A flat and well-defined abdomen is something many people desire.  Many people can achieve their desired goal through weight control and exercise.  Sometimes it just isn't enough.  Overtime, most people develop an abdomen that protrudes or is loose and sagging.  This can occur due to heredity, pregnacy, spine abnormalities, and weight gain.

If you desire a tighter, flatter abdomen, than a tummy tuck may be appropriate to help achieve your goals.  A tumy tuck is also called an abdominoplasty.  The procedure removes excess fat and skin, and restores weakened or separated abdominal muscles.  The result is a flatter, smoother and firmer abdomen, enhancing the patient's body image and confidence.

Dr. Ehrmantraut has been performing abdominoplasty in Maryland for over eight years.  He produces fantastic results and elated patients.

Contact us at 410.414.9844 to schedule a confidential consultation with Dr. Ehrmantraut.

Description of the Abdominoplaty (Tummy Tuck) Procedure

Selecting a Qualified Plastic Surgeon

It is extremely important to be sure your surgeon is Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.   Just because a physician is board certified, it does not mean they are properly trained to perform breast augmentation.  Always clarify that your plastic surgeon is Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.  You can also verify this by going to their website at www.abplsurg.org.  It is also very important that the surgeon performs the surgery in the main OR of a hospital or a fully accredited surgery center.  

Breast Augmentation should only be performed in a certified surgical center.  Surgical Centers may be certified by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC), American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities, Inc. (AAAASF), or Medicare/CMS.  Be sure to find out which organization has certified the surgical center before having surgery there.

Dr. Ehrmantraut only performs breast augmentation in Maryland certified surgery centers, including the surgery center at Calvert Memorial Hospital.

Who is a candidate for tummy tucks (abdominoplasty)?

Abdominoplasty is best suited for women and men who are in relatively good shape but have excessive fat, skin or weakness of the abdominal wall that will not respond to traditional dieting and exercise.  The excessive skin, fat and abdominal bulges may be caused by pregnancy, aging, or excessive weight gain with subsequent weight loss. Scars and stretch marks in the lower part of the abdomen can also be removed with this procedure.

Is a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) safe? 

Qualified plastic surgeons perform thousands of abdominoplasties (tummy tucks) on patients every year without any major complications. 

How is a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) performed?

Most commonly a horizontal incision is placed just above the pubic area. The length of the incision depends on the amount of skin and fat that needs to be removed. Most commonly the incisions are kept beneath the swim suit or under wear lines. If needed an additional incision is placed around the navel (belly button). Excess skin above the navel is separated from the deeper tissue so it can be pulled downward. The navel remains in its normal location. The plastic surgeon is able to remove excess tissue by creating a pocket between the fat and the covering of the muscle wall. This frees up the excessive skin and fat, which is subsequently removed.  Stretch marks in the lower part of the abdomen can also be removed by this procedure.  A drainage tube is placed under the newly positioned skin to prevent the accumulation of fluid. This will be removed about seven to ten days after surgery. If there is a weak abdominal wall, it may be tightened with sutures creating a shapelier abdominal contour.

Can this be performed during another unrelated surgical procedure?

Tummy tucks (abdominoplasty) may be done at the time of other surgeries. One example is a patient undergoing a hysterectomy who would like to have a tummy tuck.

What should be expected after the surgery?

This procedure may be performed as an outpatient procedure or as a short stay in the hospital. This depends on several factors. If abdominoplasty is performed at the same time as another surgical procedure, a patient may be hospitalized until she recovers from the other procedure. One example is a patient who is having a hysterectomy.

If a patient only has an abdominoplasty, they will be sent home the day of their surgery with oral pain medications and an antibiotic. After the surgery patients wear an abdominal garment which provides support to the abdomen. A patent may shower one day after the surgery. The drains are generally removed after one week. If non-absorbable sutures are used, they are removed around 10 days. After several weeks the patient will not need the abdominal support garment, and their activity may increase. 

What other options are available?

A mini-abdominoplasty is used in situations were a patient is dissatisfied with the appearance of the abdomen below the navel. It will not correct excess skin above the navel. Liposuction is another alternative.  It is used if a patient has good skin elasticity and muscle tone, and only abdominal fat needs to be removed.   

When will a patient see results and how long will they last?

Immediately after surgery a patient will see a noticeable difference. A firmer abdomen will be visible in both regular everyday clothes and in a swim suit.  This change in appearance can give a patient a boost in their self image and make them feel more comfortable and confident.  Abdominoplasty produces long-lasting results.  Unless a patient gains or loses a significant amount of weight, they can expect to retain their new shape for many years.

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