Mini Tummy Tuck vs. Full Tummy Tuck

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Abdominoplasty (also known as a tummy tuck) is one of the most transformative and popular plastic surgery procedures that you can undergo. 

In fact, some of your favorite celebrities have had tummy tuck surgery. 

Whether from age, genetics, life events (pregnancy, extreme weight loss), or lifestyle, you may have excess fat and sagging skin around your midsection. 

Luckily, tummy tuck surgery can help to correct these cosmetic issues so that you can achieve a thinner and more contoured waist and belly. 

However, one of the most common questions that patients have when deciding whether or not to have a tummy tuck procedure is “Which tummy tuck is right for me: a mini tummy tuck or a full tummy tuck?” 

Well, to help answer that question, this blog will offer some information on these two abdominoplasty procedures.

What Is the Difference Between a Mini Tummy Tuck and a Full Tummy Tuck?

As the names suggest, both a mini and full tummy tuck (also known as a traditional tummy tuck) are variations of the same procedure. One is just a “smaller” version. 

What this means is that a mini tummy tuck is less invasive (and also offers less extensive results) than a full tummy tuck. 

Both procedures require an incision to be made just above the pubic area; however, the mini tummy tuck incision is shorter (usually four to eight inches, compared to a full tummy tuck incision, which has an incision that usually runs from hip to hip). Additionally, with a full tummy tuck, an incision is often made around the belly button.

After the incision is made, liposuction surgery may be used to remove pockets of stubborn fat in the area. Your cosmetic surgeon will tighten the underlying abdominal muscles with internal sutures, surgically remove any excess and sagging skin, and pull the remaining skin tightly before closing the incisions. This creates a more defined and contoured abdomen. 

A mini tummy tuck focuses on the lower abdomen. A full tummy tuck can be extended to address concerns above the belly button as well.

The other difference between these procedures is that the navel may be repositioned with a full tummy tuck, where it will not be addressed with a mini abdominoplasty.

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What Are the Recovery and Results Like With a Mini Tummy Tuck and a Full Tummy Tuck?

The side effects of both types of abdominoplasty are similar. These include swelling, bruising, and some discomfort and tenderness in the surgical area. 

It is important that you follow your post-operative instructions for both techniques, including giving your body the time it needs to heal, refraining from strenuous activity, taking your medications as prescribed, and wearing compression garments. 

While both procedures require the same recovery steps, the recovery times are vastly different. 

It goes without saying that both a mini and a full tummy tuck are surgical procedures, but the reality is that a mini tummy tuck is a much less extensive surgery. Because of this, the recovery time is much shorter for a mini tummy tuck than it is for a full tummy tuck. 

Regardless of which tummy tuck you’ve undergone, you can expect that your abdominoplasty results will be transformative. You can expect to have a thinner, more defined midsection that can allow you to wear different kinds of clothing that you were not able to wear before the procedure. 

Which Abdominoplasty Is Best for You?

A mini tummy tuck is a great choice for men and women who suffer from relatively minimal skin laxity and weakness in the midsection. As the name suggests, a mini abdominoplasty will help to correct frustrating issues in the abdomen, but these results are not going to be extensive. 

A full tummy tuck is a much more involved procedure that offers stunning results. Because of these differences, mini tummy tuck cost tends to be less than full tummy tuck cost. 

At your abdominoplasty consultation, your cosmetic surgeon will be able to evaluate your condition to determine which tummy tuck procedure is right for you. However, it is important to understand that tummy tuck surgery is not a weight loss procedure.

Instead, you will want to make sure that you are at or near your goal weight before your mini or full tummy tuck.

Want to Learn More

If you are interested in undergoing tummy tuck surgery, then schedule your consultation today by calling our High Point office at 336-886-1667 or contacting us online. We look forward to helping you achieve the look and feel you desire!