You Lost the Weight. Now Let's Lose the Skin — All of It
Fleur-de-Lis Abdominoplasty in Ottawa with Dr. Mehrad Jaberi
Losing 80, 100, or 150+ pounds is one of the most difficult things a person can do. You stuck with it. You changed your life. And now you're left with something no diet or workout can fix — a massive amount of excess skin that hangs, folds, and covers up the body you worked so hard to build underneath.
A standard tummy tuck might not be enough. When skin excess is this significant — stretching side to side and top to bottom — you need a procedure that addresses both dimensions. That's exactly what the fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty does. Two incisions. Two planes of skin removal. One dramatically flatter, tighter abdomen.
Quick Facts
| Procedure Time | 4–5 hours |
| Anesthesia | General anesthesia |
| Recovery | 6–8 weeks; 3–4 weeks off work |
| Results | Long-lasting with stable weight |
| Starting From | $15,000 |
What Is a Fleur-de-Lis Abdominoplasty?
The fleur-de-lis (FDL) abdominoplasty is a specialized tummy tuck designed for patients with massive excess skin — typically after losing 80 or more pounds through bariatric surgery, lifestyle changes, or a combination. The name comes from the incision pattern, which resembles a fleur-de-lis (the French lily symbol).
Here's why it matters: a standard tummy tuck uses one horizontal incision to remove skin side to side. That works great when the excess is mostly horizontal. But after massive weight loss, the skin has been stretched in every direction. There's too much skin side to side AND too much from top to bottom. A single horizontal cut can't handle both.
The FDL solves this by adding a vertical incision — running from the breastbone area down to the pubic region — intersecting the horizontal incision. This allows Dr. Jaberi to pull skin in from the sides AND pull it downward (or upward), removing excess in two planes simultaneously. The result is dramatically tighter and flatter than what any standard technique could achieve.
Yes, this means two scars instead of one. A horizontal scar (hip to hip, hidden at the waistline) and a vertical scar (midline of the abdomen). Patients who've lost massive amounts of weight overwhelmingly say the scars are a worthwhile trade for finally having a flat stomach and getting rid of the skin that was making their daily life uncomfortable.
Is a Fleur-de-Lis Abdominoplasty Right for You?
The FDL is a major procedure reserved for patients with significant skin excess:
- You've lost a massive amount of weight (80+ pounds) through bariatric surgery or lifestyle changes
- Excess abdominal skin hangs in both directions — side to side and top to bottom
- A standard tummy tuck wouldn't remove enough skin to give a satisfying result
- You have significant folds or skin-on-skin irritation
- Your weight has been stable for at least 6 to 12 months
- You're in good overall health and cleared for a longer surgery
The FDL isn't for everyone. If a standard tummy tuck can achieve a great result, that's the better option — fewer scars, shorter surgery. But when the excess skin is truly massive, the FDL is the only technique that delivers a genuinely flat abdomen. Dr. Jaberi will be straightforward about which approach you actually need.
What to Expect — The Ultimate Abdominal Transformation
Your Consultation
Dr. Jaberi will evaluate the amount, distribution, and direction of your excess skin. He'll have you stand, sit, and move so he can assess where the skin excess is most significant. He'll discuss the incision pattern, the scar trade-offs, and whether combining with other body contouring procedures (belt lipectomy, arm lift, breast lift) makes sense — either at the same time or staged across multiple procedures.
For post-bariatric patients, this consultation is especially important. Dr. Jaberi will also assess your nutritional status, protein levels, and overall readiness for surgery — massive weight loss can sometimes affect healing, and optimizing your health beforehand makes a real difference in your outcome.
Surgery Day
The procedure takes 4 to 5 hours under general anesthesia. Dr. Jaberi carefully marks the incision pattern on your skin while you're standing. Both the horizontal and vertical components are excised, the muscle wall is repaired if diastasis recti is present, and the remaining skin is re-draped, pulled tight, and closed in layers. Drains are placed to prevent fluid accumulation.
This is an outpatient procedure, but given the length and complexity, some patients opt to stay overnight. Either way, you'll go home with a compression garment, drains, and a detailed recovery plan.
Recovery Timeline
Significant tightness and soreness. Walk slowly and hunched. Sleep on your back, slightly reclined. Drains must be managed. Pain medication keeps you comfortable. This is the toughest stretch — take it seriously.
Follow-up visits. Drains removed (usually week 1–2). You begin standing more upright. Light activity around the house is appropriate. No driving until off narcotic pain medication.
Many patients return to desk work. Swelling continues to decrease. The dramatic improvement is already visible. Compression garment stays on 24/7.
Light exercise resumes. Full activity clears around week 8. Scars are red but beginning to flatten and mature. Your abdomen is remarkably different from where you started.
Scars progressively fade. Swelling fully resolves. The final contour emerges — flat, tight, proportionate. Patients consistently describe this as life-changing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Because massive weight loss stretches skin in every direction. A standard horizontal tummy tuck only pulls from top and bottom. The FDL adds a vertical component so skin can also be pulled in from the sides. Think of squeezing a pillow from all four sides versus just two — you get a much flatter result. The extra scar is a trade-off every FDL patient considers, and the vast majority agree it's worth it.
If a standard tummy tuck can get you to a flat stomach, that's the better choice — it's less invasive with fewer scars. The FDL is reserved for when the excess skin is so significant that a standard approach would leave you with loose, bunching skin that wasn't fully addressed. After massive weight loss, this is often the case. Dr. Jaberi will evaluate your anatomy and give you an honest recommendation.
Plan for 6 to 8 weeks. The first two weeks are the most challenging — limited activity, significant soreness, drain management. Most desk workers return at 3 to 4 weeks. Exercise clears around week 8. It's a major procedure with proportionally longer healing, but patients who've come this far in their weight-loss journey aren't intimidated by recovery time.
Sometimes yes, sometimes it's better staged. Common combinations include adding a breast lift or converting the FDL into a belt lipectomy (extending around the entire waist). However, total surgery time and patient safety always come first. Dr. Jaberi often recommends a staged approach — tackle the abdomen first, then address other areas in a second surgery once you've fully healed. The best plan is the safest plan.
Starting at $15,000 with Dr. Jaberi. The FDL is a longer, more complex surgery than a standard tummy tuck, requiring more OR time, more tissue work, and often more post-operative care. The quote includes everything — surgeon's fee, anesthesia, facility, all follow-ups. A detailed, personalized estimate is provided after consultation.
You Earned This Body — Let's Reveal It
You put in the work to lose the weight. The fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty is the final chapter — removing the skin that's hiding the body underneath. Book your consultation with Dr. Jaberi and take the next step.
Book Your ConsultationOr call us directly: 613-591-1188