For many women, a full tummy tuck (or abdominoplasty) to re-shape their entire abdomen may not be necessary.
If your main concern is a bulge below the navel with a minimal amount of loose skin, your best option may be what we call a “partial abdominoplasty” or a mini tummy tuck. A mini tummy tuck offers less scarring combined with a reduced recovery time.
East Bay Body contouring specialist Dr. Eric Mariotti tries to perform the least invasive procedure possible while still achieving optimal results. A mini tummy tuck, in the right candidate, can mean a beautiful outcome with a simpler approach and easier recovery.
or call our Concord office at 925-685-4533 to request a consultation.
Mini Tummy Tuck at a Glance
The Best Candidates
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Dr. Mariotti typically looks for certain characteristics when evaluating a candidate for a mini tummy tuck in the East Bay:
- You have a relatively flat abdomen with a small amount of loose skin below your navel.
- You are bothered by the presence of a C-section scar or stretch marks below your navel.
- Excess fat and sagging skin have collected primarily on your lower abdomen.
The main difference between a full tummy tuck and a mini tummy tuck is that a full tummy tuck treats the entire abdomen, while a mini tummy tuck is more narrowly focused on the lower abdomen only — an area that’s often prone to fat deposits and the development of loose skin.
While many more women are candidates for a full tummy tuck, a mini tummy tuck can be a great choice for some women.
A mini tummy tuck is a less complex procedure and will cost about 30 to 40 percent less than a full tuck. Also, because it is less invasive, a mini tuck requires a much shorter recovery time so you won’t be kept away from your regular activities for nearly as long as you would with a full tummy tuck.
What to Expect
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A mini tummy tuck usually takes about 1 hour to complete. East Bay plastic surgeon Dr. Eric Mariotti makes a small incision just above the pubic mound. Any scar will be well hidden below your bikini or underwear line.
The excess skin is removed and the remaining skin is stitched back together again, forming a tighter, firmer tummy. The navel remains in its original place.
If you also have concerns about excess fat near your belly or other area of your body, Dr. Mariotti may combine your mini tummy tuck with liposuction. The combined effect of both procedures produces noticeably slimmer and smoother stomachs.
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Before & After
View real patient before and after photos in our gallery.
After Your Mini Tummy Tuck
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Because the mini tummy tuck is less involved than a standard abdominoplasty, an overnight stay at the surgery center is usually not necessary. Typically, most mini tummy tuck patients can comfortably return to work just 1 to 2 weeks following a mini tummy tuck.
Although the reduced recuperation period is one of the elements of mini tummy tuck that is most appealing, it’s still important to give your body the rest it needs while it heals.
During your consultation, Dr. Mariotti gives you a more specific idea of when you can return to your favorite activities based on the details of your surgery and your own circumstances.
With loose skin and sagginess eliminated, you will see a smoother, flatter abdomen. You should look and feel younger after your mini tummy tuck and feel comfortable wearing more revealing clothing.
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Take the first step toward your dream look and contact us online or call our Concord office at 925-685-4533 to request a consultation.
Mini Tummy Tuck FAQs
People with relatively flat stomachs who have a minimal amount of excess abdominal skin or an indented C-section scar are the best candidates for a mini tummy tuck.
A mini tummy tuck is less complex and doesn’t require the same recovery time. Mini tummy tuck surgery doesn’t involve muscle repair, repositioning the belly button, or adjusting tissues above the navel, as is typically done during a traditional tummy tuck.
A mini tummy tuck incision is shorter than a traditional tummy tuck. The incision is placed low on the abdomen so it’s easily hidden by everyday clothing and even swimwear.
When looking at the benefits of a mini tummy tuck, you should frame it in comparison to a traditional tummy tuck. In other words, why would you go mini when you could go for a full procedure? Reasons include:
- A shorter procedure
- A quicker recovery period
- No need to alter the belly button
- The ability to target a specific area of concern
However, if you are unhappy with your abdomen’s appearance as a whole, a traditional tummy tuck would be better.
Mini tummy tucks are considered to be a safe procedure. With that said, all surgeries come with risks. Complications are rare, but the chances of them developing increase based on your weight, health, and habits.
The most common complications from any surgery are excessive bleeding, infection, and blood clots. We will carefully monitor you after your surgery and offer you instructions and medications that help to reduce the risk of these complications occurring.
As with any abdominal surgery, you will need to take 10 to 14 days off from work to relax at home and recover. You will want someone around to help you during the first few days, as you may struggle with even basic tasks.
You will want to start walking soon after you get home, but anything strenuous will be off-limits, and you will be unable to lift anything over a certain weight.
Most people are fully recovered from their mini tummy tuck within six weeks, save for some lingering swelling.
A mini tummy tuck will not result in physical changes that make pregnancy impossible or dangerous.
However, you need to understand that pregnancy will likely stretch the skin in the lower abdomen, undoing the results of your surgery.
We would advise that you consider waiting until your family is complete unless you are comfortable getting a revision surgery later on.
Weight loss is not the goal of a tummy tuck. While liposuction is used to remove fat cells in the lower abdomen, this is done for contouring purposes, not to result in significant weight loss.
Yes, general anesthesia is typically used during the mini tummy tuck surgery. If this concerns you, we can discuss the topic during your consultation.
*Information for education only, not meant as a guarantee of results. Your results may vary. Unless otherwise noted, images on this site are of models.
Telephone No.925-685-4533