Saint Charles Mini Tummy Tuck doctors
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Bahram Ghaderi, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
2900 Foxfield Rd Suite 201, St. Charles |
3 answers | |
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Todd S. Hewell, III, MD
Saint Charles Plastic Surgeon
260 West River Drive, St. Charles |
Recent Answers
I want to make sure I get great results. I want a beautiful flat belly. I want to be able to wear my sexy two piece bikinis again. Which between full tummy tuck and mini tummy tuck should I get done? I am 5'3 and I weigh 113 lbs.
The difference between the two procedures is whether you need your whole abdomen reshaped or just the portion below your belly button. From you picture you will benefit from a full tummy tuck and not a mini. This will address the excess skin, fatty tissue as well as tighten the abdominal muscles that get stretched with pregnancy and/or weight gain. This will give you the flattest abdominal shape. Also make sure you understand that there will be scarring involved including around the belly button. So, have realistic expectations about the outcome and postoperative clothing options you are considering. Discuss all this with your surgeon and review some before and after photos with different scarring so you see the range of possibilities. Remember expect improvement and not perfection and you will be happy.
I am 35 and have had 2 C-sections. I do have a acummulated fat in the lower part of the abdomen and on the flanks. I had a recent consultation with a Plastic Surgeon who mentioned that I may be happy with Lipo alone, but could benefit from lipo+ mini tummy tuck (he says only a smalll % of people can actually qualify for it). I don't want the added risks involved with another procedure, and not the cost if would not make a drastic difference. He did say my skin is not in bad condition ...I do have some extra skin, but nothing sagging. You can notice it if I bend, for example, or move etc....It seems to be a lot of hype about samrtlipo and the benefits of skin Tightening. Would that be enough to have a flat tummy? Also, I don't like the idea of general anesthesia. Can a mini tummy tuck be performed under local+sedation, maybe?
It really depends on the looseness of your skin and how the C-section scars have affected the contour of your abdomen. Liposuction will only remove the fatty tissue and you have to rely on your skin to contract. Liposuction is typically good for patients who have not had previous abdominal surgery and have not had children yet. Make sure you are examined for a hernia prior to proceeding with liposuction.
A mini-tummy tuck only addresses the lower abdomen below the belly button, but may be enough for you with the addition of liposuction. It can be done under local with sedation. Which procedure to choose is really based on your examination. Discuss with your surgeon your expected outcome. That is the most important thing for happiness. If you need a full tummy tuck, then you may not be happy with anything less. From what you describe, it sounds like a mini-tummy tuck with liposuction is the solution.
How is it different than a regular tummy tuck?
A mini tummy tuck addresses the area between your belly button and pubic hairline. A full tummy tuck addresses the area from your ribs to the pubic hairline. Therefore it is more extensive. A patient who is a candidate for a mini-tummy tuck typically has minimal to moderate excess skin, minimal to moderate fatty collection and moderate amount of muscle weakness. A patient who is a candidate for a full tummy tuck has a significant amount of loose, excess skin, and significant amount of muscle weakness. The best way to determine which is best for you is by having a consultation and exam.