Treatments / Mini-tummy tuck (abdominal mini-correction)
Mini-tummy tuck / Abdominal mini-correction / Mini-abdpminoplasty
With age, after pregnancy or following a significant weight loss, skin can lose its elasticity. This leads to loose excess skin on the lower stomach (the stomach hangs) or folds of the skin on the upper stomach. Sport can reinforce the abdomen but can never make up for this surplus of distended skin.
We favour a mini-tummy tuck in the case of a small excess of of skin. There will be only a short scar above the pubic area, because the navel has not to be moved.
What happens?
A mini-tummy tuck has 3 distinct characteristics :
1. The surgeon removes the excess skin from the bottom of the stomach by cutting it. This represents about 7 cm in height. Next, the remaining skin from the lower stomach is tightened again and sewn. Unlike a full tummy tuck the navel is not detached or moved.
2. There is no muscle correction. Technically this is not possible in a mini-tummy tuck. Therefore a mini-tummy tuck is much lighter than a full tummy tuck.
3. The surgeon often carries out liposculpture on the upper and lower stomach. Result? A brand new figure!
Scar
The incision is made in least visible place, this is to say a precise position in the natural fold just above the groin. Therefore the scar can be found at panty level, thus hidden. This scar is less by half long as in a full tummy tuck. Because there is no displacement of the navel, there is no scar around the belly button. All stitches are deep and not visible, and the skin is glued with strips to obtain a nice scar.
The first few months the scar will be reddish and firmly hardened but this will lighten and soften in the year that follows your surgery. Your plastic surgeon will give you advice in order to accelerate the process. It is recommended that you care for your scar in the first weeks by using an oily cream (hand cream, day cream, almond oil, a balm for scars).
Anaesthetic
Thanks to a refinement in operation technics and a constant progress in the anesthetic field these last few years, the correction of the stomach is carried out under a mild local anesthetic. After the operation, you will feel fit and well. It is not necessary to evisage a nights stay at the clinic.
Care and safety
The plastic surgeon proceeds with these operations in conditions of optimal security, surrounded by a professional team.
Even though the mini-tummy tuck is generally done under local anaesthetic, you are constantly watched over under monitoring by the anesthetist (automatic and repetitive measures of the blood pressure, constant measuring of the oxygen saturation, electrocardiogram). One or two highly qualified nurses will equally supervise. These surroundings will guarantee that you have faultless safety.
The local anaesthetic allows not only an operation without pain but also a minimal risk of bloodloss and the appearance of bruises.
Your operation is carried out exclusively in a sterile environment. During the operation you will receive a mild antibiotic.
If you are taking coagulant drugs please inform your plastic surgeon of this first (for ex. acetylsalicylic acid, aspirin, asaflow, cardioaspirine, dipiridamole, plavix, sintrom, marevan and others).
After the operation you are able to contact your plastic surgeon at all times on his personal mobile number, if you have the slightest question.
Recovery
After a mini-tummy tuck a nights stay at the clinic is not necessary, in contrast with the full tummy tuck with muscle reinforcement.
You will feel little pain after the operation, thanks to the effect of the local anaesthetic and because there has not been performed a muscle correction like in a full tummy tuck. You will receive classic pain killers like ibuprofen and paracetemol, to help you cope with any eventual pain.
You will be able to walk again 24 hours following your operation. Moreover there is not drain that has to be removed afterwards. You will be absent from work for about half a week. During two weeks you will be wearing an elasticated bandage around the abdomen.
All sutures dissolve by themselves. Thus no stitches to be removed. Showering will not be possible before two weeks.
You will change your bandage after one week by yourself. Your plastic surgeon will show you how to do this.
Two months following the operation the surgeon will assess the results, based on the photos taken preoperatively. He will recommend to you exercises that will allow you to keep your great abdominal result for the long term.
Eventual risks and complications
This is a very safe operation. This intervention is also much lighter than a full tummy tuck.
Infections are rare.
Related subjects
tummy tuck
abdominoplasty
liposculpture
abdominal muscle wall correction
reinforcement of abdominal muscles (link naar tummy tuck)
Contact
Surgery and consultations (after appointment)
A.Z. Jan Portaels
Gendarmeriestraat 65
B-1800 Vilvoorde
Belgium
T: +32 (0)2 257 59 74
A.Z. Lokeren
Lepelstraat 2
9160 Lokeren
Belgium
+32 (0)9 340 85 30
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