The best way to remove excess skin on the abdomen is with abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck. At MidAmerica Plastic Surgery, near St. Louis, MO, this is one of our most common procedures. Dr. Diederich, our board-certified plastic surgeon, performs a more advanced version of a tummy tuck that does not require the use of drains! Did you know there are two types of tummy tucks?
Full Tummy Tuck
A full tummy tuck is the most common type and the one we talk about most often on social media. The procedure removes all the excess skin from above your bellybutton down to an incision that is easily hidden by underwear or a bikini. You’ll have a new bellybutton that is in a similar place as before.
Another important part of a full tummy tuck is the repair of the six-pack muscles. This condition, known as diastasis recti, is very common, especially in women who have been pregnant. There are often some unexpected benefits of the procedure, too, such as reduced back pain, as explained in this Healthline article.
This procedure will be completed at Anderson Hospital and usually requires an overnight stay. Full recovery time is 6 weeks, and during that time, you aren’t able to lift more than 20 pounds. Take a look at our patients’ tummy tuck results in our photo gallery to get an idea of the results we can achieve.
Mini Tummy Tuck
A mini tummy tuck is less common because it only helps certain patients. This does not repair the six-pack muscles, and it only removes loose skin on your lower abdomen below the bellybutton. It does not remove any loose skin you may have above your bellybutton, which is why it is a less common procedure. Your bellybutton will likely move down a bit on your abdomen because some of that skin is removed.
This procedure can be done in the office with a local anesthetic. You can add the use of ProNox if you would like. This appointment usually lasts about 2 hours, and you can drive home after. Recovery is quite a bit quicker since it’s less invasive, and there are no lifting restrictions.
Consultation
During your consultation at our Illinois plastic surgery practice near St. Louis, Dr. Diederich will give you a personalized assessment, listen to your goals, and let you know which procedure he thinks would benefit you more. He always takes the time to give you an idea of what to expect after. If you would like to schedule a consultation, please call us at 618-288-7855, option 4, or use our online contact form to request a consultation. We can find a time that works best for you!
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