What is a tummy tuck and a mini tummy tuck?

What is a Tummy Tuck?

A tummy tuck is properly known as an abdominoplasty and the aim is to remove excess fat and skin. In most cases the operation also restores the weakened and separated muscles that are damaged from either excess weight gain or child birth. By the removal of the skin, fat and the tightening of the muscles the operation creates a profile which smoother and firmer.

There are three types of tummy tuck which are commonly carried out;

Mini Tummy Tuck
The excess skin and fat from below your belly button is removed, leaving a long curved scar on your abdomen above your bikini line. Your belly button remains in place.

Standard Tummy Tuck
Your surgeon will make a long incision in your abdomen above your bikini area and may also make a further incision around your belly button to remove it from its surrounding skin. If required, he will pull together the stretched and torn muscles and stitch them in place (commonly known as muscle repair). He will then remove the excess fat, pull down the skin and the new skin will be re-drapped around your belly button and it will be given a new opening. The excess and unwanted skin is then removed.

Extended Tummy Tuck 
This is commonly known as a Fleur de Lys tuck because of the shape of the skin they remove. This type is unfortunately the most invasive and is usually reserved for people who have the most excess skin to be removed. Essentailly it’s the same as the standard tummy tuck, however an extra piece of skin is removed from the middle of the abdomen too and the skin is tighted across the abdomen as well as downwards. The main disadvantage of this type of procedure compared with the standard tuck is the long vertical scar down the abdomen as well as the scar across the bikini area