In Washington D.C. &. Maryland
Imagine bidding farewell to stubborn belly fat, loose skin, and those pesky stretch marks, and saying hello to a sleeker, more sculpted midsection that highlights your natural curves. A tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, is a cosmetic surgery procedure designed to remove excess skin and fat, including extra skin and stubborn fat that are resistant to diet and exercise, 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. The procedure can also help address a protruding abdomen, resulting in a flatter profile. At Landford Plastic Surgery, serving Washington, D.C., and Maryland, the tummy tuck is one of our most popular procedures.
A tummy tuck from Dr. Wilmina Landford in Washington, D.C., and Maryland involves repairing stretched abdominal muscles, removing excess fat and loose skin, and repositioning the belly button, as well as addressing skin that has stretched due to pregnancy or weight changes. Stretch marks below the navel will be removed as the tissue above the navel will be lowered.
Tummy tuck surgery is a transformative procedure that addresses issues such as loose abdominal skin or weakened and separated abdominal muscles, resulting in 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:
Before & after photos
Dr. Wilmina Landford has successfully performed hundreds of aesthetic procedures, including tummy tucks, helping patients achieve transformative, natural-looking results across Washington, D.C., and Maryland.
Dr. Landford is consistently recognized for her excellence in plastic surgery and patient care. She has been named a Top Doctor by Washingtonian Magazine and Baltimore Magazine, and her work has been featured in numerous medical journals and cosmetic publications.
Dr. Landford received her medical degree from Stony Brook University School of Medicine and subsequently completed a competitive residency in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the world-renowned Johns Hopkins Hospital, one of the nation’s top-ranked hospitals.
Dr. Landford is recognized for her compassionate and detail-oriented care. She takes the time to understand each patient’s goals, body type, and lifestyle to deliver results that are both aesthetically beautiful and functionally impactful.
Surgery Time: Approximately 2 to 5 hours, depending on the extent of the procedure.
Recovery: Most patients return to light activity within 1 to 2 weeks. Full recovery typically takes 6 weeks.
Results: Visible immediately after swelling subsides, with final results apparent within 3 to 6 months.
In general, candidates for a Washington, D.C., and Maryland area tummy tuck should have the following characteristics:
A tummy tuck can also help restore strong abdominal muscles, providing improved core support and potentially reducing back problems.
Please keep in mind that tummy tuck or abdominoplasty surgery is not a substitute 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, rather than serving as 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, D.C., and 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 tailored to your specific needs and circumstances. Our team will then use that information to provide you with a quote for your tummy tuck.
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, including a discussion of the various tummy tuck options available to meet your needs best, 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, outline the steps of your recovery, and secure a surgical date for you.
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:
Although Dr. Landford takes great pride in providing safe and stunning results with any cosmetic surgery, a tummy tuck does have potential risks or side effects, which can include, but are not limited to:
If you experience any long-lasting or concerning reactions, please contact us immediately.
A tummy tuck is performed as a surgical procedure under anesthesia.
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, just above the pubic bone. Your individual needs determine the shape and length of the incision for removing excess skin. The abdominal skin is then lifted, and excess fat is removed as needed. The separation or weakness of the stomach muscles 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, and the remaining skin is sutured together to close the wound. The belly button (navel) is repositioned to ensure 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 their abdominal muscles and reduce sagging skin to achieve a smoother abdominal region, Dr. Landford can utilize a variety of tummy tuck surgeries and techniques, allowing patients to meet their goals, as listed below.
Also known as a complete or traditional abdominoplasty, this is the most common type of procedure, involving a low horizontal incision between the hip bones, followed by the removal of 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, D.C., or Maryland is a less invasive version of the full tummy tuck procedure, ideal for individuals 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 be tightened, or not, and the belly button is not manipulated.
An extended tummy tuck is a more comprehensive version of the traditional tummy tuck surgery, which 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 who have undergone massive weight loss to remove excess skin. Dr. Landford will make incisions both horizontally and vertically, which in turn create 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 intended results, so a tummy tuck revision or 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 after 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, D.C., 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 also be removed.
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 on the same day; however, there have been instances in which a patient is held overnight. When you are ready to go home, it is recommended to have a relative or friend available to give you a ride. You will be fitted for a compression support garment during your pre-surgical visit and will wear it during the postoperative period to help 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. Dr. Landford will prescribe pain medication as needed to ensure significant pain relief during the initial recovery period. Over-the-counter medications may also be recommended alongside prescribed pain medication to help manage discomfort and reduce reliance on narcotics. While it will take approximately six weeks to recover from an abdominoplasty procedure fully, 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.
Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids to promote healing.
Use Your Compression Garment: Wear it as directed to reduce swelling and support your abdomen.
Sleep in an Elevated Position: Keeping your torso elevated with pillows can reduce strain on your abdomen and minimize swelling.
Take Short Walks: Gentle movement helps prevent blood clots and promotes circulation.
Follow Medication Guidelines: Take all prescribed pain medication and antibiotics as directed.
Attend All Follow-Up Appointments: These are critical to ensuring your recovery is on track.
Avoid Smoking and Alcohol: Both can hinder the healing process and increase the risk of complications.
Eat Nutritiously: A protein-rich, vitamin-filled diet supports your body’s healing processes.
Avoid Strenuous Activities: No heavy lifting or intense workouts for at least 4–6 weeks, or until cleared by Dr. Landford.
Wilmina Landford, M.D., is a highly skilled and respected plastic surgeon with specialized expertise in body contouring, having undergone plastic and 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 combines her technical proficiency with her artistic eye to deliver results that enhance natural beauty and improve quality of life.
Ready to take the first step toward achieving your desired look? If you are seeking to contour your abdomen or hope to achieve 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, D.C., or Maryland will provide you with a skilled and experienced team. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Landford, please use our online calendar or complete the form below. A member of our team will be in touch with you shortly.
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