Even after losing all the baby weight, pregnancy can take a toll on a woman’s midsection, which is why so many women turn to cosmetic surgery to help them return their figures back to pre-pregnancy form. After deciding between a mommy makeover and a tummy tuck, you’re then faced with figuring out whether to include a full or mini tummy tuck to achieve your desired results. Which one is better?
What’s the Difference?
While both a full and a mini tummy tuck can help you recover a better-defined waistline, the surgical technique used in these two procedures can be quite different:
- The full abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) contours the midsection by eliminating significant amounts of excess fat while tightening the muscles of the abdominal wall for a slimmer, sleeker shape.
- A panniculectomy (mini tummy tuck) is a less invasive procedure that removes fat and skin below the belly button only, and includes a lesser degree of muscle repair, or sometimes none at all.
Making Your Choice
If your pregnancies have left you with a significant amount of sagging skin and separated abdominal muscles, then the full tummy tuck is more likely to help give you a result you’ll feel happiest with. If your concerns seem more minor and are limited to the lower belly below the navel, you could see very nice results from a mini tummy tuck instead. If you’re still not sure which option could be best, a board certified plastic surgeon who specializes in tummy tucks of both kinds can give you better guidance on how you can best reach your cosmetic goals.