What is a mini tummy tuck? Officially called a partial abdominoplasty, a mini tummy tuck simply removes unwanted skin and fat from the area below the navel. This type of procedure has substantially increased in popularity. A full tummy tuck, by contrast removes skin and fat from the entire abdominal area. A mini tummy tuck is a good option if there is not a lot of excess skin to remove, and the patient is interested in minimizing a bulging lower abdomen.

After pregnancy, the lower abs, or rectus abdominus muscles are stretched and the laxity may remain, emphasizing a lower abdominal bulge. The mini tummy tuck is a popular option for women seeking to return to pre-pregnancy abdominal firmness. A mini tummy tuck is also a good option for men looking to reduce excess tissue after weight loss or even gastric bypass surgery.

The mini tummy tuck generally has a smaller incision than the full tummy tuck, and the patient recovery time is quicker. The procedure for a mini tummy tuck involves a small incision above the pubis, and liposuction or body contouring is usually performed to remove excess fat. The lower abdominal muscles are tightened, and the belly button must be unattached and reattached. Today, there are “signature” belly buttons being advertised, such as “The Rodeo Drive” belly button. This provides a tighter, flatter belly button post surgery. Once the contouring is complete and the muscles tightened, a small flap of skin is lowered to meet the incision point, and the resulting scar can be as small as 2 inches.

Because less work is involved, the price of a mini tummy tuck can be up to 50% cheaper than a full tummy tuck. The average cost for the mini tummy tuck is around $2500. On average a mini tummy tuck procedure takes under 2 hours and the recovery time is also much faster than the full tummy tuck. After a consultation with the surgeon, he or she will be able to determine if a mini tummy tuck is right for you. If there is a substantial amount of loose skin to remove, a full tummy tuck might need to be performed.

All tummy tucks will leave a scar, but the mini tummy tuck generally leaves only a small scar above the pubis, whereas the full tummy tuck can leave significantly larger u-shaped or w-shaped scars as well as scarring above the belly button. With a mini-tummy tuck, the cost of the procedure is much cheaper and recovery time greatly reduced. You might consider a mini tummy tuck if liposuction is not enough and a full tummy tuck is more surgery than you need.