Tummy Tuck | Full or Mini Tummy Tuck | Abdominoplasty Surgery

If you have a lot of excess skin in your abdomen area this can negatively affect your confidence when it comes to wearing certain clothes an even physically with back pain due to the additional weight of the skin. Many patients with excess skin in their abdomen will be considering a tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty surgery.

Do I need a full or mini tummy tuck?

There is a lot of information out there about tummy tucks and a popular question that we get asked is what the difference is between a full and mini tummy tuck and how can you tell which one will be most beneficial to you?

• A full tummy tuck would be the best option for those who have lost a considerable amount of weight or from pregnancy where there is a lot of excess skin that hasn’t bounced back.
• A mini tummy tuck would be ideal if you are of a more healthy weight, but have a small amount of excess skin that will not shift through exercise and diet.

If you are still not sure which type will be best for you then there are a couple of simple tests that you can do at home;

The Pinch Test

1. Stand up straight
2. Pinch the skin just above the belly button
3. Pull the skin down towards your public bone area

If you are easily able to stretch your skin down to this area, usually where a caesarean scar would sit then you would be eligible for a full tummy tuck, however, if you are unable to do this then a mini tummy tuck may be a preferred choice.

Do I have Diastasis Rectis?

The DRAM test

(Divarication of Rectus Abdominis Muscles)

1. Lie flat on your back
2. Lift your legs in the air
3. Place your hands on your stomach

If your rectus-abdominis muscles have split then when you are in this position you will be able to feel a gap on either side of your belly button, this is known as diastasis rectis.

What is diastastis rectis?

The rectus-abdominis or 6 pack muscles are located in your stomach and start off close together. During pregnancy these muscles can split apart to make room for the growth of the baby. A split can also happen if you perform core abdominal exercises incorrectly. You may notice a ripple of loose skin from where the muscles have separated. No amount of exercise will be able to fix  this and it can instead be corrected through either full or mini tummy tuck surgery, depending on how much excess skin you have from the pinch test.

Summary

If you think you may be suitable for either a full or mini tummy tuck procedure then we would recommend that you book a consultation with one of our expert plastic surgeons. During this consultation, your surgeon will be able to assess your tummy area and determine the best procedure for you based on your expectations from surgery.

Tummy Tuck at The Private Clinic

• We are multi-award-winning Cosmetic Surgery provider.
• We have over 40 years’ experience in Medical Cosmetic treatments.
• We only use experienced and trusted surgeons with the highest professional qualifications.
• We pride ourselves on being able to offer dedicated post-operative care and appointments with your surgeon and nursing team.
• We offer a 24 hour help line should you need to contact us at any point during your recovery.
• Your procedure will be carried out at our state of the art hospital facilities in Fitzroy Square with no hidden costs.
• You will have a designated Patient Coordinator who will provide you with a comprehensive abdominoplasty patient guide and you will be able to call them with any questions as much as you need, throughout your Private Clinic journey.
• We believe that we are competitively priced for the expertise and professionalism that we are able to provide for every patient.
• We offer a range of different abdominoplasty surgical techniques including the Brazillian Tummy Tuck.
• Our Cosmetic Surgeons will recommend the most suitable procedure for the results you wish to achieve.
• 5 Star Trustpilot Rating.
• View our Abdominoplasty before and after photos.
• Read our extensive abdominoplasty FAQs.
• See our Tummy tuck patient stories here.

Tummy Tuck Surgeons at The Private Clinic

Working with only the very best surgeons ensures that we can produce the results you want safely. We’re proud to have some of the UK’s most respected doctors as part of our Tummy Tuck team, including:

• Mr Dario Rochira BS, MD, GMC Number: 6130664
• Mr William Van Niekerk, MB ChB, MSc, MRCS, FCMI, FRCS (Plast.), RAF (qs) GMC Number: 4362791
• Mr Navid Jallali BSc MB ChB (Hons) MD FRCS (Plast), GMC Number: 4404969
• Mr Maisam Fazel MA(Cantab) MB BChir MSEd FRCS, GMC Number: 4767420
• Mr Adel Fattah, FRCS (Plast.) GMC Number: 4764599
• Mr Adrian Richards, MBBS, MSc, FRCS (Plast.) GMC Number: 3286812

Tummy tuck consultations are available with a surgeon or experienced patient advisor in London Harley Street, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, and Northampton.

To find out more about our Tummy Tuck procedures, please call us on 0333 920 2471 or use our online contact form.