Pros of Tummy Tucks and Mini Tummy Tucks

You’ve probably heard of a tummy tuck and maybe you’ve even wanted one for years—but have you heard about the mini tummy tuck? John Park MD Plastic Surgery offers both popular procedures and determining which one is best for you begins with a complimentary, no-pressure consultation. There are differences between the two procedures, and it all comes down to the areas on the belly where skin is lax and what your goals are. Both types of tummy tucks eliminate excess skin on the tummy, and they are often combined with liposuction to achieve optimal results.

A tummy tuck (also called a full tummy tuck) can remove all excess skin from the upper and lower abdomen. The incision is placed below the belt line so you can wear midriffs and bikinis with total confidence. Tummy tucks also strengthen the abdominal muscles, and can even reattach abs that have become separated (which is common during many pregnancies). Much of the time, a new bellybutton needs to be created for a full tummy tuck, and a skilled surgeon ensures it looks completely natural.

A mini tummy tuck only addresses laxity below the belly button. This is an ideal procedure for those don’t have a lot of skin laxity or who have the laxity targeted in the lower abdomen. Men are good candidates for a mini tummy tuck, too, as are women who have not had biological children and don’t plan to. As you can imagine, this procedure is a little less invasive. Upper abdominal muscles are not tightened during surgery and it’s common that a new belly button doesn’t need to be created. Sometimes the incision can be shorter, too, and it is still hidden below the belt line.

Benefits of a Tummy Tuck

Both types of tummy tucks provide a flat belly. A flat stomach is a worldwide desire for both men and women. You can combine liposuction with a tummy tuck or mini tummy tuck. Pockets of fat and lax skin can both be causes of a belly that isn’t as flat as you’d like. However, it’s impossible to target fat loss with diet and exercise, and there’s no way to effectively and permanently tighten lax skin caused by weight fluctuations or pregnancy without surgery. Tummy tucks immediately give you the flat, taut belly you’ve always wanted.

A full tummy tuck has the added benefit of strengthening the ab muscles. This is especially beneficial for women with diastasis recti postpartum. When abs separate due to pregnancy, surgery is the only option to reattach them. There are medical surgeries that can do this, but keep in mind that tummy tucks do, too. You can look your best and feel your best with a full tummy tuck that increases core strength and stability while trimming away lax skin.

Look and Feel Younger with a Tummy Tuck

Weight fluctuations and pregnancies are two of the most common reasons a person seeks out a tummy tuck. However, we all naturally have less skin laxity as we age. Collagen and elastin, key “ingredients” that help our skin snap back, is simply produced less the older we get. Tummy tucks help restore a youthful-looking body so you can once again wear your favorite clothes—or, in some cases, wear outfits that show off your body in a way you never have before.

Tummy tucks, and especially a full tummy tuck, can also reduce stretch marks. Less tummy skin means less stretch marks. This is just one reason why tummy tucks correlate to better mental and emotional health. When we look good, we feel good, and confidence is the best accessory anyone can have. Both types of tummy tucks can increase self-esteem.

Any healthy adult, male or female, may be a good candidate for a tummy tuck. However, if you’re a woman who is thinking about becoming pregnant in the future, you may want to take this into consideration. Pregnancy stretches the belly quickly, and some women prefer to wait until they’ve finished having biological children to schedule a tummy tuck. If you’d rather not wait, there are plenty of women who have had children after a tummy tuck, too. To learn more about tummy tucks at John Park MD Plastic Surgery, call (949) 777-6883 to schedule your complimentary consultation.