Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

Dr. Michael Olding performs tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) and post-bariatric body contouring procedures at the GW Cosmetic Surgery Center in Washington DC. Full abdominoplasty addresses excess lower abdominal skin, subcutaneous fat, and rectus abdominis muscle separation (diastasis recti) through a low hip-crease incision, restoring a firmer abdominal contour. Panniculectomy — removal of a hanging abdominal skin flap — is available for patients following substantial weight loss and may qualify for insurance coverage. Body contouring procedures such as thigh lift and arm lift are also offered as part of the post-bariatric and weight-loss body reshaping program.

Abdominoplasty and body contouring surgery at GW Medical Faculty Associates is performed by Dr. Michael Olding MD FACS, whose cosmetic surgery portfolio spans the full range of aesthetic and post-weight-loss body reshaping procedures. The classic full abdominoplasty is the most comprehensive abdominal procedure, involving a hip-to-hip incision placed low within the bikini line, through which excess lower abdominal skin and subcutaneous fat are resected, the umbilicus is transposed to its new anatomically appropriate position, and the paired rectus abdominis muscles are plicated at the midline to repair the diastasis recti — the muscle separation along the linea alba that commonly results from pregnancy or significant weight gain. Repair of the diastasis is a critical functional and aesthetic component of the procedure, restoring the structural integrity of the abdominal wall and narrowing the waist. The mini-abdominoplasty addresses patients with laxity and excess skin confined to the area below the navel; it uses a shorter incision, does not require umbilical transposition, and involves less extensive undermining than the full procedure. Panniculectomy — a procedure distinct from aesthetic abdominoplasty in that it focuses solely on resection of the overhanging pannus of skin and fat without muscle repair or umbilical transposition — is indicated for patients whose abdominal overhang causes chronic skin moisture, maceration, rash, or impedes hygiene and mobility following bariatric surgery or non-surgical weight loss. Some insurance plans cover panniculectomy when medical necessity criteria are documented. Liposuction of the flanks, hips, and back can be combined with abdominoplasty to achieve a more complete torso contour result. For patients who have undergone massive weight loss, Dr. Olding performs lower body lift (belt lipectomy) combining circumferential excision of the torso skin roll with outer thigh, buttock, and abdominal tightening, as well as arm lift (brachioplasty) and thigh lift to address the dependent skin folds that result from large-volume fat loss. These post-bariatric body contouring procedures are staged for patient safety when multiple areas require treatment. Patients at the Washington DC West End clinic benefit from the academic GW Health system for pre-operative medical clearance, anesthesia support, and post-operative follow-up.