Mini Tummy Tuck

Mini tummy tuck is a variation of a tummy tuck-abdominoplasty that Dr Lanzer performs. Many people like the sound of mini, such as mini face lift or mini tummy tuck, since it does imply that the procedure is less invasive with less risks and quicker recovery. This is true. However, at the end of the day, it still is a surgical operation. Dr. Lanzer does perform a type of mini tummy tuck which is called a mini lipo-tuck. The advantage of combing the liposuction with the tummy tuck is that liposuction performed with the tumescent fluid dramatically reduces swelling, infection, and bleeding. Dr. Lanzer finds that there are significantly less issues with bleeding, and in fact in the 22 years that he has been performing liposuction with the tumescent fluid, he has not had a single case of bleeding that has required fluid or blood transfusions.

The mini tummy tuck means that Dr Lanzer will only be working on the area below the belly button. The belly button will remain in place and there will be no surgical treatment of the muscle above the belly button. Dr. Lanzer will first perform a liposuction of the stomach. The liposuction may include the area above the belly button in order to flatten the entire stomach area. Once the liposuction has been performed, Dr. Lanzer will excise and cut out the loose skin that is situated from the belly button down to the bikini line, or underpants line. In some cases, there may be stretching, weakness, or opening of the underlying rectus muscle.

This muscle surrounds the bowels and gives the support structure to the stomach. With aging, weight gain, pregnancy, and surgical procedures, this muscle can sometimes be damaged and stretched so that there is a gap between the muscles. The way to feel this is to lie on one’s back and lift up one’s head. You will be able to place your fingers between a small depression, a valley, that can form. In order to give the stomach its best and flattest appearance, Dr. Lanzer may suture together that muscle layer with a very strong suture. They suture also encourages the normal fibrosis and healing of the body so that it is long-lasting. Sometimes, the sutures are also required around the actual belly button due to herniation of tissue. Once the muscle has been tightened and all the loose skin and fat has been removed, Dr. Lanzer will then close the skin down by pulling the skin down to the bikini line. The skin is closed in layers with sutures in the deep fascia, the underlying dermis, and finally the overlying skin. The reason for the multiple layer closure is to produce the tightest scar so that the risk of opening and stretching of the scar is lowered significantly.

Dr. Lanzer has found that sometime patients who really could do with a full abdominoplasty choose a mini tuck just for the quicker recovery. Although they may not get the absolute best result that they could get with the full tuck, they are happier with a shorter and smaller operation. Dr. Lanzer can perform a mini tummy tuck under local anesthetic or a general anesthetic. These are things that Dr. Lanzer will discuss with you during a free cosmetic consultation in his Day Surgery Centers. Dr. Lanzer is very contactable and will even discuss the operation with you over the telephone or via the internet. Many patients fly from interstate to have surgery with Dr. Lanzer. This is based on his long-standing experience, his reputation for being a very caring and precise doctor, and his reputation for always trying to select surgical procedures that are less invasive with fewer risks. For this reason, Dr. Lanzer approves and recognises the benefits of a mini tummy tuck and would be happy to discuss the mini tuck costs with you at any time. You may find looking at the photographs in this website of benefit, or watching one of the informative videos such as those that were produced for the Healthy Me TV internet station.

For more information about Liposuction, click here.