"After four pregnancies, I had a very noticeable
pouch. I stopped tucking in shirts or wearing jeans. I was
very self-conscious about it. After my tummy tuck, I dress the
way I want to—and look good!"
—D.B. (age 40)
Who is a Candidate?
Dr. Kress performs abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) for Hagerstown, Frederick, and Martinsburg residents with loose or sagging abdominal skin. This excess skin and fat, along with stretched abdominal muscles, can result from multiple pregnancies or prior surgery. No amount of exercise can completly eliminate this problem. A tummy tuck offers a safe solution that will give you a smoother, flatter abdomen.
Ready to learn more about a tummy tuck? Start seeing what's possible when you view tummy tuck pictures of Frederick-area patients. When you're ready, request a consultation with Dr. Kress at the office of Plastic Surgery One on Opossumtown Pike in Frederick.
Your Tummy Tuck in Frederick, Maryland
An abdominoplasty consists of a W-shaped incision along the lower abdomen, well hidden within a bathing suit or even a relatively small bikini. The belly button is temporarily detached, and the skin from the lower abdomen is lifted up almost to the rib margin. While the skin is lifted, any separation or laxity of the abdominal muscles is tightened with a special suture. The skin of the abdomen is re-draped, the belly button is re-inserted
and the extra skin removed. Small plastic drains are generally left in place for an average period of five days. The surgery is done under general anesthesia, and is most often done as an outpatient, but will require assistance at home for the first few post-operative days.
For people whose abdominal laxity is entirely below the belly button, Dr. Kress can perform a mini tummy tuck. Hagerstown, Frederick, and Martinsburg men and women choose this form of the operation for a shorter scar and quicker recovery period. Other popular procedures that can be combined with abdominoplasty include thigh lift and liposuction in Maryland.
Recovery Time
Most patients are easily able to return to work in 14 days from the
surgery and vigorous sports activity can be resumed within a month.
Your Results
Patients from Frederick, Martinsburg, and Hagerstown who choose tummy tuck plastic surgery are able to acheive a smoother, tighter abdomen and a smaller waist. Also, they can eliminate a
significant number of their abdominal stretch marks, and enjoy increased comfort when exerciseing or engaging in other activities.
Tummy Tuck FAQ's
- Can I develop a hernia after the surgery?
No. In spite of the fact that we discuss the repair of the muscles, the
muscles themselves are never actually cut. They are simply folded on
themselves and tightened. Even if a stitch or two should pull out of
the muscle, this will not result in a hernia, which by definition is a
protrusion of the abdominal contents through an area of weakness of the
abdominal wall.
- Is there a weight requirement with abdominoplasty?
Yes. For abdominoplasty to be maximally effective, you should be within
twenty pounds of your reasonable weight. If after the procedure you
lost thirty or forty additional pounds, the skin would loosen and
detract from the results of the abdominoplasty procedure.
- Can I have children after I've had abdominoplasty?
This is not recommended, although there is no danger to your or your
child's health. In general, almost all laxity of the abdominal skin is
removed. Having another child at that point could result in very severe
stretch marks.
- I have skin that hangs over on my abdomen that is worse when I bend over. Will the surgery correct this?
Partially. There really are two problems at work in the ptotic
(sagging) skin requiring abdominoplasty. First there is excess skin,
and we can deal with that with the specific surgical removal. The
second problem is the loss of the elastic properties of the skin which
cannot be repaired. So, even after the surgery, bending and certain
positions will result in some wrinkling of the abdomen because the
elastic properties of the skin have decreased.
Have a question that isn't answered here? Request a consultation with Dr. Kress or call us toll-free at 888.671.2400.
"There is nothing in the craft of any art so
exquisitely beautiful that it can surpass that shown by the skillful
master of surgery."
—Lord Moynihan
