Helena O. Taylor MD, PHD, FACS & Stephen R. Sullivan, MD, MPH, FACS
Named Among the Best Plastic Surgeons in Boston
A mini tummy tuck can mean different things to different surgeons. In general, it implies a shorter scar, and a less involved procedure than a standard abdominoplasty. However, as with almost all aesthetic procedures preceded by the word “mini” the benefits are also less dramatic.
A tummy tuck is usually combined with some fat reduction by liposuction of the "love handles" or waistline to remove common areas of excess fat. A midline depression can also be sculpted with liposuction. Patients undergoing abdominal hernia repair (umbilical hernia or ventral hernia or incisional hernia) might also consider having a tummy tuck at the same time to avoid extra operations and improve abdominal contour.
A mini tummy tuck can tighten the skin below the belly button and above the pubic area. It can improve a poor or tethered C section scar. However a mini- abdominoplasty does not allow the abdominal muscles to be tightened (diastasis recti repair), which is often one of the most helpful aspects of abdominoplasty. Nor does it allow the soft tissues above the belly button to be tightened, which for most patients is an area of concern.
In a standard abdominoplasty, the belly button is released from the surrounding skin which allows access to the upper abdomen, both for muscle repair and skin tightening. This does not occur in a mini tummy tuck.
As we discussed above, a mini tummy tuck can treat the lower abdominal skin. It does not correct muscle separation in the abdomen, or tighten skin above the belly button.
A mini tummy tuck, or mini abdominoplasty, is a relatively quick procedure, performed in 1 to 2 hours under general anesthesia. It can effectively improve a poor C section scar and tighten lower abdominal skin. It often does not require a drain placement, and post operative recovery is not particularly arduous. However, mini abdominoplasty lacks many of the most substantial benefits of a standard abdominoplasty, where the muscle can be tightened and the abdominal skin more significantly tightened.
If your area of greatest concern is limited the lower abdomen, and you have minimal loose skin, or a poor C section scar, this more limited procedure might be the right choice for you. For most women who have had children, or people who have lost significant amounts of weight, a standard abdominoplasty offers a much more significant improvement. The longer scar of a standard abdominoplasty is often a good trade for a much more significant improvement in contour.
This requires you to fast prior to surgery, and have an adult collect you afterwards. Smoking is a contraindication to surgery, and we like patients to be nicotine free for several months prior to these elective procedures.
These procedures are typically performed asleep in the operative room. The surgery involves a combination of removal of skin and fat, and often some contouring liposuction. The incisions are closed with dissolving sutures, and protected with an outer layer of surgical glue.
Patients need an adult to bring them home from the hospital after a general anesthetic. While the recovery is not terribly arduous, it does mean several weeks of avoiding very strenuous physical activity. We like patients walking the day after surgery, but avoiding very strenuous activity for a few weeks. Patients are given a cocktail of non narcotic pain medications, and we use lots of numbing medicine in the operating room. Most patients find they are sore, but not in significant pain. We place patients in an elastic binder to help with swelling, but this may be removed for showering.
As with all body contouring procedures you will see an immediate change in your shape, but the final results take months to mature. The incisions can initially look quite horrifying, but with time typically mature in to softer flatter, less visible scars.
It is important to keep in mind scar maturation varies dramatically from person to person. Swelling may get worse for a few days after surgery, but the bulk of the swelling will be dissipated typically within the first month of surgery. That being said, it takes months for the veins and lymphatics to reconnect, so some of the swelling can linger for months after surgery.
The results of a mini tummy tuck are long lasting. Patients do not typically return to their pre-operative shapes. But the changes in shape are typically less profound than with a standard abdominoplasty.
Mini tummy tuck scars are typically just above the hair bearing skin and do not extend all the way out to the sides of the hips. Scar length and location do vary from patient to patient, as does the quality of the scar. The most humbling thing about plastic surgery is that each patient makes a different kind of scar. But in general mini tummy tuck scars are shorter than the hip to hip standard abdominoplasty scar.
Mini tummy tucks usually incorporate some liposuction. This procedure can be combined with surgeries in other areas, if it makes sense anatomically, and with operative timing. We try not to do elective surgeries that last longer than four hours in order to minimize risk.
Abdominoplasty is one of the most common procedures in our practice. We feel very comfortable guiding you through this process. We will be up front if we feel that you are not a good candidate, or if a standard abdominoplasty is a better option for you.
Call Today 617.492.0620
To schedule a private consultation with Dr. Taylor or Dr. Sullivan, please call the office or request an appointment using our form. We welcome your visit and your questions.
300 Mount Auburn St. Ste 304, Cambridge, MA 02138
300 Mount Auburn St. Ste 304, Cambridge, MA 02138
Monday - Friday 8:30am to 5:00pm — 617.492.0620
© 2019 Dr. Helena O. Taylor & Dr. Stephen R. Sullivan. All Rights Reserved. | Sitemap | Accessibility Statement
