What Are the Different Types of Tummy Tucks?
There are various types of tummy tucks, and each one suits a different type of patient. Depending on your anatomy, your major concerns, and your ultimate goals for surgery, your plastic surgeon may present one or more tummy tuck options to you. Most patients, however, will fall fully into one category or another.
In the following post, we’ll explain what each of the different types of tummy tucks entails and who is most suitable for each one.
How Many Types of Tummy Tucks Are There?
This really depends on who you ask because each surgeon will likely give you a different answer. In this article, we’ll be discussing four main types of tummy tucks.
What Does the Tummy Tuck Procedure Do?
The goal of a tummy tuck is to remove excess skin and tissue from the abdomen while tightening the abdominal muscles.
Many tummy tuck patients are those who’ve experienced massive weight loss through surgery, use of a weight loss drug, or diet and exercise. Many patients are moms who’ve had one or more pregnancies.
In both of these situations, loose skin can develop on the stomach, which can cause an array of problems, from discomfort and pain to self consciousness and difficulty exercising. With the excess skin removed, patients feel more like themselves again.
What Are the Different Types of Tummy Tucks?
Full Tummy Tuck
A full tummy tuck (also called a traditional tummy tuck or standard tummy tuck) is the most commonly performed tummy tuck procedure.
With this procedure, one incision is made around the belly button, and another incision is made across the lower abdomen, from hip to hip along the bikini line. Excess skin is removed from the lower abdomen, the abdominal muscles are tightened, and the incisions are closed. Often, the navel will need to be repositioned as well.
Mini Tummy Tuck
Mini tummy tucks also require an incision on the lower abdomen, but it tends to be shorter than the full tummy tuck incision.
When it comes to a mini tummy tuck vs full tummy tuck, the main difference is that a mini tummy tuck focuses on removing sagging skin from the lower abdomen only and not at all from the upper abdomen, above the belly button. Mini tummy tuck candidates tend to be rare, so mini tummy tucks are not often performed.
Extended Tummy Tuck
Plastic surgeons often turn to an extended tummy when excess skin is also present on the sides of the patient’s belly. This may be the case after bariatric surgery or multiple pregnancies.
The extended tummy tuck follows the same procedural technique as the full tummy tuck, but the lower abdominal incision is longer on either side. It extends around to the sides of the abdomen where there is more fatty tissue that needs to be removed. The abdominal muscles are also tightened and the belly button repositioned when needed.
Fleur de Lis Tummy Tuck
Lastly, the fleur de lis tummy tuck is often required when a patient needs to have even more loose skin and excess fatty tissue removed from the abdomen. The fleur de lis typically looks like an extended tummy tuck with the addition of a vertical incision running up the center of the abdomen.
Will I Have Scars After Tummy Tuck Surgery?
Yes, all tummy tuck procedures will leave scars. This is simply because abdominoplasty requires incisions, and incisions leave scars.
While your tummy tuck scars will never fully disappear, they will fade with time. You’ll notice them flattening out and fading with your surrounding skin after just a few months. As time goes on, they should fade and soften even more.
To help your scars from tummy tuck surgery fade even better, be sure to stay out of the sun and use sunscreen. In addition, use silicone topical gels or silicone scar sheets regularly, and as always, follow all of your surgeon’s aftercare instructions during your tummy tuck recovery time.
FAQ: Tummy Tuck Surgery
What is a reverse tummy tuck?
The reverse tummy tuck is a rare surgical procedure. This is because reverse tummy tucks focus on removing excess skin from the upper abdominal area as opposed to the lower abdominal area, and only rarely do patients require this type of improvement.
What is a drainless tummy tuck?
When liposuction and a special layered suturing technique is utilized alongside a traditional tummy tuck — so as not to require drains after surgery — it is usually called a drainless tummy tuck.
Do I need a tummy tuck or lipo?
It depends on what your main concern is. Tummy tuck surgery removes excess skin from the abdomen while liposuction removes excess fat from the abdomen or any other place on the body where you want to get rid of unwanted fat. Note that liposuction is almost always performed alongside tummy tuck surgery.
How much is a tummy tuck?
Tummy tuck cost depends on what type of tummy tuck you undergo and whether you decide to undergo any other types of body contouring or cosmetic surgery as well. Furthermore, every plastic surgeon charges a different surgeon’s fee, and anesthesia can be a range of different prices as well.
Please call to schedule a consultation appointment for further information about tummy tuck price.
What types of tummy tucks are there for women after pregnancy?
Women who’ve gone through pregnancy and now have loose skin on their abdomens usually benefit from either a full tummy tuck or an extended tummy tuck. Often, tummy tucks are included in mommy makeover procedures.
Request a Consultation Appointment Today
As you begin planning for your tummy tuck procedure, we invite you to take a look at our tummy tuck before and after photo gallery to gain inspiration and get a better idea of what this procedure can achieve. Abdominoplasty can give you a flatter smoother abdomen, tighter abdominal muscles, and a restored sense of confidence.
Start your own tummy tuck journey today by contacting our San Francisco office and scheduling a one-on-one consultation with double board certified plastic surgeon Dr. David Sieber. We look forward to hearing from you!
References
https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/what-type-of-tummy-tuck-is-right-for-you
