What is a full abdominoplasty?
The term “Abdominoplasty” refers to plastic surgery of the abdomen. A full abdominoplasty is the most
comprehensive abdominoplasty. With this surgery, the following occurs:
- Removal of significant amount of loose, redundant, overhanging skin
- Tightening of abdominal muscles (repair “diastasis”) that loosen and separate from
prior abdominal surgery, weight loss and pregnancies
- Elevation, reduction and defatting of the pubic region
- Addressing the belly button which may be stretched or deformed by hernias or
scars
- Often Liposuction of the waist to enhance shape
- Secondary improvement of the upper and outer thigh which pull up in continuity
with the abdomen
Abdominoplasty surgery typically takes 2-3 hours and is performed under general anesthesia, going
home after a short recovery the same day. Intraoperatively, pain management is proactively addressed
with injection of numbing agents to reduce discomfort after surgery for 3 or 4 days. Initial
recovery after a Full Abdominoplasty may take about 2 weeks, allowing for 1 month to get back to a
full non-strenuous schedule.
A full abdominoplasty is one of the most impactful, satisfying procedures plastic surgeons
perform!
Who is a good candidate for an abdominoplasty?
Good candidates for our Baltimore abdominoplasty surgery are men and women in good
health who have excess, overhanging skin, significant stretch marks, muscle laxity, localized fat,
or discomfort from scarring.
A tummy tuck is most often performed due to abdominal muscle laxity that might result from pregnancy,
intrinsically lax tissues or postoperative scars. Some women post-pregnancy appear to still look
pregnant due to residual long-standing muscle laxity.
A tummy tuck is also the most often performed
procedure for individuals who have sustained massive weight loss. A tummy tuck may focus primarily
on excess skin and improving skin contour, or on tightening abdominal muscles, but most of the time
on both.
A tummy tuck may be combined with liposuction, a back lift, a thigh lift, or breast augmentation to
rejuvenate the entire torso. A tummy tuck may also be combined with abdominal hernia repairs,
sometimes utilizing materials to reinforce the muscle repair.
During the initial consultation, you
will discuss with Dr. Shermak what you would like to improve so she can understand your expectations
and determine how to best achieve the desired result.
![Tummy Tuck Baltimore]()
Published in Clinics in Plastic Surgery
Dr Shermak wrote a chapter on Abdominoplasty Combined with Other Procedures, which was published in the most recent
Clinics in Plastic Surgery.