathing suit secure, are available in a multitude of styles, sizes, and coverage options.
This style of swimwear offers medium coverage across the chest and abdominal area. A bikini body suit might not be ideal for all abdominoplasty patients as they offer limited coverage, they are good options for patients with lowly placed scars. Post- Fleur de lis/extended abdominoplasty and full abdominoplasty patients may want to explore other style options that provide more coverage in the abdominal area.
One-Shoulder, One-Piece Swimsuit
One-shoulder. one-piece swimsuits are taking over the fashion industry. Characterised by their bold and unique designs, these one-piece swimsuits offer full coverage from bust to cheeks, with some options featuring strategically placed cutouts. The full coverage support of these elegant one-shoulder pieces makes them an excellent choice for post-abdominoplasty patients.
Not only are one-shoulder, one-piece swimsuits eye-catchers, they fully cover abdominoplasty scars, regardless of whether they are highly or lowly placed.
Apart from coverage and exquisite style, one-shoulder one-piece swimwear has many other favorable attributes such as inclusive size ranges and long torso silhouettes.
One-Shoulder, Two-Piece Swimsuit
This bikini style is a common alternative to the one-shoulder one-piece swimsuit. The only difference between the two is the two-piece swimsuit comes with a separate top and bottom, providing additional flair.
Though the one-shoulder, two-piece swimsuit is a lovely stylish option, it is not recommended for post-abdominoplasty patients because most styles expose the abdominal area and are therefore not appropriate for concealing scars.
High-Waisted, Two-Piece Swimsuit
A vintage bathing suit trend that still dominates the swimwear fashion industry, a high-waisted two-piece swimsuit features a top and bottom, which provide excellent coverage.
Another key feature of the high-waisted, one-piece swimsuit is that it is equipped with supportive features such as adjustable straps and shapewear fabric to conceal any bulges or scars.
As you shop for your ideal high-waist two-piece swimsuit, you will notice that the bottom tends to be lighter than the top. Also, the strap going around the torso is adjustable to allow you to create a wider or tighter fit.
Post-abdominoplasty patients can rock two-piece swimsuits after healing from surgery thanks to the coverage offered.
Long Sleeved Swimsuits
Long-sleeved swimsuits offer full arm coverage to protect the skin from UV radiation.
Most long-sleeved swimsuits are two-piece bikinis, with a central focus on arm coverage though many designs offer abdominal coverage as well. Long-sleeved bikinis provide complete coverage from the shoulders to the upper thigh.
The featured swim shorts and shirt offer full support and security. Most available designs lack adjustable straps and tend to cover the entire back region. Therefore, a long-sleeved bikini is an excellent option for post-abdominoplasty patients.
Unfortunately, long-sleeved swimsuits do have their drawbacks. The extensive fabric material at the front and back may need to be thick enough for some. Also, the fabric makes them heavy when wet and can cause drag at the back. That aside, this is one of the best categories to consider if you are focused on coverage.
String Bikinis
String bikinis are the ultimate style for any lady who wants to get the most out of the warm summer season, however, this fashion trend offers the least amount of coverage, focusing on the nipple area and panty line.
This bathing suit style features strings running along the chest area and small fabrics covering the delicate areas, leaving over 90 % of the body exposed. Dr Bernard Beldholm does not recommend this swimsuit style to his post-abdominoplasty patients because they do not offer enough coverage.
Shapewear Swimsuits
Alongside the shapewear boom fueled by brands like Skims and Spanx, confidence-boosting swimwear is on the rise among women of all shapes and ages. And many new brands are making it actually chic.
Shapewear swimwear has a similar design to other styles, with the main difference being the material. Made from special high-tech fabrics that pull in, support , and lift, shapewear sculpts your silhouette while compressing uneven areas. You can wear shapewear anywhere and anytime you want to boost your confidence, including to the beach, pool, or on holiday.
Shapewear swimwear comes in all shapes and sizes, with any styles providing substantial coverage and compression for post-abdominoplasty patients.
Cut-Out Bikinis
There are a ton of cut-out bikini designs. Cut-out swimwear are usually one-piece bathing suits with strategically placed windows that expose the skin. Offering specific emphasis on a particular body part or area, they come in different shapes, sizes, and designs.
The good thing about cut-out bikinis is that post-abdominoplasty patients can choose which areas to cover. If you have a highly placed scar, for example, it is possible to pick one that offers full coverage on the incision region and cut-outs on the other areas.
Cup Swimwear
The focus of the swimsuit style is to offer support similar to a bra, and are available in a variety of sizes to match your exact bra size.
The bottom selection for cup swimwear is limited, however, with most options offering a cheeky bikini cut, a mid-rise, and a high-rise. These bottoms offer minimal coverage and might not be ideal for patients who’ve undergone full or extended (fleur de lis) abdominoplasty.
V-Strings Swimsuits
If you are worried that you will not be able to wear your thong swimsuit after an abdominoplasty, there’s no need to worry, thanks to V-String bikinis. While traditional thong bathing suits offer limited coverage and might not be ideal for concealing abdominoplasty scars, V-Strings are the perfect alternative. This fashion trend fakes the thong-swimsuit style while offering partial to full coverage. It also features an extra set of strings around the waist, creating a faux-thong effect.
Most V-String bikinis offer full coverage around the chest region. The bottoms are also more extensive compared to thongs. Therefore, V-Strings bathing suits are ideal for concealing scars resulting from full, extended, and mini abdominoplasty procedures.
The Bottom Line
Most abdominoplasty patients worry about concealing their incision wounds as they go to the beach or pool. The good news is there are now many fashionable swimsuit options available that allow you to stay stylish and enjoy your summer even after abdominoplasty surgery. Above are some of the best options to consider, recommended by Dr Beldholm, a FRACS surgeon well-experienced in abdominoplasty surgery.
References
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