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Before & After
For people with stubborn fat, excess skin, or a “muffin top” in the lower abdomen, they find it frustrating to stay away from junk food and exercise regularly and still hang onto their flabby tummy. You can hide unwanted fat and excess skin around the belly button with loose clothing, but you may find that your pants and dresses don’t fit the way you’d like them to or you may feel too self-conscious to wear a swimsuit in public.The good news is that there is a procedure that can help you get rid of your muffin top and feel more confident both in and out of clothing–a mini tummy tuck.
Here at Sarasota Surgical Arts, Dr. Alberico J. Sessa offers the mini tummy tuck, or mini abdominoplasty, to patients self-conscious about their lower stomach area but who may not need a full tummy tuck.
Patients who have given birth or lost a significant amount of weight may find that they can’t get rid of that last bit of lower abdominal fat and loose skin no matter how hard they diet and exercise. A mini tummy tuck surgery can come to the rescue and remove this excess fat and loose skin, tighten the abdominal muscles and give patients the slimmer silhouette they desire.
The surgery takes less time than a traditional tummy tuck to perform and involves less downtime and discomfort. By choosing this procedure, patients can restore their confidence and feel good about how they look.
People may consider a mini tuck a good option if bothered by excess skin and fat below their belly button. They should be nonsmokers in overall good health.
Cosmetic surgeons do not recommend mini tummy tuck procedures to women who plan to get pregnant in the future or to people who are looking for a weight loss procedure.
The ideal way for a patient to determine whether or not they are a good candidate for a mini tummy tuck surgery is to schedule a consultation at our state-of-the-art Sarasota facility.
During a consultation, Dr. Sessa will sit down with the patient one-on-one to understand their aesthetic goals and to figure out whether a mini-abdominoplasty is a good choice for them. If Dr. Sessa determines that a patient is a good candidate, he will explain the procedure and share before and after photos so that the patient has realistic expectations. The consultation is the perfect time for patients to ask questions and address any concerns they may have.
Dr. Sessa performs mini tummy tuck surgery on an outpatient basis in about two to three hours. Prior to surgery, we place the patient under general anesthesia. Dr. Sessa begins by making a small incision, at or above the patient’s pubic bone. Then, he removes excess fatty tissue and sagging skin under the belly button.
Next, Dr. Sessa will focus on tightening the abdominal muscles and creating a taut stomach. Although the mini tummy tuck can provide patients with incredible results on its own, you may also pair it with liposuction, breast augmentation, and other procedures to create a toned, youthful appearance.
The typical recovery period can take anywhere from one to two weeks. Immediately after the procedure, patients will experience swelling and bruising in the abdomen. They’ll need to wear a special surgical garment for the first week to keep swelling to a minimum and to ensure proper healing. Fortunately, most side effects should go away on their own two to three weeks after the cosmetic surgery.
Dr. Sessa can prescribe pain medications for patients to keep them comfortable throughout the recovery process. Most patients resume work and their other daily responsibilities within two weeks. Patients should avoid vigorous activities and heavy lifting for at least six weeks.
Immediately after surgery, patients should notice an aesthetic improvement. Once the swelling subsides, they can enjoy the full results of the surgery. They will have a tight, flat, and smooth abdomen that looks great in all types of clothing. While a scar will exist, you can easily disguise it under clothing and it will likely fade over time.
As with any surgical procedure, a mini tummy tuck comes with risks and complications. These may include unexpected scarring, infection, poor wound healing, nerve damage, and anesthesia complications. You can significantly reduce your chances of developing these risks and complications by choosing a highly skilled and experienced board-certified surgeon like Dr. Sessa.
A mini tummy tuck is specifically designed for patients who hope to get rid of excess fat and abdominal skin below their belly button. Although a mini and full abdominoplasty both involve an incision across the lower abdomen above the pubic area, the mini tummy tuck incision is much shorter.
Since a mini tummy tuck is considered a fat reduction and body contouring procedure rather than a weight loss procedure, it’s only recommended for patients at or near a healthy weight who have stubborn fat deposits they can’t seem to lose. If weight loss is the goal, there are other procedures and lifestyle changes that can help.
There is a chance that a mini tummy tuck will cut off part of an abdominal tattoo. This all depends on its specific size and location. Patients with abdominal tattoos who are interested in a mini abdominoplasty are encouraged to discuss their options with Dr. Sessa.
Liposuction focuses on removing fat while a mini tummy tuck reshapes excess fat and skin. Although a mini tummy tuck comes with a longer recovery period than liposuction and is performed under general anesthesia, it leads to more dramatic, long-lasting results. Dr. Sessa can help patients determine the ideal treatment for their goals.
Deposits of excess fat at the sides of the waistline are known as love handles. While a mini tummy tuck cannot remove love handles, other procedures such as an extended tummy tuck or liposuction that can improve their appearance.
After a mini tummy tuck, patients are left with a scar at the very top of their pubic area. It will be shorter than the scar of a full tummy tuck and become less noticeable over time.
Yes. Dr. Sessa will like make the incision right below the C-section scar. He removes excess skin and you can conceal the incision easily under swimsuits and undergarments.
One of the greatest benefits a patient often experiences beautiful results that last for years. However, this does not mean that a patient can disregard a healthy lifestyle and expect to maintain results.
Mini abdominoplasty patients must eat a healthy diet and continue to exercise in order to keep their results and ensure they have a youthful profile for years to come. Many patients find that the procedure motivates them to take excellent care of themselves.
Dr. Sessa of Sarasota Surgical Arts understands that a muffin top and loose skin can take away from your confidence and prevent you from looking your best. That’s why he takes great pride in performing mini tummy tucks that are customized to his patient’s needs.
You can count on Dr. Sessa to answer any questions you may have before and after the procedure. His work will leave you with the tighter, sculpted stomach you’ve always wanted.
If you’re tired of a muffin top that gets in the way of your confidence and clothing options, you owe it to yourself to schedule a private tummy tuck consultation at Sarasota Surgical Arts. Call 941-923-1736 or fill out our handy online contact form today. We look forward to meeting you and turning your dream of a flatter abdomen into reality.