Mini Tummy Tuck

Candidates for a mini tummy tuck, also called a partial abdominoplasty, have excess fat and skin or lax muscles below the navel. To be considered an ideal candidate for the procedure, patients should:

• Be in good overall health.
• Be a non-smoker or willing to quit smoking. Smoking must be ceased for at least two weeks before and after the procedure to ensure proper circulation and healing.  Exposure to nicotine can cause delayed healing and necrosis of the tissues.
• At the ideal body weight. Patients should lose excess weight before undergoing a tummy tuck. If weight fluctuates afterwards, it can lead to unevenness or stretched skin.
• Finished having children. Women who plan on having a baby should not undergo a tummy tuck until after they are finished having children because the skin on the torso stretches significantly during pregnancy.

Preparing for Surgery

To enjoy an uncomplicated recovery period and increase the chance for successful results, patients should properly prepare for surgery.

• Overall health, including a balanced diet and adequate rest, must be maintained.
• Talk with the surgeon beforehand if you take any medications, especially blood-thinners like coumadin. NSAIDs are normally stopped five to seven days before the procedure so that blood can clot properly. Vitamin E also sometimes affects a patient’s ability to clot. You surgeon will discuss which other medications are unsafe to use in the weeks prior to surgery.
• Alcoholic beverages should not be avoided for several days before the surgery. Alcohol can interact with the anesthetics used or thin the blood and inhibit the body’s ability to clot and heal.

The Procedure

The goal of an abdominoplasty is to flatten the abdomen and smooth out the skin. To do this, excess skin is removed and the stomach muscles are tightened. Unlike a full tummy tuck the navel does not need to be reconstructed since only the lower belly is targeted. There will be some scarring, but the scar is much shorter than that used during the traditional tummy tuck procedure; the incision and resulting scar will be below the underwear line, similar to that of a caesarian scar.

Patients who undergo a partial abdominoplasty may undergo general or local anesthesia. With general anesthesia, the patient is put completely to sleep during the operation. In some cases, local anesthesia and sedation are all that is required. Most of the time this means that the patient is awake but sedated, and the surgical site is numb.

After Surgery

During the recovery period, patients will need to follow specific instructions, including:

• Recovery can take up to six weeks, and patients typically need to take one to two weeks off of work.
• Patients should avoid over-the-counter NSAIDs after surgery, but a medication such as Tylenol can be used to control pain.
• Patients are sometimes required to wear a compression garment, similar to a girdle, around their waists to help with healing, reduce painful swelling, and ensure the desired contour of the waistline. Compression garments may also be worn on the legs to reduce the risk of blood clots.
• Bathing will be difficult at first. Doctors normally suggest that patients wait 24 to 72 hours after a procedure to shower. While showering, take care not to let the stream of water hit the incision site directly, as this could re-open the wound. Swimming and baths should be avoided for at least two weeks after surgery, as it could increase the risk of infection.
• The incision sites must be covered by gauze and bandages for about two weeks to avoid infection. When changing dressing, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly.

To find out if you are a good candidate for tummy tuck, contact Crawford Plastic Surgery today.