A Mini Tummy Tuck Can Tighten Your Lower Abdomen

Tummy Tuck in Tijuana

Cosmetic surgery in Tijuana, Mexico

tummy tuck can remove loose or excess skin resulting from weight fluctuations, pregnancy, or age. This popular cosmetic surgery procedure also tighten weakened abdominal muscles. Also known as an abdominoplasty, this procedure is designed to help patients achieve a flatter, more toned midsection and a beautifully contoured waistline that is not achievable through diet and exercise. Creating a more defined midsection not only improves the way clothes fit, but can take years off your appearance and boost your self-confidence. Dr. Liza María Pompa González (Master Bariatric Surgeon, certified by the Surgical Review Corporation) and her plastic surgery team at LIMARP® in Tijuana, Mexico, receive ongoing training and education, to ensure each patient undergoes the safest, most effective treatments possible.
LIMARP is one of the best clinics for the treatment of obesity in Tijuana, Mexico. Tijuana is the go-to place when it comes to international medical tourism, specially in cosmetic medicine. The cosmetic industry in Tijuana is one of the most competitive worldwide as it provides quality services at very affordable prices when compared with those in Canada or United States, yet it complies to the same international standards. If you are looking for a safe and reliable place for medical and aesthetic services, Tijuana is definitely the right choice.

Are You a Candidate?

Candidates for an abdominoplasty include patients who are in good overall health but still suffering from excess skin and fat around their midsection, even after following a regimented diet and exercise routine. Before undergoing this procedure, patients should be at a healthy, stable weight in order to achieve the best results. Additionally, candidates for an abdominoplasty should:

  • Have realistic expectations about the procedure
  • Should not have plans to become pregnant
  • Be committed to the healing and recovery afterwards
  • Not smoke
  • Not have uncontrolled medical conditions or infections that can compromise their health

Aesthetic Benefits

This procedure can help to:

  • Smooth loose, saggy skin around the abdomen
  • Remove excess abdominal fat
  • Improve the way clothes fit

Creating a more defined midsection not only improves your clothing options, but can take years off your appearance and boost your self-confidence.

Medical Considerations

In addition to improved aesthetics, a tummy tuck can also offer medical benefits. For example, this procedure can:

  • Aid in recovery of Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI): Many women suffer from SUI after a vaginal birth. There may be leakage from the bladder after a woman laughs, coughs, or sneezes. During the tummy tuck procedure, the soft tissue around the pelvic area is used, which helps improve incontinence.
  • Help achieve better posture and abdominal tone: A tummy tuck can help improve abdominal tone and posture. It can also tighten weak abdominal muscles, while excess skin and fat are removed. This creates a more flattened abdomen. A weak abdomen is often associated with back pain and other issues. After a tummy tuck, patients may notice better posture as well as a tightened and flattened stomach.
  • Offer relief from ventral hernias: A ventral hernia is a condition in which the abdominal tissue or the intestine begins to push through the abdominal wall. A tummy tuck may be able to aid in relief from this condition by providing the patient with a stronger abdomen.

Risks

Abdominoplasty is associated with a higher complication risk in comparison with other cosmetic surgeries. For instance, a study which reviewed 24,478 abdominoplasty procedures recorded that 4% experienced complications, when other aesthetic procedures only recorded 1.4 percent in complications. Although very infrequent and rare, the most common complication after an abdominoplasty is the development of blood clots. Blood clots are associated to other risks, like pulmonary embolism, strokes and heart attacks. However, blood clots are easily preventable. After surgery, our medical team will ask you to regain little mobility by walking and keeping mildly active as soon as possible. This movements will keep your blood flowing and prevent any hematomas.
Another risk to consider is infection, but this is also avoidable with the prescription of antibiotics as a protocolary measure.
Patients who are interested in getting a tummy tuck should consider that the procedure leaves a visible, yet discreet scar. The size of the scar depends on many factors. This scar is usually found under the line of your underwear, so it can be easily hidden from sight.

Types of Tummy Tuck Procedures

At LIMARP®, our clinic located in Tijuana, Mexico, we offer three different types of tummy tuck techniques to meet patient’s unique needs, including:

  • Traditional Tummy Tuck: Also known as a full tummy tuck, this procedure addresses most concerns that are found above and below the naval to create a more contoured torso. With this technique, incisions are made along the abdomen from hip to hip, giving your plastic surgeon full access to the underlying tissues and abdominal muscles. He will then remove any excess fat with liposuction, tighten weakened abdominal muscles, and re-drape and remove excess skin to create a smoother, more defined appearance.
  • Mini Tummy Tuck: For patients who have mild to moderate troublesome areas below the naval, a mini tummy tuck is recommended. During the procedure, a small incision is made below the naval so your plastic surgeon can remove a small volume of excess fat, while also tightening and removing loose, saggy skin. Although this procedure does not offer as dramatic results as a full tummy tuck, patients can expect to recover faster with reduced risk for complications.
  • Extended Tummy Tuck:When patients undergo a significant amount of weight loss as a result of bariatric surgery or diet and exercise, it is not uncommon to experience high volumes of excess skin across the abdomen and hips. If left unaddressed, this tissue can prevent patients from properly fitting into clothes, as well as cause skin rashes and sores. In such cases, our plastic surgery team may recommend an extended tummy tuck. During this procedure, an incision is made along the abdomen that will extend beyond the hipbone. This length of incisions allows the surgeon to not only remove excess skin and fat in the abdomen, but access tissue along the sides of the torso and lower back known to cause “love handles.”

What Can I Expect before my Procedure?

Once you have decided to undergo a tummy tuck procedure, there are several preparations that need to take place beforehand. Your medical team may order additional evaluations and lab tests. They will also review all current medications with you to ensure there are no contraindications to treatment. Additionally, we recommend that patients:

  • Eat a well-balanced diet. Healthy food choices can boost the body’s immune system and aid in successful healing.
  • Begin an exercise routine a few weeks prior to surgery. A leaner, healthier body can help prevent weight gain after a tummy tuck. Additionally, enhanced metabolism and an increase in muscle mass can help patients enjoy a quicker recovery.
  • Stop smoking. Because tobacco products inhibit healing, it is best to avoid smoking for at least two weeks before your tummy tuck. In fact, if you have considered kicking the habit for good, now is the time.

You will also need to arrange for assistance during your recovery, as you will need to limit your activity significantly for the first several days. Be sure that a trusted friend or family member can drive you home after your surgery and assist you with dressing, bathing, and other activities. Every tummy tuck is different and requires various methods of preparation. Your doctor will let you know what to expect during your recovery so you can plan ahead.

The Tummy Tuck Process

During your initial consultation at LIMARP in Tijuana, your plastic surgeon will perform a thorough examination to ensure you are a good candidate for an abdominoplasty, carefully explaining the procedure in detail. Our foreign patients will be asked to send specific photographs via email in order to recommend the procedure that best responds to their need.
On the day of the procedure you will arrive at our facility, and once your admission and preparation process is done, you will be taken to one of our surgical rooms where our anesthesiologist will administer the ideal anesthesia for your case. Once you are comfortably sedated, your plastic surgeon will make the necessary incisions in discreet locations to minimize scarring and ensure they are easily hidden beneath swimsuits and underwear.
A full tummy tuck generally requires an incision that is made horizontally, in the area between the belly button and the pubic hairline. The shape and size of the incisions will depend upon the amount of excess skin present. A second incision is generally made around the navel area.
Once the incisions are created, your plastic surgeon will remove any excess fat tissue, using liposuction if necessary. He will then tighten the underlying abdominal muscles and reposition the skin and naval to create a more contoured waistline and more defined abdomen. Once the abdomen has been sculpted to achieve the desired results, your plastic surgeon will close the incisions with sutures and apply the necessary bandages and compression garments. The overall length of the procedure will depend on the type of tummy tuck performed, but in most cases will last anywhere from two to three hours.

Contact Our Practice at Tijuana Today

Our clinic is located in the top medical tourism city in Mexico, Tijuana, right next to San Diego’s international border. If you have recently experienced dramatic weight loss and are unhappy with the appearance of your abdomen, contact our surgical facility online or dial (619) 270-8823 (USA) to learn more about the benefits of an abdominoplasty.