A tummy tuck, AKA abdominoplasty, is a cosmetic procedure that is performed in order to improve the look of the abdomen by removing excess skin and fat from the abdomen, so the treated area gains a look that is contoured and toned. Another tummy tuck option is a mini tummy tuck that is ideal for patients who want to get rid of a little bit of extra fat and skin that exercise is not able to eliminate. This treatment is less invasive than a traditional tummy tuck, so it requires less recovery time after the surgery. Want to know more about this tummy tuck option? Keep reading for more information.
A mini tunny tuck is focused on eliminating excess fat and skin from the lower part of the abdomen that is below the belly button. This is different from a full tummy tuck which is designed to eliminate loose skin and fat that is located around the entire midsection and also stretch the abdominal muscles.
The surgery requires the creation of a small horizontal incision right above the pubic area. The incision is created in order to provide the surgeon access to loose skin that ranges from three to five inches in length. Once the excess skin is removed, the tissue that remains will be tightened to create an improved contour to the treated area without the need to make any alterations to the belly button.
The overall goal of a mini tummy tuck is to create a smoother look to the lower abdomen by targeting the area between the belly button and the section of the abdomen where it meets the pubic area. This area of the body can change as a person gets older or when a person experiences a large amount of weight loss or gain. When these changes occur, sagging skin can appear and excess fat can form that is hard to eliminate with regular diet and exercise.
A mini tummy tuck can be performed on a person who is in good physical health and maintains a stable weight. In addition, the patient needs to have realistic expectations about the final results including knowing the extent of the changes that can be made to the abdomen by only having a mini tummy tuck instead of a traditional procedure. The patient should also not plan on getting pregnant after a mini tummy tuck as this can impact the results and even cause the person to need another tummy tuck procedure after giving birth.
A mini tummy tuck requires a smaller incision that is created along the bikini line as opposed to a full tummy tuck which involves a longer incision. In addition, a mini tummy tuck provides results that are less dramatic in appearance than a traditional tummy tuck. Having said that, a mini tummy tuck does improve the contours of the abdomen and reduces the appearance of loose skin in the treated area.
Since a mini tummy tuck is not as invasive as a traditional abdominoplasty, the cost of the procedure is less than the traditional version. In order to decide which treatment is the best option, the doctor will need to consider the body type of the patient, assess the amount of excess skin, and identify the weight of the patient to make the final decision.
The patient needs to perform research to find a qualified and trained board-certified plastic surgeon who has a history of successfully performing mini tummy tuck surgery. It is helpful to read reviews from past patients who were treated by the surgeon of choice and to view “before and after” photos of actual patients who had the procedure with the surgeon.
In general, the recovery period lasts anywhere from six to ten weeks, and this includes some light swelling that will resolve on its own after two to four weeks. The patient also needs to avoid any heavy physical exertion for six to eight weeks following the treatment.
The recovery process also requires the patient to follow all post-op instructions provided by the surgeon and maintain a healthy and stable weight during the recovery process (and beyond). The doctor can prescribe pain medication to help lessen any discomfort felt after the surgery. Any swelling that occurs after the surgery can be minimized by wearing compression garments as advised by the surgeon.
The final results are considered to be permanent as long as the patient maintains a healthy weight and does not experience large weight fluctuations of either weight gain or weight loss. There might be an occurrence of increased laxity in the abdominal wall as part of the aging process, but this will likely not make a difference until many years after the surgery.
- MA
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