The Difference Between A Full Tummy Tuck And A Mini Tummy Tuck

Tummy tuck surgery, also known as abdominoplasty, is a procedure that benefits people with protruding abdomen who do not respond well to exercise and diet. The stubborn belly flab following a massive weight loss or pregnancy results when:

• The stomach skin known as lax gets over stretched to the limit during weight gain or pregnancy
• The muscles in the abdomen remain separated after being overly stretched

In order to remove the excessive skin, patients are advised to get a tummy tuck. This procedure is not exclusive to those who have lost a considerable amount of weight or women who have been pregnant. It is also appropriate for women seeking to eliminate lose skin on their abdomen and those with post-pregnancy body who wish to transform into more toned, leaner physique.

There are two variations of tummy tuck; a full tummy tuck and a mini tummy tuck. Before undergoing through a tummy tuck surgery, you need to understand the difference between these two variations in order to decide which procedure will present the ideal results.

A Full Tummy Tuck vs. A Mini Tummy Tuck

There are two scenarios that take place when people lose a lot of weight or after a woman gives birth. The first scenario is a person managing to shed off a lot of weight through diet or exercise but unable to get rid of the tummy pooch below the navel. The second scenario is when a person is unable to shed off loose skin, abdominal muscles and stretch marks accompanying large amounts of excess abdominal skin both at upper and lower abdominal areas. In order to understand the difference between the two procedures, a mini tummy tuck is recommended for someone if:

• You are in overall good health
• You are fit, slim and at or close to your ideal body weight
• When you have a small amount of loose skin and excessive fat and your problem areas are limited to the lower abdomen
• You have good muscle tone and upper belly skin

Pros And Cons Of A Mini Tummy Tuck

Just like the name suggests, a mini tummy tuck operation involves a small incision (four to eight-inch incision) made to the lower part of the abdomen to remove excess amount of skin. The surgeon will use liposuction to target small pockets of fat. The pros of getting a mini tummy tuck include:

• Shorter and quicker recovery time
• Less scarring compared to a full tummy tuck

Mini tummy tuck cons

• Upper abdomen issues are not addressed because the surgical procedure involved only repairs loose muscles below the navel and removes excess skin
• End results not as clear compared to a full tummy tuck

Pros And Cons Of A Full Tummy Tuck

A full tummy tuck involves a professional plastic surgeon making an incision that goes along the bikini line between the two hip bones. The surgeon goes ahead to remove all excessive fat and skin from the lower abdomen. He or she also repairs the abdominal muscles after performing a liposuction on the upper abdomen. Pros of getting a full tummy tuck include:

• Patient gets a dramatic transformation of their body
• Removes excess skin and fat above and below the abdomen

Full tummy tuck cons:

• Severe scarring along the bikini area
• Longer recovery period compared to a mini tummy tuck