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Are you insecure about the weight you carry in your stomach? Do you struggle to lose weight in your midsection even after working out or dieting? Have you been thinking about getting plastic surgery, such as a tummy tuck?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you have two options to remove fat from your midsection: a full tummy tuck or a mini tummy tuck.

You should decide which tummy tuck version is correct for you before moving forward with plastic surgery.

A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is a cosmetic plastic surgery option for patients who wish to flatten their abdominal region. During the procedure, a trained plastic surgeon will remove excess skin and fat and restore abdominal muscles that have been stretched and loosened over time.

Do You Want a Flatter Stomach in Less Time?

Diet and exercise alone cannot give you a smooth, flat belly. Age, genetics, pregnancy, and weight changes cause the abdominal area to stretch and sag. Patients may opt for a tummy tuck to see quicker results and feel better about their bodies.

You should not view abdominoplasty as a substitute for regular exercise and healthy eating. Instead, it supplements a whole-body regimen aimed at looking good and feeling well. Discuss your body goals with a board-certified tummy tuck surgeon like Dr. Layton to determine if you need a full tummy tuck or a mini tummy tuck. Let’s look at the differences.

Full Tummy Tuck

In a full tummy tuck, the surgeon makes a lengthy incision that extends along the bikini line from hip to hip. The surgical team may make another, smaller incision around the navel to remove excess tissues from the upper abdomen. The surgeon then repairs the loose or separated abdominal muscles with the abdominal skin lifted. Excess skin and fat get trimmed, the skin pulled tight, and a new belly button is created. The surgeon closes the incisions with sutures, staples, adhesives, or tapes.

The full tummy tuck is ideal for anyone with larger areas of need in the lower and middle abdomen. Simply put, if the skin above your belly button is loose and your ab muscles have been permanently stretched out, you are a good candidate for a full tummy tuck.

Mini Tummy Tuck

A mini tummy tuck focuses on the part of the abdomen below the belly button. It is a more targeted, less invasive procedure in which the surgeon creates a single incision above the groin, below the bikini line. The incision is significantly shorter than what is made during a full tummy tuck because the area of correction is much smaller. The surgeon resects loose skin located in the lower abdomen and the remaining skin is pulled tight and flat before the incisions are closed.

The mini tummy tuck is ideal for anyone who stays in decent shape but has a tough time losing weight in the area below the navel. In a nutshell, you are a good candidate for the mini tummy tuck if you have toned upper body muscles, maintain a near-ideal weight for your height, and are in good health.

Recovery Period Lengths

A full tummy tuck is a more invasive surgery than a mini tummy tuck. Therefore, you can expect two to three weeks of bed rest as part of your two-month total recovery time.

In comparison, you can return to work within one week after your mini tummy tuck surgery. Full recovery from a mini tummy tuck should occur within three weeks to a month.

Mini tummy tucks will leave less scarring, but it is critical to your overall health and recovery to choose an experienced and board-certified plastic surgeon for any cosmetic procedure.

Change Your Body By Scheduling a Tummy Tuck Today

If you want to get rid of excess weight around your belly and get the flat stomach of your dreams, call us today. Dr. Layton is an experienced surgeon who takes pride in using the most current plastic surgery techniques. If you are unsure whether a mini tummy tuck or a full tummy tuck is right for you, schedule a consultation with us as soon as possible.