Tummy Tuck Techniques

Several tummy tuck techniques are available. Each is designed to address the different degrees of a prominent stomach, stubborn fat deposits and loose skin in the abdominal area.

Choosing the Right Tummy Tuck Technique for You

Tummy tucks are intended to minimize excess skin and fat in the abdominal region and tighten the area 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 those factors. The tummy tuck technique used varies based on the patient's goals and situation. In most cases, tummy tucks involve skin and fat removal centered on the navel area. To understand which technique best suits your needs, use our Surgeon Locator to consult with a certified tummy tuck surgeon in your area.

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. The length or size of the scars will depend on the amount of skin you need to have removed during your tummy tuck, 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 techniques that require the smallest incisions in places that will be covered by a standard bikini. However, the incision might need to be rather large or placed higher for reasons outside of your tummy tuck surgeon's control.

In most patients with moderate to severe excess skin, a new navel will need to be created, or the existing one will need to be moved. Sometimes, the tummy tuck surgeon can perform the tummy tuck surgery using endoscopic tummy tuck techniques, which involve several short incisions. Discuss the tummy tuck techniques, incision types and placements with your surgeon at your consultation.

Mini Tummy Tuck Technique

This technique requires only one incision, which lies low across the abdomen and is not as wide as a full tummy tuck. The navel is left intact and does not need to be recreated. Depending on the patient's needs, the surgeon might use liposuction to remove fat from under the belly button, and some muscles between the navel and the pubis might be tightened. The surgeon will use this incision to remove excess skin and tighten loose muscles.

Mini tummy tucks involve a smaller portion of the midsection, typically between the navel and pubic bone, than traditional tummy tuck procedures.

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

It 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.

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

Extended Tummy Tuck Technique (High Lateral Abdominoplasty)

This tummy tuck technique is recommended for patients who have excess skin and fat 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 allows the surgeon to remove larger amounts of excess skin and 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 the most invasive and is usually recommended for patients who have excess fat deposits in the lower and middle abdominal areas, very loose skin and lax muscles of the abdominal wall.

This is the most extensive tummy tuck technique and requires an incision on the belly button as well as across the lower abdomen. The excess skin is removed, the loose muscles are tightened and, if needed, liposuction will remove the excess fat.

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 from the abdominal muscles up to the bottom of the rib cage. Then, another incision is made around the belly button to separate it from the surrounding tissues. All the skin is freed from the abdominal wall. The fascia (tissue) and rectus abdominus muscles are tightened by folding the fascia along the centerline of the abdomen, which brings the separated muscles together, and the abdominal muscles are sewn together.

The tummy tuck surgeon removes 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. The tummy tuck surgeon makes a new hole for the navel. The tummy tuck surgery is finished by suturing and stitching the incisions.

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

This type of tummy tuck technique is the most expensive and extensive type of tummy tuck.

With the full tummy tuck technique you might get a "new" belly button to go with your new, tighter stomach. The belly button in a tummy tuck stays where it was originally, the skin is re-draped around the original belly button, a hole is made through the re-draped skin and the skin is sutured around it. After re-draping, 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.

It is the most complicated tummy tuck technique, and the tummy tuck surgeon will carefully evaluate whether you are a suitable candidate. Full abdominoplasty causes greater swelling and discomfort because of the amount of work done, so the recovery period is longer compared to other tummy tuck techniques.

Endoscopic Tummy Tuck Technique

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

A number of small incisions are made, and the entire surgery is performed using long, thin instruments. The surgeon will tighten the abdominal muscles and might remove excess fat, but he or she will not remove excess skin. This surgery is best suited for patients who have protruding bellies but little excess abdominal skin.

An endoscopic tummy tuck surgery uses 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 incisions are closed.

Although not as invasive as a full tummy tuck technique, the endoscopic technique requires some recovery time and a surgical drain might be left in the incision for a few days after surgery.

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

Dermolipectomy Tummy Tuck Technique

Dermolipectomy is the removal of excess skin and fat, and it 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.

Reverse Tummy Tuck Technique

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

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 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. 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 surgeons perform this procedure.

Vertical Scar Abdominoplasty (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.

It 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 Surgeon Locator to find a tummy tuck specialist near you!