Mini Tummy Tuck
You’ve worked hard to lose weight and to improve your muscle tone through diet and exercise programs. But when you have reached your desired weight but not your desired shape, it may be time to consider a Mini Tummy Tuck. Our patients choose this procedure when they are having trouble achieving a flat and toned tummy appearance.
A Mini Tummy Tuck is procedure that is designed to remove excess sagging skin of the lower abdomen with a shorter scar than a full tummy tuck procedure. Mini Tummy Tuck can be performed for women after pregnancy and for men after massive weight loss.
Once the excess skin is removed, the lower abdomen and love handle areas can be reshaped and contouring to give you your old waist back by flattening your stomach. The belly button (umbilicus) is not repositioned during a Mini Tummy Tuck, but the separation of the rectus abdomini muscles (diastasis rectii or separation of the “six-pack muscles”) is performed bellow the belly button.
Mini Tummy Tuck FAQ:
What can a Mini Tummy Tuck do for me?
A Mini Tummy Tuck can allow you to:
Achieve a firmer, thinner stomach
Tighten and remove loose skin
Smaller incision, faster recovery
It can be performed under local anesthesia in selected candidate patients
Perfect finishing touch several months after childbirth
What to expect during a Mini Tummy Tuck?
You will undergo surgery under anesthesia at one of the fully accredited hospitals or surgery center operating rooms where Dr. Long routinely performs surgery. The procedure takes 2 to 4 hours to complete depending on the patient. Dr. Long closes the incisions with dissolving stitches and places you in a supportive binder your comfort during the recovery. Generally, a mini Tummy Tuck surgery is performed on an outpatient basis. You will need to have a close friend or family member drive you to and from the surgery center and care for you for the first 24-48 hours after surgery.
Where is the mini Tummy Tuck incision made?
The Mini Tummy Tuck involves an incision in the lower abdomen in the area below the “bikini line.” For a Mini Tummy Tuck, skin is separated from the abdominal wall up to the belly button. Then, underlying muscles and supportive tissues are stitched together, narrowing the waistline and strengthening and flattening the abdominal wall below the belly button. During a Mini Tummy Tuck, liposuction may flanks may be performed through very small skin incisions with a small delicate liposuction cannula. Excess skin is drawn down and removed, resulting in a flatter, trimmer stomach.
What is the recovery after a Mini Tummy Tuck?
Each patient is unique. Your recovery time will depend upon the total treatment plan. You will have some swelling and bruising, and may experience some discomfort and tightness for the first two weeks. We will prescribe medication to ease your discomfort. Dr. Long uses dissolving stitches, so they do not need to be removed. You will wear an abdominal binder during the first week post surgery until most of the swelling resolves, Then you are placed on a compression garment that is wore for 6 to 8 weeks to support your tissues as they heal. You will also have drains for several days.
When can I return to normal activities after a Mini Tummy Tuck?
Most of our patients are able to return to work in 2 to 3 weeks. If you were exercising before surgery, you will be in the best condition to recover most rapidly. It will take about 4 weeks to return to all normal activities and exercise.
How long will the results from a mini Tummy Tuck last?
Unless you gain weight or become pregnant, you should enjoy your taut shapely figure for years to come. Your clothes will fit better and you’ll find increased confidence in your appearance. Dr. Long believes it is important to begin an exercise program to maintain your new look and to increase your health and fitness.
Why should I choose Dr. Long for my Mini Tummy Tuck?
Dr. Long is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who specializes in cosmetic surgery of the face, neck, breast and body. His residency and fellowship training followed by teaching at prestigious institutions have given him a unique set of skills to perform cosmetic surgery. Dr. Long wants his patients look their best and is dedicated to helping them achieve their personal, social, and professional goals by providing natural looking results.
Why go to a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon for your Mini Tummy Tuck?
Practitioners who are not residency trained and Board Certified to perform Mini Tummy Tuckhave been found to have a higher rate of surgical complications. Among the most common patient complaints are minimal to no improvement, asymmetries, wound healing problems or worse. Always look for a surgeon who is Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Look for the ASPS logo, The Symbol of Excellence.