19 Aug 2024 | by Dr. Sean Doherty
Life can certainly wreak havoc on your mid-section! Pregnancy, weight gain/loss, and menopause may all stretch the skin and tissues of your abdomen past the point where diet and exercise can help. This is incredibly frustrating for many of my Boston area patients. A tummy tuck is an excellent procedure for addressing lax skin, excess fat, and loose muscle at once. It can deliver serious rejuvenation to not just your mid-section, but your entire torso. However, it also requires a commitment in terms of recovery. This is why many prospective body contouring patients will come to me asking for a mini-tummy tuck. I get it. Anything with the word “mini” in front of it just sounds better. The problem is that most women are not actually ideal candidates for this procedure because it won’t address everything that bothers them. So, here are some guidelines for understanding the difference between a full tummy tuck and a mini-tummy tuck.
Who is an Ideal Candidate for a Mini-Tummy Tuck in Boston?
The ideal candidate for a mini-tummy tuck is any woman in:
- Good overall health
- Within 10 pounds of a maintainable goal weight
- Skin laxity ONLY located below the belly button
The latter is the kicker for most patients. Anyone who has had a child, gained and lost more than 10 pounds during their lifetime, or is older is most likely going to have excess skin located both below and above the belly button. Furthermore, just because this procedure has the word “mini” in front of it does not mean that it’s a tummy tuck lite. Spending the money and recovery time on a procedure that will not deliver your ideal body contour is a waste. A typical ideal patient for this procedure is in shape, has had a previous Cesarean section, and is really only bothered by loose, hanging skin above the scar or a shelf-like appearance to their scar.
Full Tummy Tuck Does It All
While a full tummy tuck may require a little more downtime and be slightly more expensive than a mini-tummy tuck, it’s also the only procedure for addressing all of the issues that may be causing a dissatisfaction with the appearance of your abdomen. These include:
- Excess fatty deposits
- Skin laxity both above and below the belly button
- Loose abdominal muscles
The latter can be a common problem for women who’ve had children and/or undergone massive weight loss. This procedure is done under general anesthesia. Determining the right tummy tuck choice for you should always start with an in-person consultation. This will allow me to perform a physical exam and assess your individual needs.
To find out more about a tummy tuck, mini-tummy tuck, or any other surgical or non-surgical procedure with Dr. Sean Doherty at his Boston or Brookline office, contact us today or call (617) 450-0070 to schedule a consultation.
