Tummy tuck (Abdominoplasty)

What is a Tummy tuck?

A Tummy tuck, or Abdominoplasty, is the most effective way to tighten your stomach area and remove excess hanging skin. The most common types of Tummy tuck are:

  • Mini-tummy tuck
  • Full tummy tuck
  • Dermolipectomy, aka Panniculectomy

This procedure can be performed under IV anesthesia or General anesthesia as an out-patient. We prefer the use of IV sedation as it almost completely eliminates the risk of pulmonary embolism which is associated with General anesthesia. It is a milder form of anesthesia with little or no nausea. With respect to scarring, the surgical markings for skin excision are made with you in front of a mirror the morning of surgery. This allows you to know exactly where your Tummy tuck scar will be located.

All types of Tummy tucks get rid of loose skin between the belly button and pubic hairline. However, a Full tummy tuck will also remove fat tissue and tighten the muscles in the abdomen. After a Full tummy tuck, your abdomen will no longer stick out when sitting down or bending over. Say goodbye to holding in your belly!

Before & after Tummy tuck patient profile photos..

What is the difference between a Tummy tuck and a Mini-tummy tuck?

The Tummy tuck (CPT: 15847) 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 patients 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. I perform the Mini tummy tuck in the same fashion by going through a small incision in the belly button. To learn more about the difference between a Tummy tuck and Mini-tummy tuck, please read my blog post describing the difference between the two surgical techniques.

Tummy tuck or Dermolipectomy?

If you do not need muscle work, there is a procedure which is designed to only remove the loose skin. A Dermolipectomy, also known as a Panniculectomy (CPT: 15830) is a procedure that removes the excess apron of skin, but does not tighten the muscle. It benefits women who have wrinkly or excess skin, but reasonably good muscle tone. It has the same scar as a Tummy tuck, but can be performed in a shorter amount of time. In some rare instances, the dermolipectomy can be covered by insurance if there is documented history of skin infection due to excess skin.

What problems does a Tummy tuck address?

No matter how much I exercise, my stomach sticks out! -Baltimore patient
There are three problems which the Full tummy tuck procedure addresses. Patients who are candidates for the procedure usually have these three complaints:
  • Loose skin, stretch marks: This can be a result of aging, pregnancy, or marked weight loss.
  • Excess fat tissue: The lower abdomen and flanks (love handles) are the most common areas of fat deposits.
  • Abdominal muscle separation: This 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.

Finding out if a Tummy tuck is right for you

Liposuction alone can take care of excess fat tissue, but loose skin and stretch marks must be addressed by one of three techniques: Dermolipectomy, Mini-tummy tuck, or Full tummy tuck. No amount of exercise can help loose hanging skin, and this can only be addressed with a Tummy tuck. Additionally, there is the issue of muscle separation. Unfortunately, exercise will not repair a muscle that has become separated. Only a full Tummy tuck can repair the muscle. In this YouTube video, I explain how to do a self examination of your stomach to find out if you have a separated rectus abdominis muscle. If you have this type of muscle separation, no amount of exercise can make your stomach flat. The stomach muscle must be sewn back together so that you can get a flat tummy. To learn more about tummy tuck muscles and self examination you can also read my blog post.

Will a Tummy tuck tighten skin that hangs over the sides of my hips?

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.

How is a Tummy tuck performed?

The Full tummy tuck procedure takes approximately 4 hours of operating room time and is typically an outpatient procedure. Although the surgery can be performed under either IV sedation or General anesthesia, I prefer the use of monitored IV sedation anesthesia because patients experience much less nausea and quicker recovery. On the morning of your procedure, while you are still awake, I make the surgical markings on your stomach with you in front of a mirror. I now ask my patients to bring their favorite bathing suit , as this helps me decide where to place the incisions. I review the exact incision location with you, and make every possible effort to keep it below your panty line.

Tummy tuck anesthesia

Dr. Todd Hobelmann in the operating room.In my Baltimore surgery center I prefer to use IV sedation with Tummy tuck procedures. IV sedation provides for a quicker recovery than General anesthesia and eliminates much of the nausea associated with anesthesia. In addition, the risk of pulmonary embolism is nearly eliminated with the use of IV anesthesia. More details about why I prefer IV anesthesia can be found here. Dr. Todd Hobelmann, one of our board certified anesthesiologists also has a great explanation of the advantages of IV anesthesia in this video filmed at our Surgery Center. To ensure the highest level of safety for your procedure, I employ only board certified anesthesiologists in my AAAASF accredited surgery center located near in Baltimore, Maryland.

The incision placement and technique

Once the procedure starts, the first step is to place the incision between the belly button and top of the pubic hair. I use the surgical markings that I made with you in the morning as my guidelines. 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. I pay special attention to not only the placement of the scar, but the way I close and suture the wound back together. I believe that my closure technique using the Lockwood technique results in a thinner scar.

Tissue dissection and Incision closure with the Lockwood technique

An illustration showing the Tummy tuck Lockwood technique.The technique that I use to dissect the tissue and close the incision is referred to as the Lockwood technique. After over two decades of performing Tummy Tucks, The Lockwood technique pictured on the right hand side of the diagram has less dissection of the tissues (the pink area). Less dissection means less interruption of blood supply and less risk of fluid accumulation.  Therefore the risks of hematoma and seromas are reduced after surgery with this technique.  I now exclusively use the Lockwood technique. In summary the Lockwood technique does the following:
  • less tissue dissection to reduce the risk of seroma and hematoma after surgery
  • the wound incision has less tension at top layers which will yield a thinner scar (since the scar will spread less with less tension)

Incision Closure with the Lockwood technique

The Lockwood technique involves closing the wound opening in a special way so that there is less tension on the incision surface. In this respect, the deeper layers of tissue are closed more tightly than the layers near the surface. With less tension at the surface, the scar is less likely to spread with time. Therefore, this surgical technique results in a thinner scar and has a dramatic reduction in post op seromas that are commonly seen with the tummy tuck procedure. Learn more about avoiding thick scars with the Lockwood technique at this blog post.

Length of the Tummy Tuck Incision: Regular Tummy Tuck or Extended?

A regular tummy tuck incision goes from hip bone to hip bone, all on the front side. However, if you have loose skin at the hip bone,  the surgeon may recommend having an Extended Tummy Tuck.  The surgeon will remove loose skin at the hip bone and the incision will extend past the hip bone , a short distance around the back.  The Extended Tummy Tuck does do wonderful things for the buttocks profile, as it can somewhat lift the buttocks. Note that the Extended Tummy Tuck does cost more as it takes longer to perform the procedure .

Adminstration of Exparel pain block at the end of surgery

To help minimize the pain during your post op recovery, we use Exparel injection, which numbs the area.  This injection is given at the end of the procedure. This is now used in place of a a pain pump.  The numbing medication injected into the incision dramatically reduces the post operative pain for up to 3 days.

What are the preoperative requirements?

No smoking sign. Your Tummy tuck should be performed by a board certified plastic surgeon at an accredited outpatient surgery center or hospital. The most recognized accreditation agencies for surgery centers are the AAAASF and JCAHO. Look for certificates of accreditation from one of those organizations. You should have met your surgeon in person at least once, if not twice prior to your procedure. He/she should have explained alternative treatments and given you a copy of the Informed Consent for Tummy tuck. You should have also been given the opportunity to ask questions in person directly to your surgeon. Other pre-op requirements are:
  • Your BMI (Body Mass Index) must be less than 35 kg/m2. This is calculated based on your height and weight, and is important to reduce the risk of post op complications.
  • Achieve a stable weight
  • Quit smoking at least 2 weeks prior to surgery
  • Stop taking multivitamins, herbals, and aspirin prior to surgery
  • Have an Physical examination (H&P) and CBC (anemia detection) to clear you for surgery within 30 days of your surgery date
  • Schedule a pre-op appointment with your surgeon to review the surgical plan and discuss risks associated with the procedure. The Informed Consent  document can also be discussed and signed at this appointment.
  • NPO (nothing to eat or drink) after midnight before surgery
  • The morning of surgery, with your surgeon, review WHERE your incision will be located!

What is Tummy tuck Post-Op recovery like?

Following a Tummy tuck, you should plan to take a minimum of 2 weeks off from work. If you return to work during the third week, you must be limited to desk work only, and should not expect to work the full 8 hours. You should not drive for a minimum of 3 weeks.

Post-Operative recovery instructions

  • Day 1 - 5: Bed rest, drink plenty of fluids, no showers, do not remove the garment!
  • Day 1 - 14: Call your surgeon immediately if you develop a fever greater than 101 degrees F. This may be indicative of an infection.
  • Day 5: First post op office visit to remove pain pump and drains, and change garment
  • Day 1 - 14: Wear compression garment 24 hours/ day
  • Day 14 - 30: Wear compression garment 12 hours/day
  • Week 3: Work from home
  • Week 4: Follow up appointment in office, resume driving, back to FT work
  • Week 6: Resume regular activities
  • Month 4: Follow up appointment in office
The week by week summary of the postoperative period is described in my blog post entitled How long is the Tummy tuck recovery. A compression garment from Design Veronique.

Compression garment

A key component of your Tummy tuck recovery is the compression garment. This garment is important during the postoperative period as it helps the area to heal evenly and smoothly. It is worn continuously for the first two weeks post operatively, and then 12 hours/day in week 3 and week 4. To learn more please read my blog post about the compression garment and its importance to a successful tummy tuck result, including information about choosing the right garment and ensuring a good fit.

What are the risks and possible complications?

Complications can be either minor such that the issue can be addressed in the clinic, or they can be classified as major complications in that they require hospitalization. According to a Feb 2018 article published in Plastic and Reconstructive Journal the risk of major complication in a Tummy Tuck is 4%. This 4% complication rate was based on an analysis of 25,478 abdominoplasty patients. The most common major complications outlined by the study were found to be hematoma (1.3%), and infection (1.1%). The list of all risks and complications of the Tummy tuck procedure include, but are not limited to:
  • scarring
  • seroma (fluid collection)
  • hematoma
  • asymmetry
  • infection
  • loss of skin
  • loss of sensation
  • possibility of revision surgery

How much does a Tummy tuck cost?

When evaluating costs, consider the 'total cost' includes the surgeon's fee, operating room fee, anesthesia fee and garments. If you are comparing prices among surgeons, be sure to add up all of these components to get a 'Total Cost'. To compare apples to apples be sure to know if you are getting a Tummy Tuck or an Extended Tummy Tuck. There is also the option to have Liposuction to the flank area with your Tummy Tuck. Tummy Tuck Total costs for the remainder of 2024 are as follows:
Type of Tummy tuck with or without Liposuction 2024 Prices (exp 5/1/24)
Tummy Tuck $8,300
Tummy Tuck + Lipo Love Handles (front flanks) $9,900
Tummy Tuck + lipo flanks (love handles and back muffin top) $11,300
Extended Tummy Tuck only $9,450 to $11,000
Extended Tummy Tuck + lipo flanks (love handles and back muffin top) $12,300 - $14,000
Mini-Tummy Tuck $6,500
Dermolipectomy / Panniculectomy $6,500

Pink money box.Can I finance my Tummy tuck?

Yes, we work with a number of finance companies so that you can have a low, affordable, monthly payment. Please call the office at 410-494-8100 or see our financing section for more information.

Can I add liposuction to my Tummy Tuck?

Yes! You can add the front flank liposuction (love handles) for a total cost of $9,400. If you want to have liposuction to full flanks, aka lipo 360 (love handles and muffin top above the buttocks), the total cost averages $11,200.  You can also add additional areas of lipo such as your scapular (back), inner thighs, or neck area.  You will receive a formal quote and explanation of the differences during your consultation.

Dr. Ricardo L. Rodriguez's signatureModified on |
Board Certified Plastic Surgery, ASPS Member

NOTICE

Patients depicted in our before and after galleries have provided their written consent to display their photos online. Every patient is unique, and surgical results may vary. Please contact us if you have any questions.