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You Don’t Need a Complete Tummy Tuck to Achieve Great Results

When we talk about tummy tucks, many people often shudder at the thought of getting their belly button sliced open and long periods of downtime for recovery.

Mrs Carla M Babicki  |  RGN

Last Updated On: July 12, 2024 | Published On: November 5, 2018

mr-shivram-singh-2

Medically reviewed by Mr Shivram Singh MBBS, FRCSI, FRCS (Plast), Medical Director & Lead,
Medical Advisory Committee for Manchester Private Hospital
Last Reviewed August 11th 2022

You Don’t Need a Complete Tummy Tuck to Achieve Great Results

However, with advances in science, technology and medicine, tummy tucks are not only becoming more popular and sophisticated, but people can return to regular daily activities much sooner too.

This is because of how surgery has evolved and the more readily available techniques used during the procedure.

In 2018/19, it is now possible to undergo surgery on your stomach with as little as one incision and downtime as little as 7 days.

The procedure is known as a mini tummy tuck, or partial abdominoplasty.

Types Of Tummy Tuck

There are a number of different types of tummy tuck available.

These are often discussed with a consultant and tailored to your individual needs.

In many cases, tummy tucks are combined with other procedures to achieve the desired look.

This may include surgery on the flanks, thighs and buttock.

Below is a list of different tummy tuck types:

  • Mini
  • Full
  • Extended
  • High lateral
  • Floating
  • Circumferential

The type of abdomonoplasty we are focusing on here is the ‘mini.

Mini Tummy Tuck

The mini tummy tuck, also known as partial abdominoplasty is a type of common cosmetic procedure designed to remove excess skin / fat tissue and tighten the abdominal muscles.

One of the advantages of this procedure is that it has a reduced downtime compared with ‘full’ procedures and is less invasive.

Mini Tummy Tuck

The mini tummy tuck, also known as partial abdominoplasty is a type of common cosmetic procedure designed to remove excess skin / fat tissue and tighten the abdominal muscles.

One of the advantages of this procedure is that it has a reduced downtime compared with ‘full’ procedures and is less invasive.

mini tummy tuck manchester

The procedure is performed by making an incision, which is often much smaller than a full procedure, and detaching loose fat and skin from the muscles. The skin is then stretched and any excess is cut away.

During surgery, it is also possible to tighten the muscles depending on the patients requirements and goals.

Due to the less invasive surgery technique used in a mini tummy tuck, liposuction is often commonly used to sculpt the area and create more definition by removing stubborn fat.

Once the necessary actions have been taken during surgery, the flap is then put back in to place and stitched.

With a mini tummy tuck, there is often no need to touch the belly button and results can be achieved without affecting the naval at all.

The belly button is often a crucial factor in whether or not a patient opts for surgery and is known to put many people off from having surgery due to the sensitivity and thoughts regarding the belly button.

The Main Differences Between Mini and Full

There are some clear differences between a mini and full tummy tuck. This includes, the technique, recovery and results.

Full

  • During a full tuck, patients would expect to have hip to hip scar on the lower abdomen and a small scar around the belly button.
  • The skin is removed from the lower abdomen and tightened. The fascia, which is located in the centre and runs from the upper to the lower abdomen, is tightened on the inside.
  • This allows for maximum flattening, skin removal and maximum tightening.

Mini

  • During a mini tuck, a single scar will only be present, which runs from hip to hip on the lower abdomen. Sometimes the incision is smaller and therefore leaves a smaller scar.
  • No scar around the belly button.
  • Removes skin between the belly button and the pubic region.
  • The fascia can be tightened, but only in the lower region.
  • Mini tuck means shorter recovery time and is less expensive than a full.
  • Ideal for patients with issues primarily in the lower part of the abdomen, such as a hanging pouch of loose skin and some fat tissue.
  • Deciding whether you want a mini or a full tummy tuck can be a difficult task.

Speaking with a professional stomach cosmetic surgeon will allow you to gain a deeper insight in to which procedure would be right for you.

Often patients have an idea of the kind of results they want to achieve from their surgery, but it’s only when they speak with a cosmetic surgeon do they realise the extent of the surgery they require, as different procedures achieve different results.

For patients with a hanging pouch whose stomach does not require much tightening, a mini tummy tuck is often the perfect solution.

This is a procedure that is commonly performed on post pregnant women who have managed to get ‘back in shape’ using diet / exercise, but struggle to shift their ‘belly pouch’ because it is made up mostly of loose excess skin that will not retract and has often lost its elasticity. To know more about Tummy Tuck, please
visit: https://manchesterprivatehospital.uk/cosmetic-surgery/tummy-tuck/

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