Tummy Tuck With Stretch Mark>A full tummy tuck allows access to the entire abdomen to remove excess skin, repair muscle separation and perform extensive liposuction to sculpt the waist, hips, flanks and mons area
A tummy tuck can’t remove most stretch marksThey can be very difficult to remove, especially through a tummy tuck. As there is only so much skin that can be removed from the abdomen, only stretch marks that are located on the excised skin can be removed (usually below the belly button). read more on mini tummy tuck/tummy tuck scar.
Tummy Tuck With Stretch Mark
This can be a great, life-changing procedure if you’ve been carrying extra fat around your stomach area and can’t get rid of it. However, it can only do so much in giving you a toned, contoured abdomen. A tummy tuck does often repair and suture weakened and separated abdominal muscles, especially after pregnancy or childbirth. But, if you’re looking for muscle tone or abs, a tummy tuck won’t get you there. Most results show a slimmer, less flabby version of the same profile, which can be a great, confidence-boosting jump-start to a new, healthy lifestyle.
A tummy tuck can’t prevent future weight gain
If you’ve put on weight due to pregnancy or lack of exercise, a tummy tuck can be a great way to feel like you’ve got your body back. However, a tummy tuck should only be performed if you’re at a stable weight because your results can be greatly diminished by significant weight gain afterward. Although excess fat is removed from the stomach, it can’t prevent more being added later on. So, you’ll need to make sure you’re living a healthy, active lifestyle and have no future plans for pregnancy to get the best out of your tummy tuck.
A tummy tuck can remove extra skin
Especially in cases of pregnancy or significant weight loss, extra skin can be left behind that is saggy and impossible to get rid of. Many patients try and fail to get rid of it through exercise, where a tummy tuck or other nonsurgical skin tightening procedures would be better suited for removing it. However, only a certain amount can be safely removed, and your plastic surgeon can help you determine whether your aesthetic goals are in line with a safe procedure.
Mini Tummy Tuck
When you think of plastic surgery to tighten up your midsection, a tummy tuck probably comes to mind. It’s a popular procedure, especially for women who have loose skin or trouble getting rid of stubborn stomach fat.
If you are physically fit and only have a small amount of excess fat or skin, you may think you’re not eligible for a tummy tuck. While a full tummy tuck may not be for you, a mini tummy tuck could be!
What is a Mini Tummy Tuck
A mini tummy tuck is the same procedure as a full tummy tuck, just performed on a patient with less fat and skin to remove. (“Mini” refers to the amount of fat and skin removed.) During a mini tummy tuck, Dr. Ortiz will make a small incision similar to the incision made during a cesarean section. Through this incision, he tightens loose muscles, removes excess fat, and removes excess skin to flatten and smooth your abdominal wall.
The incision, typically just a few inches long, will be made along your bikini line. Scars from this procedure are small and easily concealed by underwear and swimwear. There is also less scarring because, unlike a full tummy tuck, your belly button will not be moved or reconstructed.
Is This Procedure Right for Me
If you’re in good physical health, are done having children, have minimal-moderate excess skin, and have a small amount of excess belly fat, you are probably a good candidate for a mini tummy tuck.
It’s also important that you have realistic expectations regarding the procedure. You should remember that tummy tucks, whether they are mini or full, are not weight loss procedures. They are body contouring procedures, designed to make your abdomen sleeker and more streamlined. You shouldn’t expect to lose a significant amount of weight with any tummy tuck.
For many patients considering abdominoplasty, a common question I hear is “Do I need a full tummy tuck, or can I get away with a mini tummy tuck?”
Although the major appeal of a mini tummy tuck is often the less obvious scarring and minimal down time, in my experience, the vast majority of my tummy tuck patients benefit more from a traditional abdominoplasty with a hip-to-hip incision to achieve the #MoncrieffMagic transformation they are looking for. So, what is the difference between a mini tummy tuck and a full tummy tuck?
Full Tummy Tuck
A full tummy tuck or abdominoplasty involves a tradition “hip to hip” incision along the bikini line in order to remove excess skin and perform internal muscle repair across the entire abdominal area, both above and below the belly button.
Mini Tummy Tuck
A mini tummy tuck involves a much smaller incision along the bikini line, usually up to about 20cm in length. While a mini abdominoplasty tightens and flattens the skin below the belly button, the smaller incision does not allow me to address loose skin or separated muscles in the middle or upper abdomen.
As demonstrated in the diagram below, much more of the stomach can be addressed with the full tummy tuck incision as opposed to the mini.
Tummy Tuck Scar
A tummy tuck scar forms in the areas where your skin heals after tummy tuck surgery. A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) removes excess skin and fat from your belly. The scar is usually thin. It may be raised, recessed, slightly pink or lighter than the surrounding skin.
Are there different types of tummy tuck scars?
The size and location of tummy tuck scars vary depending on what type of tummy tuck you have. Your surgeon will likely use special glue, tape or bandages on your incision. These surgical dressings can reduce scarring by holding the skin of the incision together and keeping it moist.
The different types of tummy tuck scars may include:
- Full tummy tuck: The scar for a standard tummy tuck usually spans your abdomen, from hip bone to hip bone, just above your pubic area. You may also have a scar around your belly button.
- Mini tummy tuck: A mini tummy tuck is for people who have a small amount of excess fat and tissue beneath their belly button. The scar is shorter than a full tummy tuck scar. It’s about the length of a C-section scar (between 3 inches and 6 inches).
- Fleur-de-lis tummy tuck: This scar spans your abdomen. A second vertical scar runs from your lower breastbone to your pubic bone. A fleur-de-lis tummy tuck is usually for people with a large amount of excess skin due to major weight loss or multiple pregnancies.
Can you prevent a tummy tuck scar?
You can’t completely prevent a tummy tuck scar. But you can take steps to help the incision heal after surgery, which may reduce the appearance of the scar:
- Avoid corticosteroids: If you take corticosteroids, talk to your healthcare provider about stopping the medication before surgery. Some corticosteroids can slow wound healing.
- Manage chronic diseases: Some conditions, such as diabetes, can complicate wound healing. Talk to your healthcare provider before your tummy tuck about how to manage health conditions before, during and after the procedure.
- Stop smoking: Quitting smoking several months before your procedure can help your surgical wound heal.
- Take vitamin A: Your provider may recommend vitamin A supplements in the weeks and months leading up to surgery. Vitamin A can help speed wound healing. Please check with your surgeon prior to starting vitamin A as it may interfere with a medication you’re currently taking.