Tummy Tuck and Mini Tummy Tuck

There are a few reasons the stomach area resists being flat and firm:

Excess weight gain and loss can leave you with a stomach pooch and loose skin that’s impossible to eliminate. Your pooch may be due to extra fat or excess skin, leaving the area with flabby, stretched-out skin. However, a full or mini tuck may be necessary to remove redundant skin and flatten the abdominal area!

A common reason for a tummy tuck is that women have multiple pregnancies. After pregnancy, there is often extra fat in the stomach area, and the skin is stretched out repeatedly. Especially in the case of multiple pregnancies, the abdominal muscles can separate and need repair. This wear and tear on the body is nearly impossible to correct with exercise alone. In this case, the doctor will recommend a full tummy tuck. The abdominal muscles are tightened during the procedure, which results in a flatter tummy.

As an aside, if your family is complete, the doctor may recommend a Mommy Makeover. A Mommy Makeover is a variety of surgical procedures, including a tummy tuck, body contouring with liposuction, and breast restoration aimed at returning or improving your body to your pre-pregnancy form.

There are a couple of other medical reasons that a tummy tuck might be a solution.

In men or women who have a hernia, this is a procedure that can repair the issue. It’s not life-threatening but can become painful over time if not repaired. Correcting a hernia during a tummy tuck procedure is an ideal time to do it because the muscles are tightened, preventing the problem from happening again in the future.

Additionally, people who suffer from back pain and posture problems can benefit from having a tummy tuck. Removing extra fat takes the stress of the excess weight off the back area. Plus, the improved muscle tone supports the back area, equaling minor soreness and pain. A board-certified orthopedic surgeon and spine specialist is uniquely qualified to advise you in this instance.

The medical name for a tummy tuck is an abdominoplasty. Whether it is a full or mini tuck, the procedure targets both men’s and women’s middle and lower abdomen. As a side benefit, if you have been self-conscious about your stomach area not looking the way you want it to, you’ll experience a significant improvement in your self-confidence.

Having body contours and physique with a flat stomach is the look that many people desire. Often liposuction is done in combination with the tummy tuck to highlight the curves of the waist and avoid the boxy appearance that can occur with a tummy tuck alone. This is called Lipo Abdominoplasty. The key is to select the right cosmetic surgeon to perform your lipo-abdominoplasty.

There are two types of tummy tucks, a complete abdominoplasty, a full tuck, or a partial abdominoplasty called a “mini tummy tuck.”

An abdominoplasty is performed under IV sedation or general anesthesia. Done correctly, the surgeon makes a horizontal incision across the stomach area right above the pubic line. With a full tuck, both the upper and lower abdomen are addressed. The skin is moved away from the abdominal muscles, and the muscles are tightened surgically. A section of excess skin is often removed, and additional liposuction is performed to remove unwanted fat for an improved cosmetic result.

The main difference between a mini tummy tuck and a full one is:

• The incision is smaller
• It involves only the lower abdomen and removes excess skin without repairing muscles.
• It often includes liposuction.
• The belly button is not shifted upwards in a mini tuck

People who have more excess skin, not just in their lower abdomen but going up into the middle of their stomach, should discuss a full or modified tummy tuck procedure with their surgeon.

Your cosmetic surgeon will recommend the procedure is suitable for your body, your goals, and your desired results.

In general, a mini tummy tuck is a less complicated surgery, so the recovery time is quicker. However, the recovery is more prolonged for a full tummy tuck and requires avoiding strenuous activities for at least six weeks. During the first few days at home, small tubes called drains are sometimes placed by the surgeon at the incision site. You’ll be shown how to drain them. There will also be an abdominal binder in place that you’ll have to wear for several weeks to help with circulation, mold liposuction results, and prevent fluid build-up or swelling. You may have a progressive tension tummy tuck, which Dr. Cyr prefers for most patients.  It allows the surgeon to highlight the lines and curves in the stomach and eliminate the need for drains.

You’ll need someone to drive you home from surgery and be around to help you for the first few days. Sponge baths the first few days, and you can usually shower once the drainage tubes are removed. You CANNOT submerge the wound under water (bath or pool) for at least six weeks after surgery. After surgery, the doctor will prescribe an antibiotic to prevent infection.

It would be best if you slept at an incline for the first week after surgery to avoid pulling the wound apart. This can be done with a recliner or by propping yourself up with several pillows or a sleeping wedge.

It’s essential to follow all of the after-care and recovery plans outlined by your doctor. You can expect to feel some soreness and discomfort, but you’ll take some over-the-counter pain medication or prescribed pain medications.

Some of the side effects you may experience after the surgery are:

• A tight or pulling feeling in your abdomen when you stand up
• Some swelling and bruising can last a few weeks
• Numbness in the stomach area that may take a few months to wear off
• The scar will be red and raised right after your surgery. Typically, that fades over time to barely noticeable*

 *If you tend toward keloid scaring, be sure and discuss it with your surgeon

Here’s the honest news about having a tummy tuck or mini tummy tuck. First, you’ll love the results of having a flatter, more toned, and fit stomach area. It’s probably the slim and sleek shape you’ve been dreaming of for a long time. Second, it’s essential to follow a healthy diet and regular exercise routine so that the results last for a long time.

If you gain more weight or decide to become pregnant again, those benefits of a tummy tuck will be adversely affected. That’s why women must wait until they are sure they have more children to have tummy tuck surgery.

The tummy tuck is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures performed by cosmetic surgeons each year. It’s routinely in the top five most requested surgical procedures, along with breast augmentation, liposuction, facelifts, and rhinoplasty (nose jobs).

When considering a tummy tuck or mini tummy tuck, you want the results to give you the flat stomach you have always wanted or had at once in your life. So stop dreaming and find the right cosmetic surgeon to make it happen for you. And yes, the cost is always a consideration but look for a surgeon with the appropriate cosmetic surgery training and skill first. After all, the most expensive cosmetic surgery is the one that has to be fixed!