If you have loose skin around your midsection, or a pooch you just can’t get rid of, a tummy tuck surgery can be a great solution to tighten up your belly. A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin from your midsection, and is especially helpful for patients who are trying to manage loose skin and sagging muscles from pregnancies or massive weight loss.
There are three kinds of tummy tucks: a mini tummy tuck, a standard or full tummy tuck, and a post massive weight loss tummy tuck. Here’s what you need to know about them, and which one’s right for you.
Mini Tummy Tuck
A partial or “mini” tummy tuck is appropriate for patients with a smaller amount of excess skin to be removed. It uses a smaller incision than a full tummy tuck, so the resulting scar is also shorter. The incision is made just above the pubic area and will be hidden by underwear or a bikini bottom. The plastic surgeon separates the skin from the abdominal muscles and pulls it down, removing the excess for a tighter, leaner tummy.
A mini tummy tuck can also involve a “belly button slide,” meaning that the belly button is not left in place, but rather moves down along with the rest of the skin being moved. Because of that, this procedure works best on taller people and people who have high belly buttons to begin with.
Full Tummy Tuck
A full tummy tuck makes a longer incision, from hip to hip, just above the pubic area. This scar will also be hidden by a bikini bottom. Like a mini tummy tuck, the surgeon detaches the skin from the abdominal muscles and pulls it down, removing the excess. However, in a full tummy tuck, the belly button stays attached to the muscle wall, and the surgeon cuts a new hole for the belly button when the skin is repositioned. You can also have some fat removal or liposuction done during the procedure.
Many women find their bellies to be poochy after childbirth because their pregnancy stretched both the muscles and ligaments of the abdominal wall. While the muscles contract, these ligaments remain loose, meaning that no amount of diet and exercise will give them the lean, toned stomach they desire. During a tummy tuck, the plastic surgeon will sew those abdominal muscles back together, mimicking the tightness of pre-pregnancy belly muscles and creating a more firm, youthful stomach.
Post Weight Loss Tummy Tuck
After massive weight loss, there can be an empty spare tire of skin all around the waist. For these patients, a post weight loss tummy tuck may be appropriate. In this instance, the surgeon makes an incision just above the pubic area and around the entire body, removing excess skin from the person’s front, back, and sides. This complete procedure allows the surgeon to tighten and smooth skin at the hips, back and sides as well as in the front tummy area.
This kind of tummy tuck, also known as circumferential abdominoplasty, can also include a lateral thigh lift to reshape the hips and thighs, so that your overall core and midsection is improved, giving you a whole new silhouette.
Tummy tuck procedures are complex, but a successful tummy tuck can reshape your body and give you a wealth of new confidence. Whether you’re a candidate for a mini tummy tuck, a full tummy tuck, or a post weight loss tummy tuck, we’d love to give you some more information so that you can make an informed decision about the procedures that are right for you. Give Dr. Hubbard a call today to set up a consultation and learn how a tummy tuck could change your body and your life.
For more information on plastic surgery procedures and treatments performed by Plastic Surgeon, Bradley A. Hubbard MD in Dallas, Plano, Frisco and surrounding areas schedule a private detailed consultation by clicking here or calling 214-370-4813