Mini Tummy Tuck

What Is a Tummy Tuck?

A mini tummy tuck is a less invasive version of the full abdominoplasty. This procedure exclusively targets the area of your stomach beneath your belly button – often referred to as a “pooch.” This specific site can be difficult to address with diet and exercise alone, making the mini tummy tuck a very appealing option for many of our patients.

Mini tummy tuck:

How does it work?

After pregnancy, delivering a baby via C-section, the natural aging process, or significant weight loss, many men and women find that they’re left with loose, sagging skin beneath the belly button. When this occurs, a mini tummy tuck can remove the excess tissue, flatten the midsection, and improve muscle tone in the area.

The benefits

Remove rolls of fat and loose skin beneath the belly button
Create a tighter, smoother midsection
Only one incision above the pubic line (for women we can often re-open a past C-section incision)
No need to move the belly button

Am I a candidate?

With every plastic surgery we perform at Austin Face & Body, we confirm candidacy during a private consultation with one of our surgeons. We’ve found that the mini tummy tuck tends to be an ideal procedure for patients who are:

In good physical health
At a stable weight
Without a large amount of excess skin

A mini tummy tuck is for women and men who want to address loose skin and excess flab on the lower belly only. If you’re also concerned about sagging skin above the navel, and weakened or separated abdominal muscles, a full tummy tuck may be necessary.

Your consultation: Planning your transformation

If you want to flatten your stomach and enhance your silhouette, our surgeons at Austin Face & Body can help you plan for your transformation. During your private consultation, we will assess your abdominal muscles and the excess fat you want to remove, to help determine if a mini tummy tuck can achieve your goals.

Once we’ve selected the right procedure for you, we’ll review the specific surgical techniques – along with what you can expect before, during and after the procedure. Our goal is for you to leave our office fully informed and prepared for the journey ahead.

The procedure:

What to expect

Your mini tummy tuck will be performed under general anesthesia and will take between two and three hours to complete. To begin, we will make an incision that is several inches long in your lower abdomen, just above your pubic hairline. For women who have had a C-section, we can re-open the same incision for your mini tummy tuck.

Once the incision is made, your surgeon will suture loose, lower abdominal muscles together and remove excess skin. Throughout this process, stretch marks are often improved as well. In many cases, we may also perform liposuction to remove excess fat. Once your lower abdomen has been smoothed and reshaped, we will redrape your skin and close the incisions with care to minimize any scarring.

Recovery

After surgery, we will provide you with an abdominal binder to support your muscles as they heal. Some post-surgical swelling, bruising and sensation changes are normal and will resolve in time. You can expect to return to work within one to two weeks, and strenuous activity within four to six weeks.

Your results

For the right candidates, a mini tummy tuck can create a smoother, flatter lower abdomen. Some of this improvement will be apparent right away, but it can take up to six weeks for all residual swelling to dissipate and the full results to appear. To maintain your new figure, you’ll need to avoid future weight fluctuations and pregnancies.

FAQ

Can a mini tummy tuck fix diastasis recti?

Diastasis recti is the separation of the abdominal muscles that often occurs during pregnancy. It affects the full abdomen – including the muscles above and below the belly button. Because a mini tummy tuck only addresses the area below the navel, it isn’t recommended for patients with diastasis recti. In these cases, a full tummy tuck will be necessary.

Can I have a mini tummy tuck if I’m not yet at my goal weight?

It depends. This procedure works best on patients with a small to moderate amount of flab to address. In addition, we do recommend being as close to your goal weight as possible, since any future fluctuations can impact your results.

With that said, if it’s determined that you need to lose weight before you’re ready for a mini tummy tuck, our Austin team will work with you to create a lifestyle plan that can improve your health and get you fit and ready for surgery.

Mini tummy tuck or full tummy tuck?

Choosing between a mini tummy tuck and a full tummy tuck will depend on your medial history and aesthetic goals. During a full abdominoplasty, your surgeon will tighten loose muscles and remove extra skin and fat through a lengthy incision above your pubic hairline. We will then relocate the belly button through an additional incision around the navel. This approach is more intensive and targets the entire abdomen, making it the best choice for patients who want to contour the whole midsection and/or correct diastasis recti.

Alternatively, a mini tummy tuck only addresses the stubborn “pooch” of fat just beneath the belly button. As such, it’s the ideal approach for patients who only need to remove that small, localized pocket of fat in order to realize their ideal abdomen.

Providers who perform Mini Tummy Tucks at Austin Face & Body

Dr. Chris Schneider

Dr. Chris Schneider is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, who also specializes in microsurgery. He is a native Texan who is proud to return home to the Lone Star State after nearly a decade of intense surgical training.

Dr. Chris Schneider »

Dr. Cain Linville

Double board certified by both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Cain Linville is an outstanding cosmetic and reconstructive surgeon who delivers exceptionally patient-centric care.

Dr. Cain Linville »

Schedule a consultation today

If you’re considering a mini tummy tuck, please contact Austin Face & Body today. During your private consultation, we will help you determine if this less intensive abdominoplasty can help you achieve your body goals.