The Mini-Tuck Abdominoplasty

There are many techniques that fall under the heading of limited incision abdominoplasty. The minituck is for contour problems without as much loose skin as standard abdominoplasty. It can include various elements:

• Liposuction Contouring
• Limited skin excision sculpting tissue below the belly button
• Tightening of the lower part of the abdominal rectus muscles
• Tightening of the upper part of the abdominal rectus muscles
• Slight adjustment of the skin above the belly button when moving the belly button

Photograph Before Mini Tuck Abdominoplasty Surgery	Picture of Markings for Minituck and Liposuction Contouring Surgery	Photograph 7 Days After Limited Incision Minituck Abdominoplasty Surgery

This case involved excision of skin just above the pubic region, tightening of the rectus muscles to the level of the belly button, and liposuction. Explore more about this patient's minituck.

Surgery can involve more extensive sculpture of the abdominal muscle wall. To get to the upper muscle wall from below, the belly button connection to the muscle wall needs to be elevated. It can be replaced to the same position or moved down as shown below. When the bellybutton is lowered, upper abdominal skin can be tightened.

"Before" and "After" mini tummy tuck extending above the belly button. The skin and muscle have been tightened and the bellybutton moved slightly lower. Some "fat" has been "removed" from the sides.

Goddess late Hellenistic, late second century BC Marble, possibly from the Greek island of Paros - Original image courtesy Boston Museum of Fine Arts (all rights reserved)

The limited abdominoplasty surgery is for contouring excessive skin AND fat below the belly button. This is a common site of loose extra tissue especially in the after pregnancy abdomen. This operation consists of:

The incision is usually smaller for the limited abdominoplasty / minituck. The pale blue area represents the undermined region of skin and freeing the belly button.

The right image shows the lowering of the belly button and the skin removed during surgery. Abdominal muscles can be tightened through the incision. The minituck does not manage as much excess skin as does the standard abdominoplasty.

• short bicycle handle shaped incisions just above the pubis
• removal of excess skin
• tightening of the fascia below the belly button
• liposuction contouring
• separating the belly button from its deeper attachments and letting it move down
• closure of the old belly button space in the muscle wall

This is an operation for problems that are not severe enough to need a full abdominoplasty yet are too extensive for liposuction alone to handle.

The lowest part of our abdomen just below the umbilicus (belly button) is prone to laxity. Here the rectus muscles (sit up muscles) only have an outer layer of strengthening tissue (fascia). For most of this distance, the posterior fascia does not exist. That is why there is a natural pout to the abdomen just below the belly button. Pregnancy stretches the abdominal wall and in most cases does not return to the youthful state. This lower part of the muscle is more prone to this permanent stretching.

A mini-tummy tuck was designed to help cases where the muscle wall laxity is restricted to this lower abdomen only. In cases with less extra skin to remove a smaller incision (mini tuck) can be used to redrape the remaining tissue of the abdominal wall. If there is redundant tissue above the belly button, an umbilical slide can redistribute the extra skin towards the lower abdominal incision. Although this lowers the placement of the belly button, it permits a nice even skin tension. Anchoring the umbilicus in its new location, prevents distortion of the skin both at rest and during motion. The smaller incision provides adequate access to repairs of the lower muscle wall. Excess fat can be removed with liposuction (suction lipectomy). This liposculpture is especially valuable at the sides of the stomach.

Tummy Tuck Abdominoplasty Tumescent Tummy Tuck Belly Button Umbilicoplasty

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