Tummy Tucks - Mini or Full Abdominoplasty?

I often have the discussion of how to improve the appearance of a patient's abdominal area. The usual issue is poor shape from excess skin creating an undesirable shape with folds instead of a flat front and contoured flanks.

The main causes are weight loss and pregnancy changes.

It is a very frustrating problem as patients as a rule have undertaken an active lifestyle, lose weight, and strengthen their abdominal "six-pack" muscles. No matter how many sessions with a personal trainers, abdominal crunches or TV infomercial ab-exercisers purchased, the excess skin and folds do not improve.

The reason is that when abdominal skin is stretched from pregnancy or weight gain the elastic supporting fibres are irreversibly damaged. Although the skin will take up partially the leftover excess will hang creating folds. The other factor that needs explaining is that the underlying abdominal muscles are often stretched also. The abdominal muscles act like a corset holding the tummy flat and holding the flanks in creating the desirable female hourglass figure.

Once stretched these feminising feats are lost. The degree of excess skin and muscular weakness will determine whether a full or mini tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is the correct surgery. A mini tummy tuck addresses excess skin and weakened muscles located below the belly button (umbilicus). A full tummy tuck addresses the entire abdomen. Both surgeries remove the excess skin and tighten the muscular corset, just in different degrees.

Understandably the full tummy tuck does more, but necessitates a longer incision and scar, relocates the belly button and has a longer recovery. However, if you need a full tummy tuck you will not get the desired result from a mini tummy tuck. Your Plastic Surgeon will help you make the correct decision based on your individual characteristics. Tummy tucks can be combined with liposuction or breast reduction, lift or enlargement.

In combination, tummy tucks and breast surgery are the classic "mummy makeover". In my experience abdominoplasty patients are fit and motivated characters who achieve their goals of a feminine contour. If you have any specific requests regarding cosmetic surgery topics that you would like discussed on this blog, please feel free to email me: chris@breast-body.co.nz