Tummy Tuck Techniques

There are several different tummy tuck techniques available today. Each tummy tuck technique is designed to address the different degrees of a prominent stomach and loose skin in the abdominal area.

Choosing The Right Tummy Tuck Technique For You

Tummy tuck techniques and procedures are intended to minimize excess skin and fat in the abdominal region and tighten the area by removing this skin while creating new abdominal contours.

The type of tummy tuck technique that is best for you depends on whether you need to have muscles tightened, skin tightened, fat removed, or a combination of any of those factors. The exact tummy tuck technique used during treatment varies based on the patient's goals and their situation. In most cases, tummy tucks involve skin and fat removal centered on the navel area. To understand which tummy tuck technique best suits your specific needs consult with a certified tummy tuck surgeon in your area.

Tummy tucks are widely requested by individuals who have lost weight and now have excess skin in the area. Many individuals undergoing tummy tucks have either had children or wish to remove or minimize stretch marks. Tummy tuck procedures may be requested after liposuction or weight loss procedures, or in conjunction with certain body contouring or liposuction treatments.

Tummy Tuck Techniques: Incision Placement and Scars

A tummy Tuck is not a scar-free surgery. The tummy tuck scars can be quite long and severe looking. The length or size of the scars will depend on the amount of skin you need to have removed during your tummy tick, your body's ability to heal, whether you scar well, the skill of your tummy tuck surgeon, and the tummy tuck technique used.

Most tummy tuck surgeons try to use tummy tuck techniques that use the smallest incision possible and that leave scars in a place that will be covered by a standard bikini. However, the incision may need to be rather large or be placed higher for reasons outside of your tummy tuck surgeon's control.

In most patients with moderate-to-severe redundant skin, there will be a need to create a new navel or move the existing one. Sometimes, the tummy tuck surgeon can perform the tummy tuck surgery using endoscopic tummy tuck techniques, which involves several short incisions. Be sure to discuss the tummy tuck techniques, incision types, and placements with your tummy tuck surgeon at your tummy tuck consultation.

Mini Tummy Tuck Technique

Mini tummy tuck technique procedures involve the removal of less fat and excess skin and involve a smaller portion of the midsection, typically between the navel and pubic bone, than traditional tummy tuck procedures.

The mini tummy tuck is a technique requires a horizontal incision above the pubic area. The size of the incision in this tummy tuck technique ranges from just a few inches to a much larger incision that expands across the abdomen, depending on the extent of the tummy tuck. The surgeon will then use this incision to remove the excess skin, tighten the loose muscles and use liposuction to contour the area (if needed). This tummy tuck technique does not involve an incision around the belly button.

The mini tummy tuck technique works best for people who carry excess fat and skin on the lower part of the abdomen, just below the belly button.

This procedure is highly recommended for people whose abdominal problems are not severe, and who are otherwise in good shape, but have not been able to get rid of their protruding stomach and excess belly fat with diet and exercise alone.

The mini tummy tuck is the technique with the lowest cost due to its simplicity when compared to other tummy tuck techniques.

If you need skin and fat removal only and not tightening of muscles, and if your navel does not need to be repositioned, you are a candidate for the mini-tummy tuck technique. With the mini-tummy tuck technique there is usually has a shorter scar than a the one on the full tummy tuck technique. The mini-tummy tuck technique is between endoscopic tummy tuck technique and dermolipectomy technique.

Extended Tummy Tuck Technique (High Lateral Abdominoplasty)

This tummy tuck technique is recommended for patients who have excess skin and fat located around the love handle and hip areas. The extended tummy tuck technique requires the scar to be longer than the mini tummy tuck scar. The larger scar in this tummy tuck technique allows the tummy tuck surgeon to remove larger amounts of excess skin. An extended tummy tuck is a great procedure for those patients where liposuction alone will not correct the problems on their love handles and hips.

Full Tummy Tuck Technique

The full tummy tuck technique is usually recommended to patients who have large excess of fat deposits both in the lower and middle abdominal area, very loose skin and lax muscles of the abdominal wall.

This is the most extensive tummy tuck technique. This tummy tuck technique is highly recommended for cases that are more severe - where bulging fat and sagging skin is highly prominent. The Full tummy tuck technique requires an incision on the belly button additionally, to the incision across the lower abdomen. During a full tummy tuck, the excess skin is removed, the loose muscles are tightened, and if needed, liposuction will be performed to remove the excess fat.

With the full tummy tuck technique a large incision is made across the lower abdomen, just above the pubic area, usually from hip to hip. This incision is usually placed so that a bikini bottom will hide it. Skin and fat are loosened away from the abdominal muscles up to the bottom of the rib cage. Then, another incision is made around the belly button in order to separate it from the surrounding tissues. All the skin is made free from the abdominal wall Then, the fascia and rectus abdominus muscles are tightened by folding the fascia along the centerline of the abdomen. This brings the separated muscles together. In this tummy tuck technique the abdominal muscles are sewn together.

The tummy tuck surgeon then proceeds to remove the excess skin. The skin above the belly button is pulled down toward the pubic bone and sutured into position as the incision is closed. Then the tummy tuck surgeon makes a new hole for the navel to put in. The tummy tuck surgery is finished by suturing and stitching the incisions.

This tummy tuck technique is highly likely that your tummy tuck surgeon will place drainage tubes in the area to facilitate the evacuation of liquids, and facilitate healing after the tummy tuck surgery. Usually, one or two drains are placed under the incision to allow fluids to drain for a few days after tummy tuck surgery. These drains usually exit through small incisions above your pubic bone.

A tummy tuck performed with the full tummy tuck technique is an extensive surgery that removes the excess skin from the belly button to the pubic area that has been affected by: one or more pregnancies, weight gain and/or loss, obesity or genetic laxity. This type of tummy tuck technique is the most expensive and extensive type of tummy tuck.

This tummy tuck technique is the most invasive and is usually reserved for people with very lax muscles and excess amounts of skin to be excised. In a full tummy tuck technique, you usually end up with a new navel because skin will be pulled down and redraped over your navel.

With the full tummy tuck technique you may get a new belly button to go with your new, tighter stomach. Actually, although it is believed that the belly button is repositioned with a tummy tuck, it isn't. The belly button in a tummy tuck stays where it was originally. During a tummy tuck the skin is redraped around the original belly button, then a hole is made through the redraped skin and the skin is then sutured around it. After the redraping, your tummy tuck surgeon can adjust the size of the belly button with a bit of nipping and tucking to make it look natural.

Because the full tummy tuck technique is so invasive, there is quite a bit of pain and swelling, as well as bruising. This is caused by the amount of tissue that needs to be removed or rearranged for a proper correction. However, everyone is different and not everyone will experience the same amount of discomfort with this tummy tuck technique.

Since it is the most complicated tummy tuck technique, the tummy tuck surgeon should carefully evaluate whether you are a suitable candidate to it or not. Alternatives to this tummy tuck technique include a mini-tummy tuck in combination with liposuction of the middle abdominal area. Since full abdominoplasty causes greater swelling and discomfort due to a huge amount of work done, the recovery period is also longer compared to other tummy tuck techniques.

Endoscopic Tummy Tuck Technique

The endoscopic tummy tuck technique is recommended for those of you who have weakened muscles of the lower abdomen, excess abdominal fat, but who still have relatively tight abdominal skin. An endoscopic tummy tuck technique procedure cannot tighten loose skin on your stomach.

An endoscopic tummy tuck surgery is performed using a small camera, called an endoscope, along with several surgical instruments that are inserted through two or more small incisions. The tummy tuck surgeon can tighten muscles and suture with the help of the endoscope. Liposuction can be also done to remove fat and then the incision is closed.

Although not as invasive as a full tummy tuck technique, the endoscopic tummy tuck technique does require some recovery time and a surgical drain (small plastic tube that is left in an incision to prevent a build-up of fluid) may be left in the incision for a few days after surgery.

A surgical drain can help prevent excessive fluid buildup. When the fluid cannot drain properly, it can put pressure on the incision or cause other complications these problems. The drain tube usually empties into a small plastic bulb outside the body. This bulb has to be emptied a couple of times a day, depending on how much fluid is draining out. Usually, these drains are removed a few days after tummy tuck surgery, depending on how much fluid is draining out.

Some studies found that the endoscopic tummy tuck technique was more beneficial for men with rectus abdominal diastasis than for women. However, man or woman, if you have generally taut skin, but loose muscles and fascia, you may be a good candidate for the endoscopic tummy tuck technique.

Dermolipectomy Tummy Tuck Technique

Dermolipectomy is the removal of excess skin and fat, and includes repositioning the belly button. There is no muscle tightening. It is for patients who have a higher level of skin laxity than mini-tummy tuck candidates.

This tummy tuck technique is often performed on people who have a lot of excess skin after a large loss of weight, such as those who have had bariatric surgery such as stomach stapling.

Reverse Tummy Tuck Technique

The reverse tummy tuck technique is a new procedure that is slowly becoming popular among tummy tuck surgeons.

The reverse tummy tuck technique is recommended to patients who have breast lift or breast reduction performed and also have loose skin and excess fat deposits in the upper abdominal area.

A reverse tummy tuck is not a common technique. It can be used in conjunction with breast reduction or mastopexy (breast lift) or for people who have a lot of loose skin above the navel. The incision in this tummy tuck technique is made just under the breasts in an inverted V. Instead of being pulled down, as in a regular abdominoplasty, the skin is pulled up in this type of tummy tuck. Excess skin and fat are removed and the incision is sutured. Rectus abdominal diastasis can be corrected with the reverse tummy tuck technique, but not many tummy tuck surgeons commonly perform this procedure.

Vertical Scar Abdominoplasty; or Fleur-de-lis Tummy Tuck Technique

This tummy tuck technique combines an incision across the lower abdomen with a vertical incision up the center of the abdomen.

This tummy tuck technique is usually reserved for people who need substantial amounts of skin removed and a lot of tightening around the waist.

Do not hesitate to discuss all the options with your tummy tuck doctor. Use our tummy tuck surgeon locator to find a tummy tuck specialist near you!