Which Tummy Tuck Is Right For You?

Tummy tuck surgery (medically known as abdominoplasty) is a common solution for women who have had their stomachs stretched beyond repair, for example through pregnancy or excessive weight loss. With over one hundred thousand of these procedures taking place in 2008, they are becoming a more popular cosmetic surgery choice. There are five main types of tummy tuck, each have slightly different methods that result in an overall more streamlined abdominal area.

The most common form of tummy tuck procedure is the traditional tummy tuck, where a hip-to-hip incision is made and excess fat and skin is removed from the area. As this kind of surgery involves your entire abdominal region, an incision is also made around the belly button area to reposition it once the surgery is done to produce a more natural result. This kind of tummy tuck surgery is also commonly combined with liposuction for even more fat removal.

Partial abdominoplasties (mini tummy tucks) are conducted just below the navel so no belly button reshaping is needed- and this kind of surgery is for people within ten per cent of their ideal body weight. As there is only a small incision involved, the healing time is quicker than that of the traditional tummy tuck.

An extended tummy tuck is the removal of so-called ‘love handles’ from the sides of the abdomen area as well as excess fat and skin removal from the front. This kind of surgery lifts the whole lower torso region and the scar is low so there is no obvious visibility of the scar once the surgery is complete. However in some cases, the desired result of this surgery is better reached with circumferential tummy tuck surgery. This involves fat and excess skin removal from the buttocks, hips and thighs as well as the abdominal area.

Circumferential tummy tuck surgery is often undergone by patients who have lost a large amount of weight in a short period of time. When this happens, the dieter is often left with excess skin flaps around the stomach and lower torso as the skin’s natural elasticity has been lost. In this case, tummy tucks do not only have an aesthetic advantage but a medical one, as fungus can grow underneath flaps of excess skin.

When deciding to undergo tummy tuck surgery, it is important that you talk in detail with your surgeon about which kind of abdominoplasty will bring out the best results for you.