How Do I Know if I Need Mini or Traditional Tummy Tuck or Liposuction?
Wrinkles on the face are not the only sign that can give away our age. As we all mature, the rate at which our bodies metabolize food and the amount our skin can contract after dramatic weight loss or pregnancy decreases. For many women, these changes can result in isolated deposits of fat on the abdomen and loose skin.
Atlanta cosmetic and plastic surgeon Dr. John LeRoy uses his over 20 years of plastic surgery experience to perform mini and traditional tummy tuck procedures to address these concerns and restore a smoother, more youthful looking contour to the abdomen. If you’re thinking about body contouring to address these cosmetic issues, it’s important that you first understand the differences between the available treatments.
Contrary to what it may seem, there are differences in the cosmetic capabilities in mini and traditional versions of body contouring procedures such as tummy tuck and liposuction. Traditional tummy tuck surgery involves making an incision horizontally between the hip bones, removing excess fat and skin, and also retightening abdominal muscles stretched by pregnancy.
Mini or Band Aid Tummy Tuck is an in-office procedure performed with gentle numbing that allows Dr. LeRoy to address small areas of excess fat and remove minimal amounts of excess skin. Unlike traditional tummy tuck, however, Band Aid Tummy Tuck does not address underlying abdominal muscles. Depending on your specific cosmetic issues, Dr. LeRoy may suggest that Band Aid Tummy Tuck patients also receive Band Aid Liposuction to address residual fat deposits on the hips or flanks to optimize their cosmetic results.
Speaking about helping patients decide on which body contouring procedures to receive, Dr. LeRoy shares, “education is a powerful tool that patients can use to ensure they’re maximizing their satisfaction with surgery results. It’s easy to assume that the least invasive method will be the best choice out of convenience, but it’s important to weigh that against your cosmetic goals to make sure you’re using the proper methods.”
For more information on the body contouring procedures that Dr. LeRoy performs, please contact his office. You can also connect with Dr. LeRoy on Facebook and Twitter, for the latest plastic surgery updates.