OUR BEFORE & AFTERS
The gallery contains before and after pictures of actual patients. View all cases for a complete listing of all our before and after photos of the patients treated.
You can exercise endlessly, diet with discipline, or down gallons of trendy, slimming, “no bloat” tea, but sometimes, there’s not much you can do at home to get your stomach as flat as you’d like it to be. If you are fighting to slim the excess, loose skin that protrudes from your lower abdomen, a mini tummy tuck can be the slim stomach solution you’ve been dreaming of.
In just a few hours, Dr. Brown can not only remove your excess skin but also tighten your abdominal wall, delivering you a toned, attractive stomach. To learn more about your candidacy for a transformative, nearly scar-free mini tummy tuck, contact either of Dr. Brown’s conveniently located offices in La Jolla or Carmel Valley for a consultation.
ABOUT MINI TUMMY TUCKS
A partial abdominoplasty, or mini tummy tuck, is specifically designed to correct the appearance of bulging in the lower part of a patient’s abdomen, below the belly button. The procedure commonly entails liposuction, but because less work is required than a full tummy tuck, the required incision is generally smaller; a mini tummy tuck can be nearly scarless. Due to the fact that Dr. Brown’s work would focus on the lower part of the abdomen, a mini tummy tuck does not reposition a patient’s belly button.
While a mini tummy tuck is an ideal procedure for patients with bulging in the lower abdomen who wish to remove a moderate amount of skin, it is not the right body sculpting technique for every patient. If a patient has significant amounts of excess skin on their entire abdomen or wants to see improvement or tightening of the muscles above their belly button, they may be better treated by a full abdominoplasty .
A mini tummy tuck is a procedure intended to treat a patient with specific needs; schedule your consultation with Dr. Brown today to learn if you are a candidate for this tummy tuck technique.
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QUICK MINI TUMMY TUCK STATS
- Length: One to Two Hours
- Return to Work: Few days to a week after the procedure
- Return to Exercise: 7 – 14 days (light cardio), 3 – 4 weeks (more strenuous exercise) Ideal Candidate: Has an excess skin, fat, or stretch marks in their lower abdomen, is in good shape, but not achieving the abdominal results he or she wants with diet and exercise.
GOOD CANDIDATES
Candidates for a partial abdominoplasty maintain a healthy lifestyle but have not been able to improve the bulge of their lower abdomen to the degree they want. If a patient is unhappy with the protrusion of their stomach caused by a moderate amount of loose skin, excess fat, and/or weakened muscles, a mini tummy tuck may be the long-lasting solution he or she is looking for.
A mini tummy tuck can be an ideal solution for women who have given birth or lost a significant amount of weight and wish to see the excess skin, fat, or stretch marks removed from their lower abdomen, in addition to having the wall of their lower muscle structure tightened.
A patient who carries excess skin and fat in the upper and lower portions of their stomach and flanks will likely want to discuss a full or extended tummy tuck. Additionally, candidates for a mini tummy tuck should:
- Be within close range of their ideal body weight
- Be at a stable weight
- Be a non-smoker
- Have realistic expectations for the outcome of their tummy tuck
If you would like to lose the “pooch” below your belly button, strengthen your lower abdominal muscles, and are open to the results of a body sculpting procedure, schedule a consultation to find out if a mini tummy tuck may be the right procedure for you.
PARTIAL VS. FULL ABDOMINOPLASTY
A mini tummy tuck addresses lax skin, excess fat, and weakened abdominal walls in the lower portion of a patient’s stomach. If a patient is struggling with loose skin and fat deposits from above and below their belly button, they will more likely benefit from a full abdominoplasty.
During a full abdominoplasty , a low-lying incision is made in the pubic bone area. This enables Dr. Brown to tighten both the excess skin and the abdominal wall itself, flattening and improving the contour of the patient’s entire abdomen. The belly button is also usually repositioned during a full abdominoplasty, to guarantee the most balancedand aesthetically pleasing results for the patient. A full abdominoplasty addresses any significant skin laxity and fat stores in a patient’s abdomen and delivers the patient a smooth, appealing stomach.
Alternatively, Patients may be recommended an extended abdominoplasty to see their best stomach-contouring results. An extended abdominoplasty entails removal of skin and fat from the patient’s flanks, as well as the areas above and below their belly button. This technique will best serve patients who have lost a large amount of weight, but their excess skin is preventing their new, slimmer frame from receiving the admiration it deserves.
A mini tummy tuck will best benefit patients who only need improvement in their lower abdomen. For patients who may need to tighten skin across their entire abdomen, Dr. Brown can deliver your desired results with a skillfully executed full tummy tuck.
PROCEDURE INFORMATION
During a mini tummy tuck, the surgeon will make a small incision as low as possible in the pubic bone region. This guarantees the small scar is easily concealed by undergarments or swimwear. Depending on the patient’s needs outlined in their consultation, liposuction may be performed in the area to remove any stubborn fat deposits and help sculpt the lower abdomen into its desired shape.
It is recommended that patients arrange a post-procedure ride home from a family member or friend, to guarantee an effective recovery.
Next, weakened abdominal muscles are repaired, exposing as little of the muscle wall as possible in the process. After suturing the abdominal wall back into proper place, he will stretch the abdominal skin down until it is flat and smooth. Any excess tissue is removed and the remaining skin is sutured into place.
The patient is next taken into a recovery room for monitoring and aftercare instruction. A patient can receive a mini tummy tuck either under general anesthesia or under a local anesthetic and mild sedative, depending on the scale of the work and patient’s medical history. Regardless of the type of anesthesia administered, partial abdominoplasties are performed on an outpatient basis.
RECOVERY
While the recovery period is shorter for a mini tummy tuck than a full tuck, patients will still want to take care to follow Dr. Brown and his staff’s post-procedure instructions.
Patients tend to experience less bruising and swelling during their recovery than those who receive full tummy tucks. A compression garment can be worn to ease the swelling; the surgical team will advise patients on recommended post-surgical compression garments, as well as post-operative massage and scar care.
Patients who experience postoperative discomfort can receive prescription painkillers, or often successfully treat their pain with over-the-counter medication like Tylenol. Patients will want to avoid blood thinners like ibuprofen, aspirin, or naproxen, however.
Most patients are able to return to work within the first or second week after their procedure. While they are advised not to stand completely straight for the first two days after their partial abdominoplasty, they are usually able to resume light activity after these two days. Patients recovering from a mini tummy tuck should wait at least a month before resuming strenuous activity.
A patient’s recovery from a partial abdominoplasty tends to be shorter than the recovery from a full abdominoplasty. Follow-up appointments will be scheduled as you heal and continue to see your improved results.
RESULTS AND MAINTENANCE
- Patients will be able to observe the change in shape to their abdomen immediately. As bruising and swelling diminish over the next few weeks, they will be able to see their final, flatter, contoured results.
- While scarring after this type of procedure is unavoidable, the surgical techniques used to hide the small incision required to perform a partial abdominoplasty in a discreet and easily covered spot.
- Patients who wish to maintain the results achieved by their mini tummy tuck should, after they have recovered from their surgery, aspire to keep their body at a stable weight with diet and exercise.
- Future pregnancies can affect a patient’s results.
CONSULTATION
When a patient arrives for their consultation, the will first complete paperwork regarding their medical history, medication, supplements, prior surgery, or illnesses. Dr. Brown will also perform a physical exam. Once there is a comprehensive idea of a patient’s unique case, he can determine what type of tummy tuck or body sculpting treatment will deliver their best results. Please also be honest with the doctor about your tobacco, alcohol, and drug use, as these are factors which could affect your recovery.
All consultations are personalized to each patient’s individual case so that they can not only have a better understanding of the procedure but also to guarantee he fully understands what the patient hopes to achieve. The consultation will answer patient’s questions about:
- Anesthesia
- Procedure
- Location of treatment
- Expectations and outcome
- Complementary procedures
Photos may be taken during a patient’s consultation to assess for further analysis. Once he has taken a patient’s case and desired outcomes into consideration, Dr. Brown will be able to provide a cost estimate to the patient.
CareCredit is available for patients interested in financing.
Please feel free to contact our La Jolla or Carmel Valley offices to schedule your consultation today!
Telephone No.619-461-1500