Types of Tummy Tucks Explained
Bloomfield Hills, MI – For people who are concerned about loose skin around their middle, a tummy tuck is a wonderful plastic surgery option. It is also a great solution for women who have weakened abdominal muscles after pregnancy. It can provide a beautifully contoured figure, but there is more than one type of tummy tuck.
“An abdominoplasty removes loose skin, tightens muscles and removes stubborn pockets of fat,” says Bloomfield Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Ali. “Each patient has different needs and different post-surgery goals, so we tailor our approach to meet those needs. At your initial consultation, your plastic surgeon can explain the main approaches and help you choose the one that is best for you.”
The Mini
The mini tummy tuck removes a smaller portion of skin and requires a smaller incision. They are ideal for patients who are healthy and at or near their ideal weight, but have a stubborn pouch of fat around their mid-section.
The surgeon makes an incision in the lower abdominal wall to the belly button. Then, excess skin will be removed, muscles will be tightened, and the skin will be pulled tight to close the incision. Recovery times vary, but most patients can return to normal daily activities in about a week.
The Traditional
The traditional tummy tuck is ideal for patients who are healthy, but who have a more substantial amount of loose skin to be removed. It is typically used on patients who have lost a significant amount of weight, or women who have excess fat or weak abdominal muscles following a pregnancy.
The incision will be slightly larger than with a mini tummy tuck, and is typically a straight line running from hip bone to hip bone. The surgeon may use liposuction to remove excess fat. Excess skin will be removed and abdominal muscles will be tightened before closing the incision.
Because a larger portion of extra skin is removed, the belly button will most likely be repositioned. The average recovery time is about four weeks.
The Extended
An extended tummy tuck is for patients who have a significant amount of loose, sagging skin in their midsection, as well as their hips and lower back. Excess fat in these areas will also be removed during the procedure.
A long incision is made that reaches around the hips to the lower back. Liposuction will remove excess fat and drain an excess fluid in the area. The muscles will be tightened in both the abdomen and around the hips, and loose skin will be removed before closing the incision. The belly button will also be repositioned.
Recovery typically involves a short stay in the hospital, followed by about a month of at-home recovery. Before beginning activities that require physical exertion, patients must be cleared by their surgeon.
At your initial consultation with Dr. Ali, he will discuss what procedure will be best for you. He’ll take into account the amount of skin that needs to be removed, as well as the integrity of the abdominal muscles.
If you are interested in removing excess fat and sculpting your mid-section, schedule a consultation with Dr. Ali.
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