Just Like Your Body, Your Tummy-Tuck Will be Unique

There is no arguing the fact that weight loss is an important achievement. Likewise, motherhood is an aspect of a woman’s life that can bring her a great deal of satisfaction. Where each of these feats can be beneficial, there is often a downside. Anytime there is a fluctuation in weight; there is a chance of muscle separation and laxity in both muscle and skin tissue. These problems can be persistently frustrating because they do not always respond to diet and exercise as one would like.

Stubborn belly fat may not be the real problem. When musculature and skin are involved, appropriate treatment may be to tighten them with precision technique. Abdominoplasty, or the tummy tuck procedure, is an excellent method of restoring the smooth, supple tone of the midsection. Here, we want to discuss how a tummy tuck is customized to meet specific needs.

The Mini-Tuck

Not everyone needs a dramatic transformation to look the way they want. Many of our patients gain a great deal of satisfaction with their shape as a result of a customized mini-tuck. Good candidates for this technique have:

• Good muscle and skin tone in the upper abdomen.
• Concerns related to loose skin and a little extra bulge in the lower abdomen, beneath the belly button.
• Good overall health and manage weight (within about 10 pounds of ideal body weight).

If skin laxity and muscle tone are loose in the area around and above the belly button, a full tummy tuck may be recommended for optimal results.

The Full Tummy Tuck

The full tummy tuck is a more popular procedure, especially for mothers, due to the widespread changes in muscle structure related to pregnancy. This surgical technique involves a hip-to-hip incision, and the removal of excess skin, including that affected by stretch marks. Beneath the skin, the muscles of the abdominal wall are also stitched into a tighter frame. Depending on the extent of excess fat, liposuction may also be performed.

The clear benefit of the full tummy tuck is that more dramatic results can be seen after a short recovery period. The incision scar is positioned in an area where it is not visible over a bikini or underwear. The incision for a mini-tuck is located in the same area, but typically spans only four to eight inches, rather than all the way across. Therefore, the surgical scar is shorter, but not necessarily better hidden.

Schedule a Consultation

Choosing between a full tummy tuck and a mini tummy tuck doesn’t have to be difficult. The answer is in the results. Learn more about this procedure by contacting our Cincinnati office at 513.985.0850 for a personal consultation with Dr. Krummen.