What is a Mini Tummy Tuck?

A mini tummy tuck is ideal for patients who do not have much extra skin or do not need their muscles to be tightened with a full tummy tuck. A mini tummy tuck is not one specific procedure. The best way to think about it is to remove the parts of a full tummy tuck that a patient does not need. There is no single and simple definition of a tummy tuck. This is because a good surgeon is adept at defining the underlying problem and proposing a surgery that addresses those issues.

Is the excess skin minimal and central only?

Then a shorter incision can be used.

Are the muscles fused in the center?

Then they do not need to be sewn together.

Is the skin above the belly button free from laxity and stretch marks?

Then there is no need to make a scar around the belly button.

Is the problem just a depressed C-Section scar, perhaps with a little roll above it?

Then the patient just needs to have a scar revision.

Mini Tummy Tuck Before & Afters

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Benefits

Benefits of the procedure include

  • Possible use of local anesthesia and IV sedation rather than general anesthesia
  • Short and well-hidden incision
  • Shorter, more manageable recuperation period
  • Less pain and discomfort than with the full tummy tuck
  • Shorter surgical time
  • The navel is undisturbed
  • Improves appearance of stretch marks
  • Tightens and tones the lower belly

Who is a good candidate for the mini tummy tuck?

Anyone who is a non-smoker in good mental and physical health with reasonable expectations for improvement rather than perfection can be considered a good candidate for the procedure. Women seeking the treatment should suffer from excess fat, skin and tissue in the region that spans from the belly button down to the pubic bone.

The best way to determine if the mini tummy tuck is right for your needs is to schedule a confidential consultation with Dr. Teitelbaum at his Los Angeles office. There is a continuum of options between a classic full and classic mini tuck, and he will help you understand your choice and together you will create a custom operation that will satisfy your desires.

What is the difference between a mini tummy tuck and a regular tummy tuck?

Different surgeons use these terms in varying manners. A regular tummy tuck implies a scar around the belly button, a tightening of the muscles, and a wide scar. A mini tummy tuck implies either a shorter scar, and/or not making an incision around the belly button, and/or not tightening the muscles. More aggressive liposuction is typically also part of a mini tummy tuck.

There are times when a full tummy tuck is indicated but a patient wants to forgo some aspect of it, such as not tightening the muscles or limiting the width of the incision. These choices are obviously the patient's prerogative. It is, nevertheless, always the surgeon's responsibility to discuss what a limited procedure may fail to achieve.

Dr. Teitelbaum has also done many full tummy tucks on patients dissatisfied with mini-tummy tucks done elsewhere. Sometimes there was a problem with the operation, but more often the result the patient wanted could never have been achieved with the mini procedure in the first place. He will show you photos of patients similar to yourself so that you will understand your likely result with either procedure. He wants you to understand the outcomes of various approaches so that you end up with the result you want.

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Four special things about Dr. Teitelbaum's Approach

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1. Your operation will be customized based upon what you need or want corrected. This takes extra time examining you, defining all the problematic areas, determining the maneuvers that will correct each of them, and working together to help you decide what you want done.

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2. The second important thing is that Dr. Teitelbaum will use a very long acting pain medicine which though expensive, will dramatically reduce your pain.

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3. The third issue is that Dr. Teitelbaum rarely needs to use drains which, are cumbersome and uncomfortable. Not having a drain will allow you to move much more freely after surgery and to shower the next day.

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4. Finally he doesn't just stop at making you flatter: he considers how your tummy blends into the surround part of your trunk and makes adjustments to create the most beautiful shape possible. To him it is not just about flatness, but also about beauty.

The operation may be modified to include a wider scar if there is loose skin out to the sides, liposuction of abdominal fat to thin the tummy, correction of a belly button (umbilical) hernia if one is present, repositioning the belly button if there is some laxity above the belly button, and tightening the abdominal muscles if they are loose or separated.

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What to anticipate

The classic mini tummy tuck procedure uses a short incision made just above the bikini line, slightly longer but at the same height as a C-section scar. If you already have a C-section scar it will be removed. He will remove as much skin as the width of the incision will allow. All the fat that is underneath that area will also be removed. This will remove some or all of your stretch marks, and will smooth out any that remain. Loose skin, particularly under the belly button, will be removed and any roll beneath your belly button or skin hanging over your underwear will be removed. The improvement is not just above the scar on the abdomen; there is also improvement below the scar in the mons and groin region. He will then use very fine disposable stitches to facilitate rapid healing and the best scar possible.

Recovering from a Mini Tummy Tuck

Recuperating after the surgery takes just 1-2 weeks and is reported as quite manageable and swift, thanks to Dr. Teitelbaum's careful approach, experienced nursing, and outstanding anesthesiologist. This will vary with exactly what you have done. You may encounter minor bruising, swelling and discomfort in the lower belly after treatment, but these symptoms will gradually disperse within the first few weeks. A compression garment may be part of your aftercare plan, which is a device aimed at minimizing your swelling and facilitating the most rapid recuperation.

Dr. Teitelbaum's Expertise

He has written articles and book chapters on tummy tucks for the most important publications in the field of plastic surgery. At the most important national meetings Dr. Teitelbaum has given lectures and taught tummy tucks to other surgeons. He is current with all the latest techniques and is able to offer his patients the most contemporary approach to tummy tucks and will do everything to minimize your discomfort.

For more information about scheduling a consultation for mini tummy tuck in Los Angeles, call board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Steven Teitelbaum at 310.315.1121 or click here to contact his office.

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