A full tummy tuck is a much more extensive procedure than a mini tuck. It targets the entire abdominal area (not just the area below the navel), removes about twice as much skin, and tightens the abdominal muscles and skin all the way up to the ribs.
It also requires up to a month of recovery, comes with a higher likelihood of complications, and costs about $2,000 more, on average.
All surgery performed during a mini tuck happens below the belly button—the navel is not touched or moved—so the skin and muscles on the upper half of the abdomen can’t be tightened.
Dr. Joseph Mele, a plastic surgeon in Walnut Creek, California, says that sagging and loose skin above the belly button makes you a better candidate for a full tummy tuck.
One of the benefits of a mini tummy tuck procedure is the length of the incision (and, thus, the scar): while a full tummy tuck requires an incision that runs from hip to hip, as well as one around the belly button, a mini procedure typically comes with a shorter incision and a smaller scar.
Another advantage of the mini version: it’s easier to revise later. “Traditional tummy tucks are best to do perfectly, one time,” says Dr. Hubbard. “However, with a mini tummy tuck, there’s no difficulty in performing a revision or secondary tummy tuck later. No bridges are burned.”
“Far more important than deciding if a mini tummy tuck is for you is the skill and experience level of your plastic surgeon. Choose your surgeon rather than the technique and let them explain why one technique may be better than another,” in your unique situation, says Newport Beach, California, plastic surgeon Dr. Larry Nichter.
Related: Is a Mini Tummy Tuck Right for You? Plastic Surgeons Weigh In
