What Type of Tummy Tuck is Right for Me?
One of the advantages of plastic surgery is that it affords patients the flexibility to customize their procedures to realize an ideal look. A great example of this being the tummy tuck. The tummy tuck surgically removes excess skin and fat resulting in a smoother-looking abdomen. Whether you’ve experienced significant weight loss, childbirth, or just want to tighten up your midsection, a tummy tuck may be the perfect solution for you.
At Janiga MDs, we offer our patients two main types of tummy tucks. In simple terms, one procedure moves the belly button while the other does not. The first of these – the full tummy tuck – tends to be more involved and is for people hoping to remove larger amounts of tissue, fat, and skin. At the start of the procedure, we make an incision around the belly button, then make another from hip to hip to remove any extra skin and fat. At this point, we reposition your belly button and place sutures around it. The full tummy tuck has more incisions compared to its counterpart, the mini tummy tuck, but is necessary for certain patients. You can expect a little more downtime after undergoing the full tummy tuck: recovery ranges from three weeks for regular activities to six weeks for exercise and vigorous activities.
The second type of tummy tuck we offer, known as the mini tummy tuck, is less invasive, using an incision along the same line as a C-section, avoiding the belly button completely. This type of tummy tuck is ideal for both men and women who may be bothered by excess skin or a small protrusion below their bellybuttons. Because we make fewer incisions during this procedure, the mini tummy tuck is less extensive and has less scarring, but is only appropriate for certain patients. Similar to the full tummy tuck, recovery ranges from three weeks for regular activities to six weeks for more vigorous activities.
The great news about a tummy tuck, whether you choose the full or mini, is that both can be combined and performed simultaneously with other cosmetic procedures such as breast augmentation, breast reduction, liposuction, repair of the abdominal wall muscles, or even a facelift or rhinoplasty.
Curious whether you’d benefit from a tummy tuck? Schedule a consultation today with Dr. Tim Janiga to see if you’re a candidate for a full or mini tummy tuck, or if a combined procedure is right for you.
