A mini abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) is limited to supra-pubic skin removal (skin above the pubic area) and fat removal using liposuction.
A mini-abdominoplasty is similar to a standard abdominoplasty with a few differences. Like the latter, the mini-abdominoplasty uses a waist crease incision but often (but not always depending upon the amount of skin to be removed) the incision is not quite as long as with the standard procedure. A shorter incision does not mean you will heal faster or have a shorter recovery, the difference in incision length is not enough to make such a difference. Wounds heal side to side, not end to end, so a shorter incision heals in the same time as a longer incision. There are some other substantial differences. There is no incision made around the umbilicus, and it is for this reason that when the skin is lifted up off the abdominal wall, it is only to the level of the umbilicus. As only the lower abdominal wall is exposed, only the lower abdominal muscles can be tightened.
There is a variety of abdominoplasty procedure where the umbilicus is left intact on the outside skin but cut at its base from the abdominal wall. This is called floating the “umbilicus”. In this procedure, the umbilicus is left intact to the surrounding skin on the outside, but as the abdominal skin is lifted upwards off the abdominal wall, when the umbilicus is encountered, it is transected (cut) from its attachment down below on the abdominal wall. Now the umbilicus floats upward off the abdominal wall, remaining attached to the abdominal skin. This will allow the surgeon access to the upper abdominal muscles for tightening. This is a fantastic procedure but is limited to the rare situation when there is abdominal muscle laxity but minimal to no upper abdominal skin excess. As the abdominal skin is pulled downwards to the pelvis, so does the position of the umbilicus. Lastly, when the abdominal wound is closed, the umbilicus may be pulled down slightly, usually no more than a centimeter or so, and this doesn’t appear to cause any concern in my experience. Patient selection is critical, as if this procedure is performed on a patient with too much upper abdominal skin laxity, the umbilicus will end up too low on the abdomen which will not look good.
A mini-abdominoplasty and a traditional abdominoplasty remove excess skin and tighten muscle tissue, flattening the abdomen. However, the two procedures vary in the treatment area and the scope of treatment.
A traditional abdominoplasty targets the entire abdominal area above and below the navel. As part of the procedure, the surgeon repairs abdominal muscles in the mid and upper abdomen that frequently separate during pregnancy, called diastasis recti.
Additionally, the incision for a traditional abdominoplasty is more extensive, generally extending hip-to-hip, though it still sits low on the abdomen, just above the pubic bone. Skin is pulled down to the incision area, making it tighter and reducing or eliminating stretch marks.
Traditional abdominoplasty may include liposuction and require the creation of a new belly button.
In a mini-abdominoplasty, the incision is still low, but 6-12 inches shorter, and the procedure only targets any loose skin and muscle tissue below the belly button.
The best candidates for a mini-abdominoplasty are men and women with belly fat or excess skin centralized under the navel. Additionally, ideal patients are otherwise fit and in good health.
Since a mini-abdominoplasty does not repair diastasis recti, those with lax muscles above the navel may need to opt for a full abdominoplasty.
Before a mini-abdominoplasty, patients may need to eliminate certain medications and supplements, as advised by their surgeon. In addition, those who smoke should quit at least four weeks before their procedure, as smoking impairs healing.
Patients will also need to prepare a recovery area and gather supplies such as a compression garment and any post-surgical medication they may need. In addition, patients who prioritize healthy eating and hydration before their procedure often experience a faster recovery.
Recovery from any surgery varies depending on the patient’s health, age, and activity level. Those in good health, whose abdominal muscles didn’t need much adjustment, can heal as quickly as two weeks after surgery.
After a mini-abdominoplasty procedure, patients wear a compression garment around the waist for two to three weeks to keep the area tight, reduce swelling, and preserve the procedure results.
Bed rest after a mini-abdominoplasty is unnecessary, and walking after the procedure is encouraged to maintain fitness and reduce blood clots.
However, patients should avoid strenuous exercise until about six weeks post-surgery and ought to ease back into their fitness routine. Most patients who work a desk or office job can return to work in about a week.
Immediately after a mini-abdominoplasty procedure, loose, sagging skin is gone. However, there will be some swelling, which will worsen, and then gradually decrease over the next several weeks.
About three to four months after the procedure, all swelling should be gone, and patients will be able to fit into smaller clothing and enjoy their results fully. Incisions will continue to fade for about the first year after an abdominoplasty. Applying scar cream and avoiding sun exposure during this time will reduce scarring.