Mini and a Full Tummy Tuck — What’s the Difference?
Mini and a Full Tummy Tuck — What’s the Difference?
People confuse the words complement and compliment. Same with affect and effect.
For the patients of Dr. Gurley, there is some confusion about the difference between a full tummy tuck and a mini tummy tuck. Let’s end that confusion. Here’s the deal.
Full tummy tuck
After a woman has had children, or if she’s lost a large amount of weight, the skin and muscle in the lower abdomen can become stretched and loose. The abdominal muscles can actually separate. And if the tissue has been stretched for too long it won’t rebound back to its former degree of tautness, no matter how many crunches you do. Think of a rubber band that’s been stretched for a long time and loses its elasticity. Once this has happened, your belly can push forward from the inside, creating the “pooch” that none of us want on our belly. Add a pocket of fat and now you’ve really got a hanging stomach.
A full tummy tuck tightens those muscles back to their former tautness, creating a flat abdominal wall while also removing excess skin and fat.
In a full tummy tuck, Dr. Gurley makes an incision from hip to hip just below the bikini line and within the belly button. Dr. Gurley may extend the incision around the sides to access the thighs and buttocks, but those procedures are considered thigh and butt lifts.
Mini tummy tuck
Sometimes a patient has more minor sagging of the lower tummy skin. In these cases, a mini tummy tuck may be all that is needed. In a mini tuck, Dr. Gurley makes a shorter incision, again just below the bikini line and no incision is necessary around the belly button.
Recovery
With a full tummy tuck, patients need to lay low for at least one to two weeks following the procedure, especially avoiding any lifting. Mini tucks require less recovery time.
Want to get rid of your “pooch?” Call Dr. Gurley at (636) 812-4300 and ask us about our tummy tuck options.