Mini Tummy Tuck in Atlanta, GA

Many men and women who are in good physical shape and have reached a stable, healthy weight, but still have excess fat and loose skin in the region above the pubic area can benefit from a mini tummy tuck procedure. The Atlanta Center for Breast and Aesthetic Surgery, led by Dr. Frederick T. Work, Jr., offers the mini tummy tuck for men and women who live in and around Buckhead, Vinings, and Sandy Springs.

What Is A Mini Tummy Tuck?

A mini tummy tuck is a less extensive version of the tummy tuck, usually using a shorter scar. For patients whose excess skin is limited to the area below the belly button, a mini tummy tuck can address the issue using a single horizontal incision just above the pubic area. No second incision around the belly button is needed, as is common in a full tummy tuck. A mini procedure usually requires a shorter recovery period, but it’s not appropriate for everyone. Dr. Work can determine whether you are a candidate during your consultation.

Benefits of a Mini Tummy Tuck

The tummy tuck is a far less invasive procedure than the traditional abdominoplasty surgery, reducing the amount of discomfort, the risks of complications and the recovery period. Other benefits include:

• Less scarring than a traditional tummy tuck.
• No need to reposition your belly button.
• The mini tummy tuck is suitable for patients that are not candidates for a full tummy tuck due to scar tissue from previous procedures.
• More economical than a full tummy tuck.

Am I a Candidate for a Mini Tummy Tuck?

The ideal candidates for a mini tummy tuck are patients who have small amounts of loose skin and fatty tissue that has accumulated in the lower abdomen, below the belly button. Women with a pouch above their C-section scars also make ideal candidates. Patients who have a slim physique and have attained their ideal weight, but want a more sculpted, contoured and streamlined silhouette also make great candidates. The mini tummy tuck is a good choice for patients with good skin elasticity, good muscle tone in the abdominal wall and who enjoy overall good health.

The Mini Tummy Tuck Procedure

The mini tummy tuck requires a horizontal incision in the lower abdomen. However, the incision is much shorter in length than that used in a traditional tummy tuck. The skin is then loosened from the abdominal wall and the muscles of the lower abdomen are pulled into a tighter position, excess fat is removed and the muscles are sutured. Once the procedure is completed, the incision is sutured and bandaged.

Mini Tummy Tuck Recovery

Patients are advised to get up and walk shortly after surgery, although it is normal to experience some discomfort during this period. After two days most patients notice a dramatic difference in comfort and energy levels. We recommend refraining from strenuous activity for four to six weeks following your surgery.

Differences Between A Mini Tummy Tuck and A Tummy Tuck

The main differences between a tummy tuck and a mini tummy tuck are that the tummy tuck is a more invasive complicated procedure and the mini tummy tuck only treats the area below the navel, so there is no scar or repositioning of the navel. Other differences include:

Goal

Mini Tummy Tuck: Tightens the muscles in the lower abdomen.

Tummy Tuck: Treats muscle separation above and below the navel and removes excessive or loose skin in the abdominal region.

Procedure

Mini Tummy Tuck: Shorter incision along the bikini line. Excess fat is removed; skin and muscles are tightened.

Tummy Tuck: The navel is separated from the rest of abdominal wall; a flap of skin is created and stretched down and excess tissue is removed.

Suitable for

Mini Tummy Tuck: Ideal for patients who are slim, close to their ideal weight and who have a somewhat firm abdominal wall that doesn’t protrude significantly.

Tummy Tuck: Patients with skin that has become stretched and loose as a result of multiple pregnancies or those who have undergone significant weight loss.

Anesthesia

Mini Tummy Tuck: May be performed under either general anesthesia or local with sedation.

Tummy Tuck: Requires sedation by general anesthesia.

Scarring

Mini Tummy Tuck: Leaves a thin scar, extending from mid-thigh to mid-thigh.

Tummy Tuck: Leaves a longer scar, extending from hipbone to hipbone.

Recovery

Mini Tummy Tuck: Requires one to three weeks recovery period.

Tummy Tuck: Requires four to six weeks for full recovery.

Can I Have A Mini Tummy Tuck Between Pregnancies?

Although you can safely become pregnant after a tummy tuck, Dr. Work and his team recommend postponing the procedure until after you are finished having children, as future pregnancies may alter the results of the procedure.

When Can I Begin To Exercise Following My Mini Tummy Tuck?

Dr. Work recommends moderate exercise within two to three weeks following surgery, with a slow and gradual progression to more strenuous exercise, including running or heavy lifting after about four to six weeks following your surgery.

How Much Does A Mini Tummy Tuck Cost in Atlanta?

Most health insurance providers do not typically cover cosmetic procedures, including the mini tummy tuck. The Atlanta Center for Breast and Aesthetic Surgery provides affordable aesthetic procedures, such as the tummy tuck and mini tummy tuck, for all our patients by offering easy financing options through CareCredit® and Prosper® Healthcare Lending. Our office also accepts cash, personal checks, and credit cards.

For patients who have an accumulation of fatty deposits and loose, sagging skin in the area below the belly button, a mini tummy tuck surgery may be the perfect cosmetic solution. Frederick T. Work, Jr. and his team of experts at the Atlanta Center for Breast and Aesthetic Surgery, provide cosmetic procedures such as the mini tummy tuck for residents of the Atlanta, Buckhead, Vinings and Sandy Springs areas in Georgia.