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Abdominoplasty
Tummy Tuck Procedureclick the before and after tummy tuck photos to enlarge Baltimore, Maryland
"No matter how much I exercise, my stomach sticks out." What is a tummy tuck?A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is the most effective way to tighten your stomach area. It also gets rid of loose or wrinkled skin. Stretch marks between the belly button and pubic hair are eliminated. Fat tissue in the lower abdomen is removed. The abdominal wall muscles are tightened so that even when sitting down or bending over the abdomen doesn't stick out. Say goodbye to holding in your belly. The benefits of abdominoplasty surgeryAbdominal wall deformities have three components: - Loose or wrinkly skin, stretch marks. This can be a result of aging, pregnancy, or marked weight loss.
- Fat tissue, most of the time seen in the lower abdomen.
- Muscle separation, which can occur by itself, or as a result of pregnancy. Sit-ups or crunches don't help in this situation as once the muscles relax, they separate and the tummy bulges out.
Liposuction alone can take care of excess fat tissue, but loose skin and stretch marks must be addressed by one of three techniques: dermatolipectomy, mini-tummy tuck, or full tummy tuck. The difference between a tummy tuck and a mini-tummy tuckThe tummy tuck addresses the three components your abdomen: the skin, fat, and muscle. Most notable is the fact that work is done to tighten the muscles, which will benefit women who want as flat a stomach as possible. Results, especially when combined with liposuction of the flanks, are dramatic. A mini tummy tuck is best suited for women who don't have stretch marks or saggy skin, but have a pouch below the belly button. It can be done through an incision in the belly button, or through a C section scar if the patient wants a little excess skin taken off. Men, on the other hand, seem to have their pouch above the belly button. Dr. Rodriguez performs the mini tummy tuck in the same fashion by going through a small incision in the belly button. To learn more, please read Dr. Rodriguez's blog post describing the difference between the two surgical techniques. I only have loose skin. Which procedure should I have?If you do not have any fat which needs to be removed and you do not need muscle work, there is a procedure which is designed to only remove the loose skin. A dermatolipectomy is a procedure that takes out skin, but does not tighten the muscle. It benefits most slender women who have wrinkly or excess skin, but good muscle tone. It has the same scar as a tummy tuck. Can exercise alone make my stomach flat?If you have a separation in your rectus abdominis muscle, only a tummy tuck can help you. No amount of exercise will close the separated muscle. For more information, and to learn how to do a self-examination of your own stomach muscles, watch Dr. Rodriguez's video, Flat stomach-more exercise or a tummy tuck?. What is involved in the full tummy tuck procedure?The abdominoplasty procedure can be done under general, regional, or twilight anesthesia, depending on individual patient preference and needs. Dr. Rodriguez now exclusively uses the Lockwood technique for all of his tummy tucks. This surgical technique gives the best aesthetic result and has a dramatic reduction in post op seromas that are seen with the standard tummy tuck procedure. Learn more about why the Lockwood technique helps reduce post operative tummy tuck swelling and seromas in Dr. Rodriguez's blog post, Tummy Tucks: How to reduce swelling and eliminate fluid collections (seromas). The first step in the abdominoplasty procedure is to cut the skin between the belly button and top of the pubic hair. Dr. Rodriguez reviews the exact incision location with you prior to the procedure and makes every possible effort to keep it below your panty line. The belly button stays in place. The muscles are then tightened from the pubic bone to the ribs. The skin above the belly button is then stretched down to the pubic area and stitched in place. Finally, the belly button is brought out through the overlying skin to occupy its original position. Some liposuction is performed to fine tune the new shape of the abdomen area. I also have skin which hangs over the sides of my hips. Can a tummy tuck fix that too?If you have excess skin and fat which hangs over your hips, you should consider a lower body lift procedure. The body lift includes an outer thigh lift and buttock lift, in addition to the abdominoplasty. Please see those sections of our web site for information including before and after photos. So how much does an abdominoplasty or tummy tuck cost?The physician's surgical fee for the three types of tummy tucks range from $3500 to $5300. Facility fee and anesthesia are in addition to the physician's fee. Dr. Rodriguez's surgical fee does include liposuction of the waist, which is sometimes not included in costs quoted by other offices. If you are comparing costs among surgeons be sure to compare apples to apples. All follow up office visits are included in his surgical fee. Financing is available. Is abdominoplasty surgery right for me?To learn if you are a candidate for the abdominoplasty procedure or if you should consider a body lift, please visit What's Right for Me?, Dr. Rodriguez's interactive plastic surgery body quiz. Read tummy tuck patient testimonials to see what our patients have had to say about their experiences. You may also like to take a peek at our patient portfolio of before and after abdominoplasty photos:
Featured Tummy Tuck Expert on RealSelf.comDr. Rodriguez is a featured Tummy Tuck Expert and Gold Status Participant on RealSelf.com. See actual tummy tuck reviews from participants in the RealSelf forum. Contact Dr. Rodriguez for a consultWe would be happy to have you Contact Us to discuss your individual needs with you and answer any questions you may have about the abdominoplasty procedure.
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Would I do it again? I would do it again repeatedly as long as Dr. Rodriguez was the physician performing it. Great smile and I feel beautiful everyday!
