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Tummy Tucks: Mini Or Full?

By Rachel Brown
Nov 8, 2009
Tummy tucks are still one of the most popular types of plastic surgery throughout the world but there are different operations aiming for different effects and if you don't understand the difference between them it is hopeless to try to begin to understand these operations. There is the abdominoplasty, meaning the operation called the tummy tuck and then the newer scaled down version dubbed the mini tummy tuck - and these two operations really are quite different in nature.

This article aims to explain what a mini tummy tuck is, what benefits it aims to give patients, the way it generally performed and the ways in which it differs from the full tummy tuck operation. This can help you very quickly understand the essential differences between these two very different procedures.

A mini tummy tuck is felt to best slim the area between the navel and the pubic bone. The type of person who chooses to have it could be a mother who has had several pregnancies which have stretched the abdominal muscles, meaning it is very difficult to return to the pre-pregnancy shape by exercise and diet alone. Older patients might also choose this operation, to help aging tummy muscles return to a firmer contour, or those who find they have mild weight fluctuations. The operation in all cases aims to give a toned, taught tummy shape and involves great surgical skill for acceptable results.

The surgery generally involves an incision of around 10 to 15 centimetres length being performed horizontally on the skin above the bikini line. Then the surgeon cuts away excess skin and any unwanted adipose (fatty) tissue, perhaps also employing liposuction during the operation. Liposuction means a cannula is manipulated within the adipose tissues to loosen them before they are entirely removed by suction through the body of the cannula for disposal. Patients with damage to their abdominal muscles can have them strengthened with suturing techniques during the same operation, for example, ladies with damage through multiple childbirths. Although it still uses incisions and tissue removal, the operation is different to a full tummy tuck in many respects.

The incision made is generally smaller in length and the surgery does not routinely seek to reposition the navel. The art of navel repositioning again requires a great degree of skill for a favourable result, and this is one factor that shortens the operation time in comparison to the full tummy tuck. Whereas the full version can last more than 2 hours on the operating table, the mini tummy tuck can often be performed in around 60 minutes. However, going back to the effects, it is not suitable for those wishing to remove weight above the level of the navel.

Whilst the name may make the operation sound a little less daunting, it is worth remembering that this is a full surgical intervention, with full anaesthetic, a range of residual risks no matter how skilled and dedicated the surgical team. Patients deserve high quality information during pre-surgery consultations to make an informed judgement around the risks of tummy tucks. By reading this brief guide, you have the information to distinguish between the two types of operation better and understand although the operation is not as lengthy, it can never be guaranteed risk free. To get detailed individual advice, of course patients are advised to consult their doctor and/ or their surgeon.
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