Mini Tummy Tuck in Concord
For many women, a full tummy tuck (or abdominoplasty) to reshape their entire abdomen may not be necessary.
If your main concern is a bulge below the navel with a minimal amount of loose skin, your best option may be what we call a “partial abdominoplasty” or a mini tummy tuck. A mini tummy tuck offers less scarring combined with a reduced recovery time.
East Bay Body contouring specialist Dr. Eric Mariotti tries to perform the least invasive procedure possible while still achieving optimal results. A mini tummy tuck, in the right candidate, can mean a beautiful outcome with a simpler approach and easier recovery.
Dr. Eric Mariotti’s expertise and compassionate approach set a new standard in patient care. At MSpa in Concord, CA, we craft individualized treatment plans that align with your unique goals and expectations. With a strong focus on safety, comfort, and precision, our dedicated team empowers you to feel confident every step of the way. Take the first step toward achieving a flatter, firmer, and elegantly sculpted midsection by scheduling a consultation with us today.
or call our Concord office at 925-685-4533 to request a consultation.
Mini Tummy Tuck at a Glance
What is a Mini Tummy Tuck?
A mini tummy tuck, or “partial abdominoplasty,” focuses on improving the lower abdomen, especially if other areas of your stomach are already flat. This procedure offers a less invasive alternative to a full tummy tuck, with minimal scarring and a shorter recovery time. It’s a tailored solution for addressing loose skin and small fat deposits below the navel, helping you feel confident in your body again.
How Does Mini Tummy Tuck Work?
A mini tummy tuck is a less invasive surgical procedure designed to target the lower abdomen. Unlike a traditional tummy tuck, which requires a larger incision, this technique involves a small incision just above the pubic area. Through this incision, the surgeon can tighten abdominal muscles and remove excess skin and fat from the lower abdomen.
A mini tummy tuck does not involve repositioning the belly button or making additional incisions around the navel, which are standard in a traditional tummy tuck. This streamlined approach means recovery time is typically shorter, and the resulting scar is smaller and less noticeable.
Benefits of a Mini Tummy Tuck
A mini tummy tuck offers a range of carefully tailored benefits, making it an excellent solution for individuals seeking to refine their midsection and boost self-confidence. This specialized procedure focuses on delivering impactful, natural-looking results while ensuring your comfort throughout the process.
Key Benefits of a Mini Tummy Tuck
- Minimal Scarring: With a smaller, strategically placed incision, scars are subtle and easily hidden beneath clothing or swimwear. Achieve your goals discreetly, without compromising on confidence.
- Personalized Results: Target specific areas of concern to create a flatter, sculpted lower abdomen that aligns with your unique aesthetic goals.
- Quicker Recovery: Benefit from significantly reduced downtime compared to a full tummy tuck, allowing you to resume daily activities sooner.
- Affordable Option: Mini tummy tucks are approximately 30–40% more cost-effective than full tummy tucks, providing an accessible path to stunning results while respecting your budget.
Additional Transformations You Can Expect
- Excess Skin Removal: Address stubborn areas of loose skin that diet and exercise alone couldn’t resolve.
- Toned Appearance: Achieve a smoother, more defined midsection that complements your natural body shape.
- Eliminated Fat Pockets: Effectively reduce stubborn fat and enhance the texture of your skin for a firmer, more even finish.
- Renewed Confidence: Feel empowered and reinvigorated with a renewed sense of self-esteem, helping you look and feel your absolute best every day.
Can a Mini Tummy Tuck be paired with other treatments?
A mini tummy tuck can often be combined with other procedures for a more comprehensive approach to body contouring. For example, it is a common component of the “mommy makeover,” which typically includes breast enhancement and liposuction alongside the tummy tuck. Patients undergoing post-weight-loss plastic surgery may also find that a mini tummy tuck pairs well with additional contouring procedures to help achieve their desired results.
Dr. Mariotti specializes in tailoring procedures to each patient’s unique needs. Combining a mini tummy tuck with other treatments not only maximizes results but also minimizes overall recovery time.
The Best Candidates
Dr. Mariotti typically looks for certain characteristics when evaluating a candidate for a mini tummy tuck in the East Bay:
- You have a relatively flat abdomen with a small amount of loose skin below your navel.
- You are bothered by the presence of a C-section scar or stretch marks below your navel.
- Excess fat and sagging skin have collected primarily on your lower abdomen.
The main difference between a full tummy tuck and a mini tummy tuck is that a full tummy tuck treats the entire abdomen, while a mini tummy tuck is more narrowly focused on the lower abdomen only — an area that’s often prone to fat deposits and the development of loose skin.
While many more women are candidates for a full tummy tuck, a mini tummy tuck can be a great choice for some women.
A mini tummy tuck is a less complex procedure and will cost about 30 to 40 percent less than a full tuck. Also, because it is less invasive, a mini tuck requires a much shorter recovery time so you won’t be kept away from your regular activities for nearly as long as you would with a full tummy tuck.
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Before & After
View real patient before and after photos in our gallery.
Before, During, and After
What To Expect Before a Mini Tummy Tuck
During your consultation in Concord, we’ll address any questions you have about the mini tummy tuck procedure, including its risks, benefits, and what the entire process involves. This is the perfect time to share your body goals with us so we can recommend the most effective techniques and procedures to achieve them.
We’ll also review your medical history, including past conditions, medications, and surgeries. A physical exam will also be conducted. If you’re a suitable candidate, we’ll create a personalized treatment plan tailored to your cosmetic objectives.
What To Expect During a Mini Tummy Tuck
A mini tummy tuck typically takes about an hour and is performed under general anesthesia to ensure your complete comfort during the procedure. During the surgery, Dr. Mariotti carefully removes excess skin and fat located between the belly button and the pubic area. If needed, the lower abdominal muscles may also be tightened to restore a firmer, smoother contour.
Dr. Mariotti uses an advanced no-drain technique, employing progressive tension sutures that eliminate the need for post-operative drainage tubes. By addressing potential spaces in the abdominal wall where fluid might collect, this approach minimizes fluid buildup, promotes faster healing, and increases overall comfort.
What To Expect After a Mini Tummy Tuck
Because the mini tummy tuck is less involved than a standard abdominoplasty, an overnight stay at the surgery center is usually not necessary. Typically, most mini tummy tuck patients can comfortably return to work in just 1 to 2 weeks following a mini tummy tuck.
Although the reduced recuperation period is one of the elements of mini tummy tuck that is most appealing, it’s still important to give your body the rest it needs while it heals.
During your consultation, Dr. Mariotti gives you a more specific idea of when you can return to your favorite activities based on the details of your surgery and your own circumstances.
With loose skin and sagginess eliminated, you will see a smoother, flatter abdomen. You should look and feel younger after your mini tummy tuck and feel comfortable wearing more revealing clothing.
Every patient’s recovery is unique, but taking the time to ensure proper care in the weeks following your surgery is critical to achieving your desired aesthetic. Dr. Mariotti and his compassionate team are here to support you every step of the way, ensuring your comfort and successful healing.
Frequently Asked Questions
People with relatively flat stomachs who have a minimal amount of excess abdominal skin or an indented C-section scar are the best candidates for a mini tummy tuck.
A mini tummy tuck is less complex and doesn’t require the same recovery time. Mini tummy tuck surgery doesn’t involve muscle repair, repositioning the belly button, or adjusting tissues above the navel, as is typically done during a traditional tummy tuck.
A mini tummy tuck incision is shorter than a traditional tummy tuck. The incision is placed low on the abdomen so it’s easily hidden by everyday clothing and even swimwear.
When looking at the benefits of a mini tummy tuck, you should frame it in comparison to a traditional tummy tuck. In other words, why would you go mini when you could go for a full procedure? Reasons include:
- A shorter procedure
- A quicker recovery period
- No need to alter the belly button
- The ability to target a specific area of concern
However, if you are unhappy with your abdomen’s appearance as a whole, a traditional tummy tuck would be better.
Mini tummy tucks are considered to be a safe procedure. With that said, all surgeries come with risks. Complications are rare, but the chances of them developing increase based on your weight, health, and habits.
The most common complications from any surgery are excessive bleeding, infection, and blood clots. We will carefully monitor you after your surgery and offer you instructions and medications that help to reduce the risk of these complications occurring.
As with any abdominal surgery, you will need to take 10 to 14 days off from work to relax at home and recover. You will want someone around to help you during the first few days, as you may struggle with even basic tasks.
You will want to start walking soon after you get home, but anything strenuous will be off-limits, and you will be unable to lift anything over a certain weight.
Most people are fully recovered from their mini tummy tuck within six weeks, save for some lingering swelling.
A mini tummy tuck will not result in physical changes that make pregnancy impossible or dangerous.
However, you need to understand that pregnancy will likely stretch the skin in the lower abdomen, undoing the results of your surgery.
We would advise that you consider waiting until your family is complete unless you are comfortable getting a revision surgery later on.
Weight loss is not the goal of a tummy tuck. While liposuction is used to remove fat cells in the lower abdomen, this is done for contouring purposes, not to result in significant weight loss.
Yes, general anesthesia is typically used during the mini tummy tuck surgery. If this concerns you, we can discuss the topic during your consultation.
A mini tummy tuck can effectively address stretch marks located below the belly button by removing excess skin and fat in that area. However, it is important to note that this procedure will not reduce stretch marks found above the belly button.
A mini tummy tuck procedure is a relatively quick and efficient surgery, typically lasting about one hour.
A mini tummy tuck is an effective solution for addressing stretch marks and loose skin located below the belly button by removing excess skin and fat in that area. However, a mini tummy tuck does not treat stretch marks or loose skin found above the belly button.
If you’re concerned about skin laxity or stretch marks above the belly button, a full tummy tuck may be a better option. Our experienced team can assess your needs and provide personalized recommendations to help you achieve your goals with care and expertise.
For light activities, such as walking or gentle stretching, most patients can typically resume after about 2 weeks. These activities promote blood circulation and support the healing process, making them a great place to start.
More vigorous exercises, such as running, weightlifting, or core-focused workouts, are usually safe to reintroduce after 6 weeks. At this stage, your body has had time to recover adequately, reducing the risk of complications.
However, every recovery is unique. It’s essential to follow the personalized advice of your surgeon to ensure your healing is on track.
When performed by an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Mariotti, a tummy tuck can deliver results that last for many years. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise and a balanced diet, is essential to preserve your enhanced results.
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Take the first step toward your dream look and contact us online or call our Concord office at 925-685-4533 to request a consultation.
*Information for education only, not meant as a guarantee of results. Your results may vary. Unless otherwise noted, images on this site are of models.
Telephone No.925-685-4533