How To Know If You Are A Good Mini Tummy Tuck Candidate

If you've ever wondered if you could get away with a mini tummy tuck instead of having to undergo a full abdominoplasty surgery, then the following information should help answer that question. A mini tummy tuck can be a great way to achieve a flatter tummy for the right candidate.

There are several benefits of a mini tummy tuck (or partial abdominoplasty) in comparison to a full abdominoplasty. For one, the procedure is less expensive. A partial abdominoplasty also does not require repositioning of the belly button, and a lot more skin is able to be left intact.

Many patients who undergo the mini tummy tuck procedure are people who have a history of fluctuations in their weight and women who have had multiple pregnancies. Both of these factors can cause the skin in the abdominal region to stretch and lose its normal elasticity.

Best Mini Tummy Tuck Candidates To be a candidate for partial abdominoplasty, you must only have small to moderate-sized folds of fat and skin in your abdominal region. People with large folds that hang down to their pubic bones or below their hips often require a full abdominoplasty to achieve a flatter, firmer abdomen. You must also be in good overall health and either be a nonsmoker or at least able to quit smoking prior to the procedure and long enough for your body to heal.

How a Mini Tummy Tuck is Carried Out A mini tummy tuck usually involves a bit of liposuction over the flanks and abdomen. This helps to create a better contour of the waistline. After liposuction has been completed, the cosmetic surgeon makes an incision of about 8 inches in length across the lower portion of the stomach. Next, a thin section of skin, along with its underlying fat, is removed. If needed, muscles in the area are tightened. The skin is then sutured together at the end of the procedure, providing a firm appearance to the skin and overall abdomen.

After the Mini Tummy Tuck Procedure After the procedure, patients are provided with a compression device for the abdomen. Patients will usually be required to wear this garment for a total of six weeks. This compression garment is very important as it helps the skin to shrink and reduces swelling and retention of fluid. After the recovery period, patients can usually expect to see a firmer, flatter tummy. Although there will be a discreet scar in the lower portion of the abdomen, the scar usually fades over time and is hardly noticeable. This scar is also a lot smaller than the one made during a full abdominoplasty procedure. This makes it easier to hide under a bikini or underwear line.