A process and an apparatus for making a refastenable side seam of an hygienic absorbent article efficiently, without the need to remove scrap and which allows refastenable side seams to be obtained which are ergonomic, aesthetically pleasing, easily identifiable by the user and such that they do not reduce the wearability of the article. The disclosure also relates to a hygienic absorbent article provided with at least one refastenable side seam. The disclosure also relates to a process and an apparatus for carrying out one or more operations on elastic panels usable for making an hygienic absorbent article provided with at least one refastenable side seam.