Lili Cordell
The mini tummy tuck, or partial abdominoplasty, is a less elaborate surgery than the traditional tummy tuck. Not only is the procedure considerably shorter with fewer side effects, but the cost can be 20-50 percent cheaper.
The Partial Abdominoplasty Procedure
The procedure for the mini tummy tuck begins much like the traditional tummy tuck. After administering anesthesia (usually local), the surgeon will proceed to make an incision across the abdomen. Instead of a trapezoidal incision from the left hip to the right, the incision will be one horizontal line about five inches long, and about two inches below the belly button. The mini tummy tuck is often referred to as “scarless” because of the length of the incision compared to the traditional surgery, but the five inch long scar will only begin to fade approximately nine months after the cosmetic surgery.
Since mini tummy tucks are only intended for those who are ten to twenty percent overweight, there is no need to remove the belly button. After pulling back the skin away from the muscle and fat tissue, the surgeon will gradually tighten different sections of abdominal muscle, from just below the belly button to just above the pubis. This leads to a firmer appearance and a waistline much smaller than before. Fat is removed with liposuction if necessary. Often, in a case where there is an excess of fluids, a tummy tuck drainage tube will be attached to the muscles temporarily.
When the muscle fibers have been tightened and the fatty tissue has been extracted, the surgeon will pull the skin in a downward motion, stretching it as much as possible to decrease the visibility of stretch marks. Removing stretch marks completely is not an option in a tummy tuck, but the stretched skin causes the indentations to virtually disappear. The incision will then be closed with sutures and any extra skin will be trimmed.
The Costs Associated with Mini Tummy Tucks
The cost of the mini tummy tuck can be as low as half of the traditional tummy tuck cost, or approximately $5,000 dollars. The surgery is shorter and easier. If a person is only ten percent overweight, there is less area to cover when tightening the muscles and extracting fat, as well as less drainage of fluids. The cost of local anesthesia is considerably less; a person who is locally anesthetized will be partially aware of their surroundings and may even have some sensation in their abdomen, although they will feel no pain. General anesthesia, on the other hand, is more anesthetizing, and more expensive.
Insurance policies will almost certainly decline the mini tummy tuck surgery, since in most cases, it is not a necessary operation. Neither will they assume responsibility for any laboratory work or tests. If the operation is completed in a hospital instead of a doctor’s suite, there will be hospital fees.
There is less chance of the need for support materials after a mini tummy tuck, because there is usually a minimal amount of bruising. Medications may be required to reduce the risks of possible side effects, but the dosages will be less than the traditional tummy tuck, reason being that recovery time is shorter. Fortunately, some insurance companies may assume the cost of medications for side effects.
Depending on the expertise of the surgeon, surgeon fees will vary. This added cost is also dependant on location and demand. A mini tummy tuck will be much less expensive in the Midwest than a tummy tuck in L.A. Timing is another important factor. A person who gets a tummy tuck after summer’s end will pay less than one who undergoes the operation just before the weather grows warmer.
[page updated December 2008]