In Washington D.C. &. Maryland
A Tummy Tuck, also known as Abdominoplasty is a cosmetic surgery procedure designed to remove excess skin and fat while tightening weakened or separated muscles of your abdominal wall. By tightening your muscles and narrowing your waist, this procedure can help you achieve a firmer and more contoured abdomen.
A Tummy tuck, or Abdominoplasty at Landford Plastic Surgery in Washington DC and Maryland consists of repairing abdominal muscles, removing excess fat and loose skin, and repositioning of the belly button. Stretch marks below the navel will be removed as the tissue above the navel will be lowered.
Tummy Tuck surgery is a transformative surgery that aims to address issues such as loose abdominal skin or weakened and separated abdominal muscles to create a smoother and firmer abdominal profile. Even at normal body weight, a patient might consider a Tummy Tuck, also known as Abdominoplasty, in several situations including excess skin after weight loss, abdominal wall weakness that is due to age, genetics, or previous surgeries, post-pregnancy changes, desire for a toned abdomen, and improved body contours.
In general, candidates for a Washington DC and Maryland area Tummy Tuck should have the following characteristics:
*Please keep in mind that Tummy Tuck or Abdominoplasty surgery is not a substitution for a weight loss or unwanted fat loss procedure. The primary goal of a Tummy Tuck is to improve body contour and address specific aesthetic concerns and not a solution for significant weight reduction. For effective weight loss, proper diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes are recommended.
The cost of a Tummy Tuck in Washington DC & Maryland will vary significantly from patient to patient depending on the type of procedure and several other factors, including the complexity of the procedure, facility fees, anesthesia costs, and post-operative care.
When you schedule a consultation with Dr. Landford, she will create a personalized surgical plan based on your specific needs and circumstances. Our team will then use that information to provide you with your Tummy Tuck quote.
If you’re experiencing sagging abdominal skin and fatty tissue, stretch marks, and weak abdominal muscles, you should schedule a Tummy Tuck consultation with Wilmina Landford, M.D. at Landford Plastic Surgery in Washington DC or Maryland.
When you schedule your consultation with Wilmina Landford, M.D., you can expect a discussion of your goals and the best method to achieve your aesthetic desire, a review of your medical, surgical, and social history, a physical examination, details about techniques and approach of a Tummy Tuck procedure, and a customized treatment plan.
Based on your goals and physical assessment, Dr. Landford will create a personalized plan that will guide you through every step of the transformative process. She will then take photographs for documentation purposes. Our team will then help prepare you for the procedure and outline the steps of your recovery in addition to securing you a surgical date.
Preparing for a Tummy Tuck or Abdominoplasty surgery involves several essential steps to ensure a smooth and successful procedure. You will be provided with specific pre-operative instructions to help you achieve the best results with plastic surgery, and while each patient may have directions specifically for them, we have included some of the more common tips:
Our Tummy Tuck Washington DC and Maryland patients have seen the following benefits from their surgery:
On the day of your plastic surgery procedure, we will first administer anesthesia to make you more comfortable. This could be in the form of intravenous sedation or general anesthesia.
Once the anesthesia takes effect, Dr. Landford will make a horizontally-oriented incision in the lower abdomen. The shape and length of the incision for removing excess skin are determined by your individual needs. The abdominal skin is then lifted and the abdominal muscle separation or weakness is repaired and tightened with sutures to create a firmer abdominal wall.
Dr. Landford will then pull the upper abdominal skin down like a window shade. The hanging skin is trimmed with the remaining skin sutured together and the belly button (navel) is repositioned and ensured that it looks natural in its new location.
Finally, she will close the skin incisions using sutures. Your belly will be wrapped in a bandage and drainage tubes may be temporarily left in position to help the flow of excess fluid and blood.
To help her patients tighten abdominal muscles and sagging skin to achieve a smoother abdominal region, Dr. Landford can use a variety of Tummy Tuck surgery techniques so our patients can meet their goals, such as the ones listed below.
Also known as a complete or traditional Abdominoplasty, it is the most common type and involves making a low horizontal incision between the hip bones and removing excess fat and skin from the abdominal tissue. The abdominal muscles are tightened to create a more toned and sculpted appearance. The belly button is moved to a new position. A typical surgery is ideal for people with a significant amount of skin and fat laxity.
A Mini Tummy tuck in Washington DC or Maryland is a less invasive version of the Full Tummy Tuck procedure and is ideal for people with less excess skin and fat. This procedure involves making a smaller incision along the lower half of your abdomen and removing less fat and skin. The abdominal muscles may or may not be tightened and the belly button is not manipulated.
An Extended Tummy Tuck is a more involved version of the traditional Tummy Tuck surgery that involves making a longer incision that extends further around the sides of the body to address these areas. This surgical procedure is ideal for people with a significant amount of fat and skin in the abdominal and hip areas. Just like in a Full Tummy Tuck, the belly button is also repositioned.
This Tummy Tuck method derives its name from the incision pattern made and is typically used in post-bariatric patients after massive weight loss to remove the skin. Dr. Landford will make incisions both horizontally and vertically, which in turn, creates two separate scars – one horizontal across the lower abdomen and one vertical along the midline, resulting in an upside-down “T” to address the excess tissue effectively.
Similar to a standard Tummy Tuck surgery, the Male Abdominoplasty is tailored specifically to address the unique anatomical differences and aesthetic goals of men. Dr. Landford considers the masculine figure and body type to sculpt the abdomen. The procedure aims to eliminate stubborn belly fat, address loose or sagging skin, and improve abdominal muscle definition, resulting in a slimmer and more masculine-looking physique.
Not every surgery produces the results intended, so a tummy tuck revision or an Abdominoplasty Revision is designed to correct and improve your abdominal appearance following a previous surgery that may have resulted in complications, an unsatisfactory aesthetic outcome, or following weight fluctuations or changes in body shape. Depending on your aesthetic goals, Dr. Landford may use different surgical techniques to approach your tummy tuck revision in Washington DC, or Maryland.
Incisions for a Tummy Tuck will most commonly be placed in your ‘bikini line’, extending from one side of your hip bone to the other, as well as a small incision around the belly button. This allows Dr. Landford to remove all the tissue below and just above the belly button. Any stretch marks in your stomach region will be removed as well.
After your Tummy Tuck surgery, we will monitor you in our recovery area. Once released by Dr. Landford, you will be able to recover comfortably at home the same day, but there have been instances in which a patient is held overnight. When you are ready to go home, you should have a relative or friend available to give you a ride home. You will be fitted for a compression support garment during your pre-surgical visit and you will wear it during the postoperative period to reduce swelling. Surgical drains may also be used to assist in fluid drainage.
The first few days after your abdominoplasty surgery, there will be some swelling, bruising, and moderate discomfort in the treatment area, which is relieved by medications prescribed and compression garment use. While it will take about six weeks to fully recover from an abdominoplasty procedure, many patients can return to work and resume light activities within 7 – 10 days. Heavy lifting and strenuous physical activities should be avoided for at least the first few weeks.
Our team will provide you with detailed instructions on how to care for the incisions and drains until they are removed, which usually happens just a few days after surgery.
Wilmina Landford, M.D. is a highly skilled and respected plastic surgeon with specialized expertise in Body Contouring, having undergone Plastic & Reconstructive surgery training at the renowned Johns Hopkins Hospital. With a wealth of experience in performing Tummy Tuck surgeries and a dedication to delivering top-notch patient care, Dr. Landford offers a tailored approach to the human physique. Dr. Landford loves to combine her technical proficiency with her artistic eye to deliver results that enhance natural beauty and provide a better quality of life.
Ready to take the first step toward achieving your desired look? If you are seeking to contour your abdomen or have hopes of attaining an hourglass, toned, or athletic shape, Wilmina Landford, M.D. will guide you through your transformative journey. A Tummy Tuck at Landford Plastic Surgery in Washington DC or Maryland will provide you with a skilled and experienced team. To schedule your consultation with Dr. Landford, schedule yourself on our calendar or fill out this form, and a member of our team will be with you shortly.
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