If you have recently undergone pregnancy or major weight loss, you may be frustrated with stretched, sagging skin in your stomach area. Even after reaching your target weight, this excess skin – along with stubborn deposits of fat – can compromise your overall appearance. A tummy tuck is designed to remove excess skin, tighten the underlying abdominal muscles, and smooth out the overall contours of your stomach area, providing you with a firmer, flatter tummy.
Tummy tucks involve several different techniques and approaches. The right type of procedure for you will depend on your specific needs and goals as a patient. Many patients ask us about the differences between a mini tummy tuck and a full tummy tuck, which can be summarized as follows:
- Mini tummy tuck – If you only need to tighten skin and muscle below your navel, a mini tummy tuck is probably the best procedure for you. This technique only requires a single incision, resulting in less scarring than a full tummy tuck.
- Full tummy tuck – Designed to improve the contours of your entire abdomen, a full tummy tuck involves a second incision around the navel, which allows your surgeon to tighten skin and muscles above the navel as well as below it. Otherwise, the procedure is the same as a mini tummy tuck, except for the additional scar around your navel.
In both a mini and a full tummy tuck, the length of the first incision (along the pubic line) will depend on the amount of excess skin that needs to be removed.
If you have further questions about your tummy tuck options, please contact Marietta Plastic Surgery today to schedule an initial consultation with one of our experienced Atlanta tummy tuck surgeons. Call (770) 425-0118 for our Marietta office, or (678) 494-2380 for our Woodstock office.