Can a Mini Tummy Tuck Be Done Under Local Anesthesia?

Mini tummy tuck is meant to improve the lower abdomen only. If the problem is only excess skin and fat and the underlying muscles are not loose, then mini tuck can be performed under general anesthesia or IV sedation, I would not recommend local anesthesia alone, although it can be done under local only, it would not be a pleasant experience.

Since you have already seen 2 board certified plastic surgeons you have already done your necessary home work. I agree with them that for a mini tummy tuck local anesthesia as an option since you only need skin and scar removed.  The key issue at this point is your comfort level and you have several options including local anesthesia and oral sedation,  IV sedation, or full anesthesia. Pick the one you are most comfortable with.

Thank you for your question.

A few words of caution for patients contemplating tummy tuck surgery may be in order:  In my opinion, the mini tummy talk is an  operation that  produces very limited results and is very rarely indicated. It involves a shorter incision but does not address the majority of the abdominal wall issues present for most patients who present consultation. For example, the area of skin excised is quite small. The abdominal wall musculature is addressed below the umbilicus leaving the upper number wall potentially lax. The appearance of the umbilicus is not necessarily addressed sufficiently.

For most patients who have had pregnancies and/or weight loss a full abdominoplasty is necessary to achieve the desired results. Of course, there are downsides (including a longer scar and probably a longer recovery time) but for most patients the benefits outweigh the downsides. It is not unusual to see patients who've had mini tummy tuck  surgery present for  revisionary surgery.
It is important  for patients seeking abdominal contouring surgery to work with a well experienced board-certified plastic surgeon to obtain advice (based on good ethics and judgment) to  improve  their chances of a successful outcome and minimize the need for further surgery.


I do not perform any type of tummy tuck under local anesthesia.  Please make sure you are consulting with well experienced board certified plastic surgeons who can show you examples of his/her work.

Best wishes.