Are you bothered by that loose skin that just hangs below the belly button? Does the little pooch you have developed make you embarrassed or ashamed of your body? Or maybe you have little stretch marks down there? No worries! There is a simple solution to loose belly skin and stretch marks below the navel. It’s called a “Mini Tummy Tuck”.
What is a Mini Tummy Tuck?
Abdominoplasty is the actual name of the medical procedure for a tummy tuck. A mini tummy tuck is just a different variation of an abdominoplasty, sometimes referred to as a partial abdominoplasty.
This procedure is actually quite an easy one! A mini tummy tuck is where your doctor will make a tiny incision at or above the pubic area. The incision required for a mini tummy tuck is much like a C-section incision. This modified tummy tuck is designed to remove excess lower abdomen skin and tighten up the muscles. Your plastic surgeon might also use a fat removal procedure like liposuction. This is done to help shape the lower belly area all the way to the belly button.
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Who is The Best Candidate for a Mini Tummy Tuck?
The perfect candidate for a mini tummy tuck procedure is someone that has a small amount of unnecessary belly skin below the navel. This loose skin below the belly button is mostly common in women that have had a C-section. The hanging skin can be with fat or without. You should always consult with your plastic surgeon to see if you’re a good candidate for this type of abdominoplasty.
What to Expect from a Mini Tummy Tuck?
A mini tummy tuck is a partial abdominoplasty procedure. This type of plastic surgery is a less abrasive procedure than a full tummy tuck. During the operation your surgeon will make a small cut above the pubic bone, but below the belly button. He will proceed to remove any excess fat from the lower belly area. Then the doctor will begin removing the excess skin to tighten the lower stomach. The result being a tighter lower abdomen. This type of surgery still results in a scar. Unlike a full tummy tuck, the mini tummy tuck leaves a very small scar, usually only a few inches long. If a patient makes sure they heal properly. The scar will fade to a fine line that will barely be noticeable.
Post Treatment
Although, a mini tummy tuck is considered a major surgery. Its post treatment care is far more easier than that of a full tummy tuck. Not to mention, the recovery time is way less than that of a traditional abdominoplasty surgery. The people who receive a mini tummy tuck operation are usually released from the hospital after a few hours from having surgery. Most patients are allowed to go back to work after a few short days, but should still not do any strenuous work for a few weeks. There will be some minor post operation pain. The pain can be easily reduced by using over the counter pain relievers.
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How much does a Mini Tummy Tuck cost?
The cost of a mini tummy tuck varies quite a bit. The price range that seems to be common amongst plastic surgeons is between $3500 to $10,000. The mini tummy tuck cost vary from surgeon to surgeon, primarily based on the doctor’s expertise. Another thing that makes the price tag to be closer to $3500 or a lot more, is geographical location. Of course, you will pay more if your surgeon’s practice is located in Beverly Hills, CA. You should probably compare prices, but you should always take into consideration the skill of the surgeon. Some plastic surgeon offices will let you set up a payment plan. This usually works by the patient paying a down payment. Then they pay monthly installments back to the plastic surgeons office that performed the surgery. This is a great option if the mini tummy tuck cost a bit more than you can afford in one lump sum.
Mini Tummy Tuck Vs. Tummy Tuck
A regular abdominoplasty surgery, also known as a Tummy Tuck, is the most common type of cosmetic surgery. In a full tummy tuck procedure the surgeon will be focusing on three areas of the abdomen. These three areas are the fat, muscle, and skin. The fat will be sucked out by liposuction. The muscles of the abdomen will be tightened and repaired. The last thing the surgeon will do is pull the skin down from the belly button area. Then he will proceed to stitch the skin back together to create a smoother tighter abdomen. The downside to the full tummy tuck is the scar left behind. This scar will stretch from one hipbone to the next hipbone, leaving a scar located near the panty line. Patients of the full tummy tuck will be on bed rest for a week or more. They will not be able to perform any strenuous task for about six weeks.
If you just have a small stomach pooch. The mini tummy tuck is a much better option than the full abdominoplasty surgery. The mini tummy tuck surgery was specifically designed for people with small stretch marks, small belly pooches, with little excess fat. Unlike the full tummy tuck surgery, the mini tummy tuck removes very little skin. Thus, it requires a lot less time for recovery. As mentioned above, the full recovery time for a partial abdominoplasty is just a few weeks. Probably the biggest benefit to having a mini tummy tuck is that scarring is less noticeable. The mini tummy tuck is best suited for people who don’t have much excess skin or fat, but want a flatter stomach.
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If you are considering any type of cosmetic surgery. You should schedule a consultation with a respectable plastic surgeon. This way you can get a trained medical opinion to see what type of surgery best fits your needs.
