Does a Mini Tummy Tuck always include muscle repair? Are the love handles, flanks and hips all the same thing in terms of lipo?

Concerns about the appearance of the abdomen are very common among patients consulting with a plastic surgeon. Just like each patient is different…so too is each abdomen. Different problems require different solutions. Your board certified plastic surgeon is uniquely trained to identify the problems as well as the appropriate solution.



Commonly patient's concerns are centered around issues of excess abdominal skin as well as fat. A third factor, which is often overlooked by most patients is abdominal wall muscle laxity (typically seen in post partum mommies).  Despite the commonly held misconception, neither liposuction nor tummy tuck is intended as a weight loss tool nor is it a solution for stretch marks on the stomach.





The "tummy tuck", also known as abdominoplasty is a surgical procedure designed to eliminate excess skin and fat and tighten the muscles in the abdominal wall to create a smoother and slimmer contour. The tummy tuck targets areas of the abdomen that have not responded to diet and exercise, making it particularly popular among people that have a lot of loose or sagging skin around the abdominal area due to significant weight loss, as well as women with excess skin and stretched abdominal muscles following pregnancy and childbirth. Candidates for tummy tuck should be already at or near their ideal weight for optimal results. It is recommended to women that are planning on becoming pregnant to postpone the procedure until they are finished having children.





During and abdominoplasty, an incision is made between the hip bones at the bikini line (easily camouflaged by most undergarments). There is typically an incision around the navel to elevate it to a higher position depending upon the amount of skin that needs to be excised. In many cases, liposuction may be performed as an adjunct at the same time to refine the results.A "mini-tummy tuck" is, as it sounds, is a minimalist modification of the traditional abdominoplasty. The low transverse incision is shorter and there is no need for an umbilical incision. Most importantly, there is more limited access to the abdominal musculature (below the belly button). Muscle plication or tightening may or may not be employed during a mini-tummy tuck, but those cases that do involve muscle work are limited to the lower abdomen. As such, the optimal candidate has minimal skin excess localized below the umbilicus and minimal muscle laxity.Selecting the appropriate operation for the appropriate patient is of the utmost importance. As always, discuss your concerns with a board certified plastic surgeon.

Hello and thank you for your question. It depends on your individual anatomy.  The easiest way to figure this out for your surgery is to call your surgeon and share your concerns.
Best wishes and good luck.
Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon