Mini Tummy Tuck
When most people think of a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty in New Jersey, they rarely envision a patient having a mini tummy tuck, but rather they usually envision a patient undergoing a traditional tummy tuck. In this type of tummy tuck, the tummy tuck surgeon will operate on the entire abdominal area. Part of the surgery involves cutting a hole around the belly button, detaching the belly button, pulling the excess skin taunt, removing the excess skin, and then reattaching the belly button. Just like it sounds, this is a lot of work (usually between two to five hours), and requires a tummy tuck recovery period of at least four weeks before you begin to feel normal again.
In contrast, if you are eligible, a mini tummy tuck may be your best option. This is normally a one to two hour procedure. You will sometimes hear abdominoplasty surgeons refer to the mini tummy tuck as a scarless tummy tuck or a partial abdominoplasty.
While there are numerous reasons a tummy tuck candidate would be interested in a mini tummy tuck, the most common reason is due to aging. Since only the lower part of their abdomen begins to sag, a mini tummy tuck is usually the perfect option for them.
There are numerous attributes for an ideal NJ mini tummy tuck candidate. These include the candidate being physically fit, within ten percent of their ideal body weight, and be a non smoker (smoking can inhibit a patient’s healing ability). If you are over twenty percent over your ideal body weight, it is very likely that your tummy tuck surgeon will recommend a traditional tummy tuck. Most importantly, the abdominoplasty candidate needs to have realistic expectations of what this cosmetic surgery procedure can do for them in terms of the results they are seeking. In order to get a realistic assessment of what a tummy tuck can do, you need to contact a tummy tuck surgeon and schedule a consultation.
In contrast with a traditional tummy tuck, a partial tummy tuck will cost less due to a variety of factors. Specifically, these factors include a smaller area to be operated on, less of the surgeon’s time, and less time in the operating facility. Of course, most mini tummy tuck candidates want to know exactly how much the surgery will cost. Unfortunately, without consulting the mini tummy tuck doctor, it is impossible to give you a definitive final tally.
There are numerous items that constitute the final tally. These include the surgeon’s fee, which is based on the tummy tuck surgeon’s geographical location, skill level, an experience. In addition to the surgeon’s fees, there are also anesthesiologists fee, operating facility fees, pain medication fees, and laboratory services fees, just to mention a few of the items that you will have to pay for. Unfortunately, since a mini tummy tuck in New Jersey is considered an elective cosmetic surgery procedure, you insurance most likely will not cover it.
The mini tummy tuck is much simpler (as well as much less invasive) than a traditional tummy tuck or an extended tummy tuck. The main difference between a mini tummy tuck and a traditional abdominoplasty is that the belly button is not detached and reattached during the mini tummy tuck because only the abdominal area below the navel is operated on. In addition, during a mini abdominoplasty, a smaller incision is made than compared with the other two types of tummy tucks.
For those of you who would prefer greater detail on what exactly a mini tummy tuck consists of, this section is for you. If you don’t want to know the exact steps of what constitute a mini tummy tuck, you can skip to the next paragraph. First, during the mini tummy tuck, a small incision is made and the lower abdomen fat and skin is detached from the muscle fascia. Next, the skin is pulled taunt and the excess skin is removed. Depending on the extent of the abdominal wall damage (usually from pregnancy), the abdominal muscles can be tightened. After the abdominal walls are tightened, the tummy tuck surgeon will suture the skin flap back into place.
Depending on your tummy tuck surgeon, your mini tummy tuck will be performed either in the hospital, the surgeon’s operating suite, or another dedicated operating facility. Most likely, you will be under general anesthesia during this plastic surgery procedure. However, some tummy tuck surgeons prefer to perform this procedure while the patient is under local anesthetic, although the patient is still sedated. This will obviously be an issue you want to discuss with your abdominoplasty doctor.
Similar to a normal tummy tuck, many tummy tuck doctors like to also perform liposuction with this surgery to get the best results, from an aesthetic perspective. Keep in mind though, the more cosmetic surgery procedures you undergo at one time, the greater your likelihood of developing operative and post operative complications. Also, in the case of liposuction, the more fat deposits you have removed, the greater the risk of complications.
Many people want to know how long it will take them to recover from a mini tummy tuck since the recovery times differ from a traditional abdominoplasty. For the partial abdominoplasty, the recovery period is much shorter. You should be able to return to light activity within two to three days of the surgery. In addition, you should be able to return to work within one to three weeks of this procedure. As for strenuous activities, you should refrain from these for at least one month.
During the abdominoplasty recovery period, there are a few things to monitor. The most common post operative concern is infection. The best way to combat this issue is to attend your follow up appointments with your abdominoplasty surgeon. During these appointments, your doctor will monitor your healing while also looking out for signs of infections.
Besides infection, another concern is blood clots. To alleviate this issue, your mini tummy tuck doctor may recommend you use compression garments. These garments can include abdominal binders and leg stocking. The abdominal binders are used to apply the correct amount of pressure to your abdominal surgical areas. As a result of this pressure, you will experience less swelling and less bruising, which leads to a quicker recovery and a better aesthetic outcome. The leg stocking you may be asked to wear will help prevent blood clots from forming in your legs.
You will hear many people refer to a mini tummy tuck as a scarless abdominoplasty. Unfortunately, this is not an apt description. A scarless tummy tuck gets its name from the fact that the surgeon can make a smaller incision (compared with a traditional tummy tuck), which can be hidden in the patient’s bikini or boxer line. In case you are wondering how big the scar will be, it can be as short as six inches.
No matter what any one tells you, there is no such thing as a scarless tummy tuck. Once you have an abdominoplasty, you will always have a surgical scar. With that said, this scar will begin to fade and you will notice a difference in the scar darkness by the ninth month of your tummy tuck recovery.
Just remember, for further questions about a mini tummy tuck, it is best to contact a mini tummy tuck surgeon, as he or she is best situated to assist you.
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