This procedure is primarily for people whose bodies have undergone drastic changes such as pregnancy, massive weight loss, and muscle damage. Such changes can impact the appearance of the upper and lower abdomen, leaving stretched skin and loosened muscle rather than a smooth, tone looking stomach.

If you have excess hanging skin that drapes over your stomach, cellulite, stretch marks, and weak abdominal muscles, you might be a good candidate for a traditional tummy tuck. This surgery helps tighten muscle and skin of both the upper and lower abdomen, and helps give the stomach a flatter, more youthful appearance.

The plastic surgeon makes an incision that runs horizontally across the stomach to the tops of the hip bones and below the bikini line. The navel is also cut away and removed temporarily for replacement at the end of the procedure. The muscle is exposed and repaired if weak or separated. The skin is then pulled tight and excess is cut away while the remaining is sewn into place. The navel will then be repositioned.

Recovery from a traditional tummy tuck can be uncomfortable and painful. It generally requires two to three weeks break from work and a few months break from more rigorous activities such as exercise and sports.

Most people require a friend, relative, or nurse to assist them with the first few days of recovery, which may be particularly difficult. Though the recovery can be somewhat difficult, pain medication will be prescribed to control any discomfort.

Mini Tummy Tuck

This procedure is for people who are in reasonable shape and have only a minor amount of fat and sagging skin that needs to be addressed. If you do not have a significant amount of excess, hanging skin (preferably none at all) and few stretch marks, this might be the ideal surgery for you.


Mini tummy tucks focus on sculpting and fine-tuning the lower abdomen only and is often performed on stomachs that are just starting to age or are only slightly bulging. The surgery is most often performed under local anesthesia. The plastic surgeon will create the incision in a concealable area, generally below the bikini line.

The length of the incision will vary depending on the individual case, but it is much smaller than what is required for a traditional abdominoplasty. The procedure is then performed much in the same way as the traditional, except that everything is on a smaller scale and the navel is usually left intact. Liposuction may be used for maximum results.

Recovery from mini tummy tucks is often much gentler than the more extensive traditional counterparts. You will still need one to two weeks rest and time off work, but there is less discomfort and most patients can begin to care for themselves much sooner.

Another variation of the procedure is the extended version. This surgery not only addresses issues of lax abdominal muscle and skin, but excess skin on the flanks and hips as well. It is often performed on those who have undergone considerable weight loss and are left with excess skin.

This procedure usually requires a short hospital stay and a more extensive recovery period than the mini or traditional tummy tuck surgeries. A plastic surgeon can help you decide whether or not you are the best candidate for either a mini or a full traditional or extended abdominoplasty. There are also other procedures, techniques, and combinations of surgery they can recommend for you to achieve your desired results.

Seattle tummy tuck surgeon can dramatically improve your body proportions and create a sculpted, contoured abdomen and. Improve your body’s overall profile and get a slimmer look and feel. To schedule a consultation, visit http://www.cosmeticsurgeryforyou.com

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