Do I Need a Full Tummy Tuck or Just a Mini?

While pregnancy and childbirth are certainly life changing experiences, they are also seriously body changing. Sometimes a young mother can wonder just who took the body she knew from the days before she was pregnant. Where once was a slim and contoured tummy, now there is a pooch and muscles that just don’t seem capable of tightening back to their former degree of tautness. Ugh.

But that doesn’t mean you have to put up with this change of status on your abdomen. The loose sagging skin that came from the pregnancy or just the gain and subsequent loss of a good deal of weight can be addressed with a tummy tuck from Dr. Saltz. A tummy tuck not only targets the abdomen but also takes care of love handles or muffin tops. The procedure can be very satisfying for the patient.

The question is, do you need a full tummy tuck or just a mini?

Full tummy tuck

In a full tummy tuck, Dr. Saltz makes two incisions. The first runs from hipbone to hipbone, pushing down toward the pubic area. The shape and length are predicated on the amount of excess skin the patient has. This incision is meant to be able to be hidden under a swimsuit bottom or underwear. A second incision is made around the navel to address excess skin in the upper abdomen. The underlying muscles that have become separated are brought back together to narrow the waist and return contour. Then the skin is pulled downward and trimmed. Sometimes liposuction can be combined with a tummy tuck if there are pockets of fat that need to be removed. If a good deal of skin is trimmed, Dr. Saltz may reposition the belly button.

Mini tummy tuck

A mini tummy tuck involves only the lower incision on the bikini line. It skips the upper incision. Obviously, a mini tuck cannot address sagging and loose skin in the navel area. Again, the length of this incision is dependent upon the amount of excess skin that Dr. Saltz needs to remove.

A mini tummy tuck is a simpler procedure that will require less downtime and creates one less scar. But it is not for everyone. Mini tucks are ideal for people at normal body weight, with just a small, lower belly pooch. If you have excess fat, saggy skin above your belly button, or have lost a lot of weight and have a lot of excess skin, you’ll need a full tummy tuck.

Obviously, you will discuss your options with Dr. Saltz during your tummy tuck consultation. After examining your condition, the two of you may decide only a mini tummy tuck is necessary. Or you together may decide on the full procedure.

Interested in getting that pre-baby belly back? Call Dr. Saltz at his Salt Lake City or Park City offices and schedule a consultation for a tummy tuck.